James Downey

Professor Vaughn

Magazine Writing- JMC 440

24 March 2023

Female Gun Owners in Arizona

Arizona is home to many different types of cultures and traditions, such as the Sonoran

dog, Hells Angels, sports teams such as the Phoenix Suns and even a large attendance

for the rodeos. It almost seems, however, that you cannot bring up Arizona without

mentioning “guns.” Arizona culture is a combination of the Wild West, heavy influence

from Hispanic culture, as well as Indigenous tribes scattered across the state, which

have all been heavily influenced by the use of firearms.

One culture that is not commonly discussed is female gun owners. It seems, a common

assumption that is made in modern day society is that gun ownership and gun use is

exclusively for men. The goal was to counter that theory by speaking with female gun

owners and to gain insight from the perspective from women, especially since that

statement is exemplified as being false. [MOU1]

At the end of the day, we are all human.

Essentially, guns were created for killing. Prior use of these weapons were displayed in

the Revolutionary War, Civil War, World War I, and so forth. We see guns in history

books and they were actively present during the Revolutionary, Civil and World War I

and II. However, nowadays, there are a significant number of different things that you

can do with guns: hunting, competition shooting and even practicing self-defense.

The Crossroads Phoenix Gun Show was held on February 25 and 26 in Phoenix. The

popular gun show that takes place annually, along with other various gun shows. The

idea of attending a gun show sounds somewhat intimidating, but in reality, it was a

useful learning experience and there were genuine people everywhere. What was

initially shocking, was the fact that prior assumptions were incorrect, everyone in

attendance was not Caucasian, in fact. In reality, the crowd was so diverse, I was

amazed.

The event took place on Saturday, February 25 th. There were many people meandering

through the crowd and speaking amongst other lovely people throughout. One person in

particular was a former urban sniper, Kitt Doupe. Doupe completed various tours in the

Middle East and is a prime example of how guns are meant for both men and women.
“Does owning a firearm mean something specific to me because I'm a woman?” Kitt

asks. “Honestly, I don't think I've ever thought about it that way. If anything, I think me

carrying a sidearm as a woman means more to men than it does to me. I know who I

am, and ‘a woman’ isn't the primary label I use when I think of these things. I'm a

soldier. I'm a protector. I've seen evil, fought with it, and even won a few times. I know

what's out there and I choose to take action in response to it.”

According to an article by Gallup News, “U.S. men roughly twice as likely as U.S.

women to own a gun, 43% vs. 22%.” (Brenan, 2022).

Moreover, Doupe says that she carries a weapon because “I know I can make a

difference if the situation requires it of me.”

She’s aware of the possible dangers that reside in this world, so she would rather be

safe than sorry and encourages others to be responsible when doing so.

Being a gun owner comes with a price, too. Meaning, sometimes you may be put in a

situation where you have to use it, unfortunately. Doupe was kind enough to share her

first-hand military and law enforcement experience with discharging a firearm in a life-

threatening situation.
“I've concluded that for every life I've taken, a piece of me actually died with them,” she

says. “I think that's true for everyone whether they know it or not.”

Not everyone is fortunate enough to have hands-on military and/or law enforcement

training. For women, however, Doupe believes that, “We (women) were created to bring

life and our bodies are literally designed to produce, protect, nourish, and sustain life…it

is entirely antithetical to our very existence as women to take life away.”

As a result, Doupe’s life has been impacted significantly by the use of firearms, yet she

still stands for the responsible ownership of them.

Furthermore, the vibe at this event was amazing. I am not a die-hard gun fanatic, but

being in that environment had me feeling ecstatic. Not only because this was outside of

my comfort zone, but it killed my assumptions about most gun owners being ‘mean’

people and also only white. [MOU2]

At the end of the day, we are all human.

"I would rather have it (a gun) and not need it instead of needing it and not having it,"

says gun owner Qin Li. Li is an American citizen who spent the first 25 years of her life

living in Chengdu, which is in Szechuan, China. She has since resided in different parts

of Phoenix, where she now has a family. China has fairly strict gun laws for their citizens

and Li is now stretching her right as an American citizen to own a firearm.

As a result, it is better to be educated on guns and know how to use them instead of not

knowing anything at all and being oblivious to the realities. It was especially surprising

to see that she would even have an interest in firearms, since it is frowned upon where

she is from.

Lisa Protsman, a resident of Tucson who attended the gun show, owns a M9 Beretta

that her father handed down to her after he retired as a Chief in the U.S. Navy. “I would

never go out and purchase a gun with my own money,” Protsman says. “She simply

keeps it because it was given to her, and not for protection purposes. She also claims

that she keeps it loaded “in case of emergencies,” which shows that there is some level

of concern for safety and she finds comfort knowing she has a firearm for protection.

The impact of guns is significant, yet highly sensitive. In today’s world, with the heavy

amount of mass shootings and senseless crime being committed with the use of guns, it

is logical why one would not be in favor of the use of firearms. According to a study by
UC Davis, “the increase in gun violence in the United States has put pressure on law

enforcement and others to find ways to reduce it.” (Howard, 2023).

However, guns and gun ownership have always been a significant part of the culture in

Arizona, and the United States as a whole. I do not see that fading away anytime soon.

The discussion revolving around guns expands beyond the state of Arizona; it is a

national and global matter that needs to be addressed.

Growing up, guns were always around. The earliest memory of firearms is around

twelve-years-old. Everyone seemed to have one. At the age of twelve, in the outskirts of

Prescott Valley, Arizona, my first AK-47 was shot for the first time, which changed

everything from the second the trigger was pulled, realizing how powerful that

machinery is.

Ultimately, guns do have purpose. Guns truly provide people with a sense of protection

and security, as well as providing a sense of fun for others. Overall, gun ownership,

especially female gun owners in particular, is important because we live in a world

where men and women are created equally, so this represents how they were

developed for the use of both men and women.

At the end of the day, we are all human.

Sources

Lisa Protsman- 520-891-5572

Kitt Doupe- k.d.doupe@gmail.com

Qin Li- 602-456-0667

https://health.ucdavis.edu/news/headlines/can-records-of-firearm-purchases-help-prevent-mass-
shootings-/2023/03

https://news.gallup.com/poll/406238/stark-gender-gap-gun-ownership-views-gun-laws.aspx