Since we’ve begun our very own “ladies night” for the women frequenting our range, the feedback we’ve been receiving has been overwhelmingly positive. And to answer the inquiries behind the why following the compliments in my inbox, this entry serves to provide an explanation.

During the inception of RISE, we were hitting the drawing boards hard with different ideas about what our range would be like, and who we would try to attract. Then we recalled how it must have felt to all of us when we walked into a range for the first time- fear, curiosity, etc. With this realization, we decided that we wanted to strive to provide the most comfortable, family-friendly range there is to welcome just everyone. And in our mission to continue to improve our premier hospitality as a family-friendly establishment, we brainstormed to increase our outreach to everyone in the family- men, women, and children alike with our monthly child safety program and of course, our weekly ladies night.

However, it is important to note that ladies night isn’t an unsubstantial marketing gimmick. We at RISE pride ourself in the talent diversity of our staff, as you will notice many of our personnel and management roles invaluably staffed by women. With ladies night, we strive for our women to come in and leave each time with their shots straighter and groupings tighter each time than before. Aside from the guaranteed fun and education, ladies night serve a greater purpose- EMPOWERMENT. In our changing world of growing uncertainty, the ability for women to protect oneself is so important.

And last but not least, ladies night at RISE will always serve as a community of camaraderie. Since I began teaching, I see women coming out of all ages and from different walks of life to join with other ladies who enjoy firearms. In fact, in a recent study by the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the number of women in the U.S. who practiced target shooting jumped 60 percent, from 3.3 million in 2001 to 5.4 million in 2013. The NSSF also sponsors a First Shots program at various local ranges, in which newcomers (including many women) have the opportunity to take their first steps in firearms education during classroom and live-fire events. There’s something unique about shooting sports and women who enjoy it, at least from my experience. A supportive atmosphere is created, like a sisterhood, which makes asking questions and learning a group affair.

So there you have it. Here’s the abridged version of the story behind our ladies night.