DETROIT (Michigan News Source) – During the weekend, just over 1,400 women gathered in Detroit to receive personal one-on-one firearms training from National Rifle Association Board Director and Firearms Instructor Rick Ector for the 12th Annual training.
“We had zero injuries, no one was hurt, we did a good thing, “ Ector said in an interview with Michigan News Source, “We put a lot of women on the path to personal protection and taking care of their families – being sure that they can do what they can to learn more to be safe in our community.”
The event hosted more than 1,400 women ages 12 and up who had the option to learn individualized firearms safety and shooting training from qualified instructors.
“The manpower was ample and we didn’t have as many as I thought we needed, but the instructors that were there were doubly committed to ensure that we didn’t turn anyone away and that we remained safe the entire time we conducted the activity,” Ector said in the interview.
In addition to the dozens of firearm instructors for the event, several other organizations donated time and resources including the Gun Owners of America, a grassroots lobby representing more than two million gun owners nationwide.
“Gun Owners of America bought dinner for all the trainers and volunteers who helped make this event such a success,” Erich Pratt, Senior Vice President of GOA said in an email to Michigan News Source. “In past years, GOA has bought the ammunition or eye [protection] for Rick Ector’s events – in addition to providing “Gun Rights are Women’s Rights” swag for each person in attendance.”
According to Pratt, the group aids in the event for several reasons including teaching women how to protect themselves.
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“It is important that women are empowered to protect themselves,” he said in the email. “No one gets their own personal cop for protection, and courts have routinely held that the police are not duty bound to protect any particular individual—no matter how many threats they’ve received. Several studies—and anecdotal examples—have shown that women greatly benefit from having a gun to protect themselves, as opposed to remaining defenseless.”
“There is no greater equalizer for a woman than a handgun to protect ourselves,” Jennifer Devitto said, who came from Illinois to participate in a previous all women’s training. “Men are bigger than us and stronger than us, and we can’t fight them off.”
Pratt also added that some of the participants had their minds changed after participating in the program.
“The GOA team heard several testimonies from women who used to be opposed to firearms, but who now realize the importance of having a gun for protection in these dangerous times,” Pratt added, “So kudos to Rick Ector because these women would never have sought out training on their own without an event like this, which is geared specifically for women.”
Ector who also trains men and women in concealed carry classes and other higher certifications shared how much this event means to him.
“Of all the things that I do professionally, this is the thing that gives me the greatest fulfillment,” Ector said in the interview, “Conducting a totally free event for women so they can protect their homes and their family, it gives me purpose, and I want to continue this program as long as possible.”
Previously, the event boasted fifty female participants in the first year, but has since grown exponentially for Ector who had 1,000 or more participants for each of the past three years, hosting 1,942 trainees in 2020.
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