Free Firearm Training Event for Ladies in Detroit Area this Weekend Draws Support from GOA

Ector has been hosting a free female only training event annually for the last 12 years and is drawing support from all over the country. Ector brings in instructors from all over the U.S. who volunteer their time to educate those who wish to learn about firearms. For many, Ector’s event is a boon, as it enables and empowers women who wish to be armed for self-defense, getting them started by usually firing their first shots in a safe and controlled environment.

Legally Armed In Detroit, a gun rights advocacy group, has announced that it will provide a free firearm shooting lesson at two southeast Michigan target ranges for 1,500 women interested in learning more about firearms and personal protection.

There will be no charge for the Firearm Instructor’s safety briefing, the usage of a firearm, ammunition, and range time. Participation is 100 percent free for all attendees. No prior firearms training or experience is required of the women who desire to take advantage of the lesson.

Further, experienced women merely desiring to improve their marksmanship skills are also welcome to attend.

The free shooting lesson offer was the brainchild of Rick Ector, an NRA Approved Firearms Trainer, after seeing a local television newscast of a young woman’s body being discovered on an east-side Detroit street twelve years ago.

This year’s event will be the twelfth consecutive year it has been conducted. In the first year only 50 women were trained. However, last year the event grew sufficiently to teach just over 1,200 how to safely operate a pistol.

This year’s goal is 1,500 trained women over the two-day event at two gun ranges in Taylor, Michigan: Top Gun Shooting Sports and Recoil Firearms. It is only with the cooperation of Ector’s fellow Firearm Instructor colleagues and supporters across social media that this event could even be attempted and safely conducted.

Ector believes that there are many women in the state of Michigan who are curious about firearms and their role in self-defense but are reluctant to investigate due to fears. He said, “If giving women a free lesson by a credentialed professional translates into women just trying it, it’ll be a productive use of my time.”

Ector also has drawn support from Gun Owners of America. In a recent announcement, GOA pledged the help of staff members to aid Ector in his endeavors.

Gun Owners of America (GOA) is excited to be sponsoring two major outreach events this coming weekend of July 28th-30th. GOA staff will be working in both the greater Detroit, Michigan metroplex and Atlanta, Georgia to help spread the message that the Second Amendment protections GOA fights hard for are there to protect all people, regardless of their God-given race, background, or gender.

For the 12th year in a row, GOA will be supporting the work of Michigan gun rights advocate and firearms instructor, Rick Ector, during his group’s annual women’s training event. Empowered 2A Michigan Coordinator, Katie Gardner, and Senior VP of GOA, Erich Pratt, will be in attendance.

Rick Ector, the founder of Legally Armed in Detroit, a gun safety advocacy group, will provide a free firearm shooting lesson at two southeast Michigan target ranges for 2000 women interested in learning more about firearms and personal protection. The total number of women trained over the 12-year program has exceeded 7,500. Check out our video highlighting our work at the event in 2022!

Seeing our friends at the GOA continue their support of Ector and the event is refreshing. Having the support and presence of national Second Amendment organizations shows that Ector is really onto something with his event, and also opens up more doors to introducing new shooters into the community.

This is always an exciting time when Ector launches his annual event. Hopefully he’ll be able to reach his mark of educating and training over 1500 women this year, but regardless of how many people he and his volunteers serve, the events are always a success. One of these years I’ll be making the trek to volunteer my time to help out. In the meantime, here are the details for this year’s event. It’s not too late to register if there’s still slots open.