WMDT 47 News - Delmarva's ChoiceStores Catering To "Girls With Guns"

WMDT 47 NEWS - A surprising statistic on firearms. The latest numbers show the average gun-slinger might not look like what you'd expect. More "women" are now packing heat. According to the National Sporting Goods Association, female target shooting nearly doubled over the past 10 years. And stores are catering to the demand, with pink pistols, pink ear protection, and even pink ammo.

WMDT bumped into 14-year-old MeKenna Richardson at the Delmarva Sporting Clays shooting range in Mardela Springs. She grew up around guns and is a precision shooter, and admits more female interest is a good thing, "I'm excited, because I think more women should get into it."

The National Shooting Sports Foundation tracks gun purchases. They say gun-store owners reported a 73 percent increase in female customers. And Amazon.com and stores like Gander Mountain have plenty of pink firearms and accessories to cater to girls with guns.

The Delmarva Sporting Clays has also seen an up-tick of female shooting enthusiasts. But they have courses that cater to the increase in interest from men and women alike. "These are dangerous weapons," explains Steve Richardson, Mekenna's father and co-owner of the range. "Learn how to use them the right way and we're with them step by step making sure they handle it properly."

Since guns are expensive, if you're interested in buying one it's a good idea to talk to a professional to make sure you make a good investment.