Rhonda Carlson is the owner of GIRLZ on FIRE, a High Point-based firearms safety company with classes catered towards women. She is an NRA basic and first steps pistol instructor and a North Carolina-certified concealed carry handgun instructor and has more than 25 years of experience in the safe use and operation of handguns. Learn more about GIRLZ on FIRE. LLC  on Facebook at facebook.com/girlzonfirellc or girlzonfirellc.com and other social channels using the handle @girlzonfirellc.

What was your goal in starting GIRLS on FIRE?

My goal for creating the business is to
eliminate the fear of firearms in women, allowing them to protect themselves
and their families. Many times, in life, I have heard female friends and other
women say that they are afraid of guns. The first thought in my mind is: How
do you protect your home and your family from intruders? I consider it a
civic duty to educate and empower others in a safe way to defend themselves
while incorporating the laws of justified self-defense.

Why
do you think it’s important for women learn about firearm safety?

Many of these gun owners inherited a firearm or
registered for a purchase permit and bought a gun, but are not comfortable
handling their gun or know how to use it. Which makes it frightening to the
owner. It is an injustice to yourself to not take the time to learn to use your
firearm safely and efficiently while practicing safe carry habits. You cannot
wait until an attack is about to happen to try to figure it out.

What
kind of gun do you like to operate and why? A handgun? Pistol? Rifle?

Having spent a lot of time in the country
growing up, I am a fan of all types of guns. As my initial introduction to guns
was for sports shooting and when I grew older, I realized the importance of
having the knowledge of gun safety for self-defense. Having shot many handguns
at this point, my favorite handgun for self-defense is a semiautomatic 1911
pistol. I love shooting sports, so I also enjoy clay and skeet shooting using a
shotgun and general target practice using a rifle.

In
light of recent school shootings, what would you say to people who are wary of
guns?

No matter what laws are put in place, criminals
do not obey laws. My heart cries in distress every time I hear of a mass
shooting. But, do we stop law-abiding citizens from having the right to protect
themselves because a few sick-minded people intentionally choose to harm a
targeted group? My thoughts are: How do we support those being bullied and
those in mental distress instead of further adding to their already damaged
mental states? As we can see, ignoring the problem doesn’t make it
magically disappear.

Is
there anything else you would like to say that I didn’t ask you about?

While everyone is not interested in concealed
carry, those gun owners must educate themselves on open carry laws in North
Carolina. I remind my students that ignorance is not an excuse when you are
before the court of law. Not only do I provide concealed carry training, I
offer personal one-on-one training, introduction to handguns as well as handgun
cleaning services.

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