WISCONSIN— A growing demographic of first-time gun buyers are women. According to statistics from the NRA, 23% of women in the U.S. own guns. The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) has documented a 77% rise in female gun ownership since 2005.

One of these newcomers, Lyne Reider, drives to Trigger Action Sports in Appleton every week to work on her shooting skills. 

Last year, Reider made the difficult decision to purchase a handgun.

"I hate guns," said Reider. "I don’t like the sound of them. I don’t like the misuse of them."

And yet, Reider owns one. She’s taken lessons on firearm safety and concealed carry.

"I know enough to protect myself but I have a lot to learn," said Reider.

She’s a widow. Her husband died of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a heart disease. She also has five children, four of which are still at home and she does assistant work for high-profile clients.

"I found it necessary. Just for invaders at home, with my children," said Reider. "We know the times that we live in right now. Just having that peace of mind when I go on walks or anything else, that I’m able to protect myself if I have to."

Reider was afraid of firearms but in the past year, she’s been working on taking on some of her biggest fears.

"I learned how to swim," said Reider. "Eighty percent of Black people don’t know how to swim. I overcame my fear of flying. I just took a flight a month ago and my biggest one was firearms."

To learn about firearms, she came to Trigger looking for a place to start. 

The first time at a gun range can be overwhelming for some people. Owner George Butz has seen some women leave in tears after hearing gunshots for the first time.

"She’s not a quiet person," said Butz. "She’s outgoing and confident, except when she first came here— she was withdrawn. She was afraid. She didn’t even know what questions to ask."

Reider was never moved to tears at the range but admits she still doesn’t like the sound of gunshots.

"Her confidence has just grown tremendously and I consider her a friend now," said Butz.

Assistant manager Amber Bowers has been around guns for a long time and teaches classes at Trigger. She also witnessed a change in Reider.

"She was timid when she came in," said Bowers. "Once she started talking to us and we trained her and she took more and more classes, she became super confident."

Trigger tries catering to women like Reider, who are just looking for a place to get started. Friday is considered ‘'Ladies’ Day'’ with half-priced lane rentals. They also conduct women-only classes, with a female instructor.

"I was very pleased that I had female teachers teaching me," said Reider. "There’s a sense of empowerment. At the same time, you respect the art of firearms. You have to respect it but it does make you feel, [like] 'Okay, I can do this too."'

Reider, who hated guns but felt the need to have one, overcame her fear but she also had to convince her children, who were hesitant at first. She had a friend, who spent 30 years as a police officer explain firearms to her kids.

"They feel more at peace. If something were to happen, Momma Bear got us all. That’s a good feeling," said Reider.