Part of the Taking Her Power Back series: stories of women facing fear, finding confidence, and building strength one step at a time.
This journey began with fear, patience, and quiet spaces. It ends with laughter, confidence, and the sound of two people shooting side by side.
The day before their anniversary, we met for one last session together. Same plan as always… our own bay, slow warm-up, no rush. We started with the Glock 44 since she still had a little .22 ammo left, then moved to the Glock 42 in .380 ACP. She was confident from the very first shot.
When she was ready, we stepped it up again. This time to a 9 mm Glock 17. A heavier, full-size gun to soften recoil but still a big jump from what she’d been used to. She handled it with total composure. The range was now open and other shooters were firing nearby in the bay next to us, and still she stayed steady.
At one point I stepped away to grab another firearm, and when I came back she smiled and said, “They started shooting and it didn’t bother me!”
Wow! The progress we’ve made. She’s already desensitizing to the noise. Literally, something that once brought her to her knees.
And then came the real test, her anniversary surprise.
She texted me the next morning, laughing because her fiancé had no clue where they were headed. He asked if he should dress nice or bring a swimsuit. I told her, “Tell him to bring the swimsuit.”
I met them at the range when they arrived. He was grinning ear to ear, completely caught off guard but totally in his element. He rented a full-auto (one he’d been wanting to try for ages), they grabbed a couple of targets, and set up their own little challenge.
She was relaxed, smiling, and confident. Even when he fired the full-auto, she stood calmly near the exit just in case, but she didn’t need to use it. The noise didn’t rattle her anymore.
Watching them shoot together was everything. This was the goal from the very beginning, not just to get comfortable around firearms, but to feel confident enough to share this experience with him. And she did it.
She turned to me with tears in her eyes and said, “Thank you for making this possible. I couldn’t have done this without you.”
I told her the truth. She did this! She chose to face her fear, to keep showing up, to push through every hard moment until she found joy on the other side.
Seeing her smiling, shooting, and sharing this moment with her boyfriend is something I’ll never forget.
This is what it’s all about. Helping women take their power back, not just in self-defense, but in life.
Taking your power back can look a lot of different ways. For me, training gave me confidence I didn’t even know I was missing. But I also believe community matters. Spaces like Lynchburg Arms Indoor Shooting Range have been more than just a range for me. They’ve been part of my own healing and growth. Organizations like YWCA of Central Virginia are doing incredible work right here in our area, supporting women, providing resources, and standing with survivors. It’s the kind of mission I deeply believe in, and one I hope to get more involved with personally.
📖Catch up on the full series:
Part 1: A Student’s Journey
Part 2: Building Confidence One Caliber at a Time
Part 3: Strength in the Noise
✨ Every story is a step toward taking her power back.
💡 If you’ve been holding back because of fear or past experiences, know that you don’t have to walk this journey alone. With patience, understanding, and step-by-step training, confidence is possible.
👉 Contact me and let’s take the first step together.