Women Are Arming Up – and Gun Control Activists Are Panicking

In a recent episode of Bearing Arms’ Cam & Co, host Cam Edwards highlighted what he called “the incredible amount of butt hurt” from gun control groups over a cultural shift they can no longer deny: more women are becoming gun owners. Edwards was joined by Mark Oliva, Director of Public Affairs for the National Shooting Sports Foundation, who shared why this trend is giving anti-gun activists sleepless nights.

Women Breaking the Stereotype

Oliva explained that the stereotype of the gun owner as “pale, stale, and male” no longer applies. “Today’s gun owner doesn’t look like you and me anymore,” Oliva said. “They’re younger, they live in cities, and they reflect the full diversity of America – including women.” This change is shattering a decades-old narrative that firearms are mostly a male domain.

The Fastest-Growing Demographic

Oliva noted that African-American women are the fastest-growing group of new gun owners, with an 88% increase in recent years. For him, this is evidence that women are choosing self-reliance over waiting for help to arrive. “Women want to protect themselves and their families,” he said, “and they’re not waiting for someone else to do it for them.”

Gun Control Groups Losing Their Base

Edwards underscored why this development is so dangerous for the gun control lobby. For decades, women were considered a reliable voting bloc for stricter gun laws. Now, according to Oliva, many are rejecting that role. “Groups like Moms Demand Action claim to speak for all women,” he said. “But more and more women are saying, ‘You don’t speak for me.’”

Empowerment, Not Fear

It’s not hard to see why this resonates. For years, self-defense has been framed as a male responsibility. Now, women are rewriting that script. This isn’t about fear – it’s about empowerment. And as Oliva pointed out, these choices are voluntary. Women are taking the initiative to train, to hunt, and to participate in shooting sports on their own terms.

Gun Ownership as an Equalizer

Oliva also emphasized how the firearms industry has responded by designing guns and accessories that suit women’s needs. This, he argued, enrages gun control activists even more. “They can’t stand that women can make these decisions for themselves,” Oliva said. “The industry is listening to women – and that’s a threat to their narrative.”

From Buyers to Leaders

Another point Oliva made is that women aren’t just buying firearms – they’re entering leadership roles within the gun industry itself. He cited Deana McPherson, the CFO of Smith & Wesson, as an example of women at the highest levels of decision-making. “Ten years ago, you didn’t see that,” Oliva said. “This is a cultural shift from top to bottom.”

The Glock Smear Campaign

The conversation then shifted as Edwards brought up California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s report on so-called “crime guns.” Edwards explained that the report heavily targeted Glock handguns, which are also the most commonly owned pistols in the country. “This is part of an effort to ban Glock sales in California,” Edwards said, referring to Assembly Bill 1127.

Tracing Guns Doesn’t Mean Crime

Oliva was blunt in his response, calling the report “propaganda.” He reminded listeners that ATF trace data doesn’t mean a gun was used in a crime. In fact, many traces happen when officers verify the serial numbers of legally owned firearms. “Just because a criminal uses a Ford truck doesn’t mean Ford dealers are responsible for crime,” Oliva said.

A Convenient Timing

Edwards pointed out the timing of Bonta’s report, which coincided with a push in the state legislature to ban Glock sales. “It’s interesting that this report comes out at the same time lawmakers are voting on a ban,” Edwards noted. He also reminded listeners that Vice President Kamala Harris herself admitted on national television that she owns a Glock – raising the question of whether the state’s attorney general considers her part of the “problem.”

Why It Matters for Women

This debate has implications beyond brands like Glock. Oliva explained that California’s restrictions on firearms disproportionately affect women who are new to gun ownership. By targeting the most accessible and affordable handguns, these policies make it harder for people, especially first-time buyers, to purchase tools for self-defense.

A Cultural Shift They Can’t Control

What Edwards and Oliva laid out is more than a battle over policy. It’s a cultural shift. Women are no longer waiting for permission to own a gun. And the fact that gun control activists are “melting down,” as Edwards put it, shows just how fragile their hold on public opinion has become. These organizations built their influence by assuming women would always be allies. That assumption no longer holds.

Looking Ahead

Edwards closed the program by thanking Oliva for highlighting these trends. Both agreed that the rising number of women gun owners marks a turning point. Whether it’s in gun clubs, hunting fields, or executive boardrooms, women are redefining the Second Amendment in ways the gun control lobby never expected – and cannot stop.