Since the pandemic began, we have continually seen month-over-month increases in the number of first-time gun owners, particularly among women. Violence stemming from the George Floyd riots along with defunded police departments and prisoner release policies fueled the increase.
On Monday, actress Sherri Shepherd explained her reasoning for becoming a first-time gun owner. And her primary rationale had to do with the riots.
“During the quarantine, I felt really helpless, Joy, and we’re talking about depression, I felt [my son] Jeffrey would look at me like he was so scared,” she explained. “I get these little alerts in my neighborhood app about there’s gonna be a march through the neighborhood, and I thought ‘how am I supposed to protect my son if something happens?'”
Shepherd said she gathered a group of actresses together and went to one of two black-owned gun stores in California.
“We went and I felt very empowered. When I bought the gun I took lessons, I took the test, I go to the range with my girlfriends like every other week – and it just makes me feel like at least if something happens, I can protect my child,” the actress explained.
Instead of using the opportunity to understand why so many women feel the need to arm themselves, fellow talking heads Sunny Hostin and Joy Behar tried to refute Shepherd’s claims. They dutifully regurgitated a few of the gun control industry’s favorite bogus talking points.
MORE BLACK WOMEN PURCHASING GUNS? With the number of female gun owners on the rise — especially Black women — the co-hosts discuss why and @sherrieshepherd shares why she became a gun owner. https://t.co/Gqk9PLPCUt pic.twitter.com/pEEeNP5X3l
— The View (@TheView) October 12, 2021
More and more women are deciding to take up arms for the first time because they know guns are the great equalizer. They know that firearms are their best chance of survival, especially when attacked by a person who is hellbent on causing harm.
I appreciate that a Hollywood celebrity was unapologetic about wanting to be able to protect herself and her child with a firearm. Shepherd explained how so many of us feel. We just want to have the ability to fight back should someone try to harm us or our loved ones.
You’re not alone, Sherri. There are millions of us… just like you. We welcome you to our big, diverse, freedom-loving family. You’re in good company.
