After 17 people were shot and killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida in February, more women have been taking classes to learn how to carry a concealed handgun.
In a statement released Monday, the National Carry Academy says the number of women taking concealed-carry courses has spiked by 24 percent since the February 14 shooting. In an interview with The Federalist, NCA CEO Chris Schutrop said an increasing number of women have been arming themselves over the past three years, but the Parkland shooting especially hit a nerve among women.
“There’s a greater chance they can protect themselves if they are carrying a firearm and are trained to use it,” Schutrop said. “It’s a tangible way that they can make a difference to help others and help themselves.”
Since the Parkland shooting, the number of concealed-carry permits issued through NCA has increased by 120 percent among both men and women. In the past, men typically received a majority (66 percent) of these permits, but now about half of the enrollees are women.
