Zach Snow, a spokesman for the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the trade association for the firearms industry, says mentorship is a major focus after a surge of new gun owners in recent years.
“And this is a great opportunity,” Snow says, “for the seasoned gun owner to give back and be that mentor to a new gun owner or to bring somebody new into the fold."
Gun sale figures from 2021 showed Americans bought 19.9 million firearms last year, a figure that was the second-biggest year for the firearms year after 2020 smashed all previous records with 22.8 million sales, Forbes reported.
Female gun owners account for approximately 45% of gun sales, a fact not missed by the NSSF, which has recognized women-only gun clubs such as A Girl and a Gun and Well-Armed Women.
"Those groups are definitely growing,” Snow says, “and are doing a lot to really activate the female gun owner and those that are looking to get started."
NSSF is helping spread news of National Shooting Sports Month with proclamations signed by governors and the social media hash tag #LetsGoShooting.
The website LetsGoShooting.org lists gun ranges and firearms sellers, and provides information for new gun owners, too.
