Here’s why Berkley and Taunton friends teach other women how to use guns – Taunton Daily Gazette

Michael J. DeCicco| Correspondent for the Taunton Daily Gazette

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BERKLEY Not only is Kerrie Ann Auclairthe secretary for the BerkleyConservation Commission she's alsothe owner of the town's "Dirty Bird Nail Salon"and a certified pistol instructor.

The latter designation is just as important to the Berkley resident as are her other two titles, she said.

She and Renee Gagne of Taunton volunteer as co-leaders of the Massachusetts chapter of "Armed Women of America,"a non-profitorganization dedicated to educating women in the proper use of firearms and the art of self-protection.

The group is an outgrowth of the two women's personal passions.

Auclair became a licensed gun owner in 2015 to protect her home and family when her husband began working a late-night third shift.

"Once I got my first firearm," Auclair said, "I realized it was important to get educated about its use.Women need to be educated gun owners to feel comfortable using one when we need it.That's why we started the chapter."

For Gagne, who by day works as an operating nurse at a local hospital, the interest in guns started a little earlier.She was first shown how shoot a rifle by her father when she was 6years old.

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The motivation to own a gun came later, in her mid-30s, when she bought her first firearm to protect herself and her children as a single mother after getting divorced.

The motivation to create a firearms training program for women came quickly after that.

When Gagnewalked into her first firearms class ten years ago, she said, she was overwhelmed by what surrounded her.It was a man's world, and she felt intimidated by that environment.Women, she realized, needed an environment that they can feel safe learning in.

"Women need instruction from other women," Auclair said, "in a safe, comfortable environment.That's why we do this.We hear so many stories.Women want self-protection, to feel comfortable, to be a responsible gun owner."

The pair started the state chapter of the nationwide organization "Armed Women of America" in 2019. Its focus is firearms education workshops once a month at the Mansfield Fish and Game range, 501 East St.

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The chapter currently includes 80 members coming from as far away as Cape Cod and Rhode Island. An average of 25-30 women attend each meeting. It is one of 325 "Armed Women of America" chapters spreadacross the country.

The local chapter's goals line up with those of the national non-profit organization: "To enable women to be their own self-protectors, creating freedom, peace of mind and confidence in themselves," the website states.

"We meet the second Monday of every month for educating and equipping women to reach their firearm goals," Auclair said.

The club's two goals, the pair said, are education and firearms practice.On the day they started the chapter in 2019, they werepleasantly surprised by the turnout: 40 women showed up, and 30 of them signed up.

They've learned a lot more about their members since then.

"They decide to join for different reasons," Gagne said."It's not just for self-defense. It's a sport.Some love target practice.Some hunt.Many just want help getting their gun license.For some, it's self-protection and home protection."

"They are single women living alone," Auclair added, "or domestic violence survivors having to be on their own.They are their own first responders if a threatening situation arises."

When they are not volunteering their time, the two are both NRA-certified pistol instructors and home firearms safety instructors who teach range firearm safety, independent of the chapter, at the Mansfield range.

"We've found that one Monday a month is not enough for what women need to learn," Auclair said."So we've obtained certification to branch off as firearm instruction for women individually."

Auclair said they are passionate about gun ownership for women, and education is a crucial component of that passion.

With anod toward the debate between gun control and Second Amendment gun ownership rights, she elaborated on how she views the issue, "A bad guy does not follow the rules of law. Restricting gun rights won't make the world safer. Education is the key to safety and learning responsible gun ownership. And addressing the mental illness component that causes these tragedies."

Auclair's gun rightsefforts are going even further right now. Her other volunteer effort is as the state director for the "DCProject" of Massachusetts, part of a nationwide non-profit nonpartisan gun rights advocacy organization for women.

The DC Project brings women, at least one from each state, to Washington D.C. to establish relationships with legislators and put a human face on firearms owners and Second Amendment supporters, Auclair said.

Next fall, Auclair will head to Washingtonon behalf of the DC Project.Auclair andher "delegate,"Renee Gagne, are also working on the DCProject'slocal fundraising and awareness raising campaign, which includes writing letters, testifying andsending emails to lawmakers on the issue of gun rights.

"We believe education, not legislation, is the key to safety, not gun control," Auclair said.

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Here's why Berkley and Taunton friends teach other women how to use guns - Taunton Daily Gazette