The Unspoken Reality of Gun Ownership among Women of Color
The recent announcement by Vice President Kamala Harris that she is a gun owner sent shockwaves across the internet, with some supporters and detractors alike expressing surprise. However, for many Chicago women of color, owning a gun is a normal part of life.
A Matter of Personal Safety
For Bronzeville resident Joanne Glenn, a 74-year-old nurse and owner of a home healthcare agency, owning a gun is a matter of personal safety. "Any woman that may be in a compromising situation should be a gun owner," she said. Glenn has been carrying a gun for years and has taken a concealed carry class at JMD Defense, a gun safety and training organization founded by retired federal parole officer Javondlyn Dunagan.
A Growing Trend
According to the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) at the University of Chicago, 69% of new gun owners between 2020 and 2022 were people of color. JMD saw a significant spike in business in 2020, paralleling the rise in carjackings, with many women seeking training on how to protect themselves. Today, much of JMD’s business is driven by the normalization of hateful rhetoric and the feeling that the police cannot prevent all crime, especially in Black neighborhoods.
The Importance of Training
Dunagan emphasizes the importance of training and education in gun ownership. "I don’t think it was a big deal, but it was a surprise to some people," she said. "She was in a position like [Cook County State’s Attorney] Kim Foxx and there’s a risk that comes with that job." Dunagan and her students, most of whom live in Chicago, understand that having a gun for protection is just common sense.
Practical Training
JMD offers classes on concealed carry, cleaning, and proper storage of weapons. While the classes are open to anyone, they are mostly attended by women, ranging in age from 29 to 85. Dunagan’s message is clear: use a gun as a last resort and only when one’s life is in danger. She teaches her students to assess situations carefully and to avoid pulling a gun unless absolutely necessary.
Situational Awareness
Dunagan also offers situational awareness classes for people without firearms, like home healthcare employees who work for Glenn and cannot carry a gun into a patient’s home. "She’s taught safety classes for my 297 employees because they go into homes of strangers in the community," Glenn said. "To have an expert tell you things that you don’t think about like making sure the door is locked, making sure there’s no barrier blocking your exit. She’s saving a whole lot of lives."
A Focus on Education
Over the last eight years, Dunagan has taught over 3,000 students about gun safety, with no reports of anyone having to shoot someone. While she acknowledges research showing that carrying a gun may increase a victim’s risk of injury, she attributes this to people with no training or bad training. "There are times when people are negligent," she said. "I use the word negligent because nothing is accidental, a gun doesn’t just go off. Owner operator errors and negligence cause a lot of gun shooting situations."
Conclusion
Gun ownership is a complex and controversial issue, but for many women of color, it is a matter of personal safety. Javondlyn Dunagan’s focus on education and training has helped hundreds of women in Chicago understand the importance of responsible gun ownership. Whether or not the recent attention on Vice President Harris’s gun ownership causes a spike in business, Dunagan will continue to teach her students the importance of avoiding situations that require pulling a gun and how to use a gun correctly if necessary.
FAQs
Q: Why do women of color own guns?
A: Women of color own guns for personal safety, to protect themselves from potential threats and to feel more secure in their communities.
Q: What kind of training do gun owners receive at JMD Defense?
A: JMD Defense offers classes on concealed carry, cleaning, and proper storage of weapons, as well as situational awareness classes for people without firearms.
Q: Is gun ownership increasing among people of color?
A: Yes, according to the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) at the University of Chicago, 69% of new gun owners between 2020 and 2022 were people of color.
Q: What is the most common scenario for gun owners?
A: The most common scenario for gun owners is to avoid situations that require pulling a gun and to use a gun only as a last resort, when one’s life is in danger.
Q: Does JMD Defense have a focus on education?
A: Yes, Javondlyn Dunagan and her students focus on education and training, emphasizing the importance of responsible gun ownership and avoiding situations that require pulling a gun.
