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It's one of the fastest growing groups in the shooting sports.
We're talking about adult women actively engaged in defense and
recreational shooting.
It's true.
In fact 37 percent of all people taking up the fast growing sport
are, you got it, women.
Joining us today, one of the sport's female champions, Athena
Lee, whose been hitting the bulls eye since a young girl
growing up in the Philippines.
Good morning.
How are you?
Thanks for being here.
Thank you for having me.
Let's talk about your for a few seconds.
You've been shooting since you were 12 you told me.
Tell me about how this passion started because that's young.
Yup.
It started when I was 12 back in the Philippines.
I went with my dad to the range.
He was practicing with his friends for a tournament and um
after a while I got bored so he figured, hey, let's have her try
some.
And you really like it.
And I enjoyed it and I haven't stopped shooting since.
And well you haven't stopped shooting since and your like a
champion now.
Tell me about some of the accolades you've received.
I've won a couple world championships in ISPS shootings.
That's action shooting and a couple national titles as well.
Well, don't mess with Athena.
So let me ask you this question Athena because your around this
alot.
I kind of read about it alot, but you've seen it.
Women now in their 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s maybe even 70s for that
matter.
You know, there's an explosion here that's happening.
What is it?
Why?
Well I think the main reason is well actually the National
Shooting Sports foundation published a study that says the
biggest reason why women are going to hand guns or purchasing
them owning them is for defense purposes.
Bingo.
Umm-hmm And that is the reason I got a permit way back when.
I wanted to protect myself.
I was living on my own.
I moved out of South Florida and um that was my priority.
Self defense.
But, I'm not going to lie to you.
I was hesitant, I was scared and I know your not, but don't you
hear that from women.
I would say maybe nine out of ten that they're scared.
They're hesitant.
What do you tell them?
When my students come up to me most of them have never touched
a gun in their life.
There you go.
But once you show them it's just a tool.
It's like a golf club or tennis racket and just go down the
mechanics and everything and once you educate them they're...
The fear goes away.
The fear goes away, big smiles on their faces.
I'm going to go buy me a gun.
Well speaking of guns let's talk about this one right here.
Tell me what you got.
What we have here is our new product, the Baby Rock 380.
Baby Rock 380.
Yes.
It is a 1911 that is shrunk to like 75 percent of the original
size.
Ok.
So you can see.
It's thin and you can fit it into your purse.
Good handle there.
Good handling and um...
Why do you like this one as opposed to someone like me who's
looking into getting one?
It's a great go to gun because it's small, compact, you can fit
it easily in what ever size purse you have.
Um it's reasonably priced and it's easy to handle and um it's
a fun little gun to shoot.
And let's talk about the safety behind hand guns too.
You always have to remember what to look out for and doing your
homework.
Definitely.
Do you research especially if you do get your conceal to carry
permit.
You know, they do have classes for that and also for you know,
when you actually go and carry make sure use common sense when
stowing it in your purse.
It's just being proficient with it.
Just getting it, doing repetitions over and over again.
Not only does it make you a good shooter, but also it ingrains
all the rules of safety within your head.
And something that my producer and I were talking about and I
do think it's a good point to share with our lady viewers and
men for that matter, you may not want to become a professional
shooter or do recreational shooting, but it might not be
bad to learn how to use a gun.
Exactly.
Um it's like swimming.
You don't swim every day, but um knowing how to handle a fire arm
and knowing how to clear it for safety reasons and stuff because
you don't know.
One day you might be in a situation where there's a gun
involved and you just want to make sure it's safe, clear,
nobody touches it.
That kind of thing.
Great advice.
I must say I like the way this handles.
I might look into the Baby Rock 380.
Yes, it's coming out in April of 2015.
Early spring.
Ok and for maybe other hand guns that you may have what's the
website.
It's Armscor.com.
It's score without the e.
Excellent.
Thank you so much.
Thank you.
Maybe I'll join you at the shooting range one day.
For sure.
I'm not going to impress you that much, but you'll see what I
can do.
Thank you Athena.
And if you'd like to learn more about the exciting world of
competitive shooting for women and I will say I'm much better
then my husband you can visit our website TheBalancingAct.com
or if you'd like to share some of your thoughts as always you
are invited to get a little social with us.
Log onto Facebook/TheBalancingActFans.
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