Understanding the 4 Types of Sight Pictures

A diagram of different types of camera flash light.

Just as there is not just one firearm to meet every need, one sight picture is not used for every situation. by HEIDI LYN RAO posted on October 25, 2023 NEWS, TIPS & TACTICS, CONCEALED CARRY, FIREARMS Support NRA Women DONATE Anyone who has ever gone through an NRA Firearms Training Course should be able tell you that that the 5…

Read More

4 Tips for the Trips that Include Firearms

A road with trees and mountains in the background

Vacation should be a time when we let down our guard, but often it is often when we are most vulnerable. If you plan to vacation with a firearm in tow, pay attention to these important facets. by HEIDI LYN RAO posted on June 7, 2023 NEWS, LIFESTYLE, TIPS & TACTICS, HUNTING, CONCEALED CARRY, FIREARMS We tend to…

Read More

Training: Your Primary Survival Tool

A person holding a gun in their hand.

First responders regularly revert to their training to handle emergencies. But what about the rest of us? Training and practice can help you be just as ready. Trainers who conduct emergency, disaster or self-defense courses all preach, “Practice Makes Perfect!†Practice is the follow-through of any training course. As instructors, we hope that when our…

Read More

Carrying Firearms on Our National Lands

A woman standing on top of a snow covered slope.

Know your Second Amendment rights in National Parks. While NRA women are a diverse group of individuals with a diverse set of interests, I have found that most of us enjoy the great outdoors. We are engaged in hunting, fishing, camping and hiking, as well as a plethora of other outdoor activities. I recently took…

Read More

How to Choose the Right Holster Type For You

A woman 's hand is holding a gun in her pocket.

Deciding on the right gun and holster type go hand-in-hand. One of the most common questions I am asked as a firearms instructor is, “What gun would you recommend for self-defense?†As all instructors should, I go through the pros and cons of the different actions, makes and models so that the student can make…

Read More

Choosing the Right Size Handgun

A hand holding a gun and another hand holding a revolver.

Full size, compact, subcompact, snubnose …. What’s the difference and what’s right for you? by HEIDI LYN RAO posted on November 15, 2021 America has always been known as the “Land of Plenty,†offering consumers a variety of choices for most products on the market, including firearms. Today’s gun owner has never had more choices in firearms…

Read More

Open Carrying in Open Country

A trail in the mountains with white flowers

All NRA Women are “landowners†with certain Constitutional rights. by HEIDI LYN RAO posted on August 9, 2021 Personal protection is not just a city issue. There is a chance of being victimized while engaged in outdoor activities, just as there is a chance in urban settings. Several years ago, during the George W. Bush administration, high-profile…

Read More

In Defense of Lightweight Carry Guns for Women

A person holding two guns on top of a table.

“Everybody knows” what the best guns for women are … but you’re not everybody, are you? by HEIDI LYN RAO posted on June 7, 2021 No matter which NRA firearm training course I am teaching—Pistol, Rifle or Shotgun—my students invariably ask the same question: “What is the best gun for a woman?†This typically sparks a vigorous debate among…

Read More