Fashion is not really my thing. It’s just not a gift of mine to know by instinct or by training how to put together a great outfit. I do get by…most of the time. But I often wonder how fantastic it would be to have a personal shopper do all of the hard work for me. I would love to have someone who understands clothes and body types and who can make specific suggestions for me that fit my body, that work for my lifestyle, and that I actually like and would really use.
That’s what got me thinking. In some ways, I actually AM a personal shopper. Of course, it’s not at all like the traditional, typical method of personal shopping that I just described. So if anyone has the idea of me helping other ladies in a fancy clothing boutique, well, that’s not quite it. (Remember: I barely know how to get myself dressed!) What I’m doing is helping women find their personal protection firearms.
I am a personal shopper…for guns!
I didn’t really set out to do this, exactly. I love teaching others about firearms safety, concealed carry, and personal protection. And I really enjoy teaching women, especially when it encourages and empowers them to want to learn more and to do more. And along with that, many of the ladies who finish my class immediately ask what’s next…and wonder which gun to purchase for themselves. I never imagined I would have such a unique role in their decision-making process.
As most of us know, finding the right firearm is not always the easiest task. And shopping for a gun can be challenging and even a bit overwhelming. But I get to help these new, first-time buyers demystify the gun-shopping experience. I do my best to help women feel more confident in gun stores. I listen to them and get to know their specific needs. And I use my training and my understanding to ask the questions and address the issues that may steer them away from certain guns that might not work for them…while helping them narrow down the possibilities. In other words, I make specific suggestions that fit their bodies, that work for their lifestyles, and that they actually like and would really use.
Of course, ideally, I hope that these ladies “try on” the firearms before they make any purchases. It’s important to get a good fit, all around…to like the size and the feel of the gun but also to be able to manage the trigger press and the recoil. Holding the gun is not enough. In some ways, that would be like holding up a new pair of jeans and deciding to buy them without even putting then on. Luckily, some gun stores have shooting ranges and will allow you to rent and test different guns. But when this option is not available, sometimes I just have to break out a few firearms from my own personal “collection” so others can give them a shot.
Being a personal shopper for women who are looking to purchase a gun is a wonderful and awesome responsibility. Just don’t ask me to coordinate a new Kimber Onyx Ultra II with the right pair of Louis Vuitton suede crystal flower slingback pumps. I own the former… but to be honest, I had to Google the latter! My personal shopping title most definitely begins—and ends—with firearms.
