By BETH CHAPMAN / Community Columnist

There were 58 women who attended Hoover Tactical and Firearms’ Ladies’ Night held at the state’s only indoor shooting range located on U.S. 31 in Hoover. One of those ladies was Ashley Weems of Indian Springs.

For a $30 registration fee the women were given an introduction to gun safety and instructions on how to properly hold, aim and shoot a firearm. They received one-on-one instructions on their own lane where the average participant shot between 25-50 rounds of ammunition. They proved that women can handle a gun pretty well, at least well enough that no one should give them a reason to have to shoot at them.

Weems said she had always wanted to learn to shoot a hand gun, but wanted to learn the safety procedures first. “Ladies Night was a great way to learn from trained professionals in a non-threatening environment,” said Weems.

“What was most helpful,” said Weems, “was learning the four musts: Treat any gun as if it’s loaded, always point the muzzle in a safe direction, be certain of your target and what’s beyond it and keep your finger outside the trigger guard until you are ready to shoot.”

Knowing how much ladies love a discount, all participants received a discount on the ammunition of their choice. The ratio of ladies who brought their own guns versus those who rented them for the event was approximately 50 percent. As a result of what she learned, Weems followed up with a Basic Firearms Safety Class, then purchased her own handgun.

Hoover Tactical and Firearms holds multiple safety courses in addition to Ladies’ Night. For more information on the educational opportunities at Hoover Tactical and Firearms, please visit Hoovertacticalfirearms.com.

Beth Chapman, Alabama’s secretary of state, is a Shelby County resident and writes a weekly column for the Shelby County Reporter. You can reach her at bethchapman@bellsouth.net.