Anyone who visits a sporting goods store, gun shop, any of the traveling gun shows in the area, or thumbs through any of the many shooting sports or gun magazines could certainly be overwhelmed by color. Among the typical olive drab, khakis and browns that make up the many camouflage patterns of clothing, accessories and guns, is a conspicuous shade that could never be disguised as an earth tone: pink! This is indicative of a market targeting the demographic with the largest increase in interest towards firearms, hunting and sport shooting, that being women.

Although women hunters and shooting sports athletes have been around for quite a while, more and more women are purchasing firearms and seeking training and instruction in their use. In fact, there has been more than a 79 percent increase in women purchasing firearms since 2011, as reported by firearms retailers and the National Shooting Sports Foundation. There are many reasons for this increase in interest. 

First of all, as more and more women are living alone or living in single parent households, the culture of the "woman being protected" has shifted to the "woman as protector." The many mass shootings proliferated in the United States over recent years have encouraged women to seek out methods and take responsibility over their own self defense.  

Secondly, there are more and more Internet and social media resources available for women and created by women to provide information on firearms, firearms training and personal protection. The NRA and other organizations provide training specifically for women.  Many locales have women's shooting groups such as "Sure Shots" in Texas, and "She Can Shoot," a women's league that boasts more than 10 chapters and 3,000 members nationally. 

Finally, any discussion about guns will circle back to politics. The preservation of our constitutional rights is important to all, women and men alike. Gun control is a contentious topic to many people. Historically, women are usually very involved in such grass-roots issues and have started organizations and groups for and against gun control. 

Women continue to be educated consumers when it comes to things important to them. Protection of themselves and their families is no exception. At Osprey Armament and the Osprey Training Center, we offer basic and advanced firearm and self-protection classes for women, taught by women. We also offer coed training, law-enforcement training, and executive training courses. 

Dave Grange is the CEO of Osprey Global Solutions, a global consulting company specializing in security, medical, financial forensics, construction and philanthropic services through the Osprey Relief Foundation. Grange also is the CEO of Osprey Armament, which develops specialized weapons and conducts beginner to advanced training at the Osprey Training Center in Council, North Carolina.