By Ben Romans

Despite the growing popularity of gun buyback programs throughout the country as a way to cut down on violent crime and get illegal guns off the street, a new grassroots program in Texas is trying a different approach—giving single women in small, high-crime areas a shotgun and showing them how to use it.
 
The Armed Citizen Project, a Houston-based nonprofit, was founded on the principle that providing guns to responsible owners is a better way to deter crime.
 
USA Today recently interviewed Kyle Coplen, the project founder, at a shooting range where he and other volunteers were helping train north Houston residents on how to use a shotgun. Coplen says he plans to expand the program in at least 15 other cities, including Chicago and New York, by the end of the year.
 
"When we have a crime wave, we don't just say let's just increase police and that's all we do. We do multiple things. I see this as one aspect of what we can do," said Coplen.
 
The article goes on to say it takes approximately $300 to arm a citizen, or $20,000 to arm a neighborhood.

Of course, the initiative has its share of opponents who say it would increase the risk of accidents and injury. What do you think, is this a good idea that should be expanded?

Comments (8)

from Kris24 wrote 2 days 18 hours ago

I like it!

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from RJ Arena wrote 2 days 17 hours ago

The key to success is training and range time down the road for these women.

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from tleichty1989 wrote 2 days 13 hours ago

Its a great idea. This reminds me of a similar program in which a non profit organization earned money to donate shotguns to inner city families. The crime rate did go down which was amazing. The gun buy back program is a joke. Its just the big mans way of slowly getting people accustom to them controlling it all.

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from coachsjike wrote 2 days 13 hours ago

but all of the training should include putting two shells in and shooting them up in the air...that's all ya gotta do!

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from DeanTX wrote 1 day 22 hours ago

For all of the people rushing to by handguns for self-defense, I've always thought shotguns are a much better way to go. In a high pressure situation, aim is going to be off. A shotgun is just point and shoot!

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from Ontario Honker ... wrote 1 day 12 hours ago

Guess I'll be deleting Texas gals from my computer dating choices. "Ummm, say gal, is that a pistol in your bra or are you ... okay ... it's a pistol."

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from Nyflyangler wrote 1 day 9 hours ago

I look forward to this non profit having the snot sued out of it upon the first occasion where one of these guns is used when one of these women's boyfriend is asked whether an article of clothing she's wearing makes her look fat and he responds with the truth.

This also probably explains why this offer is not also being extended to married women in the same area.

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from macmadman wrote 1 day 1 hour ago

I think this i a good idea. Unfortunately, they will probably be sued and end up spending all their funds on lawyers.

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from Kris24 wrote 3 days 17 hours ago

I like it!

+2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from RJ Arena wrote 3 days 16 hours ago

The key to success is training and range time down the road for these women.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from tleichty1989 wrote 3 days 12 hours ago

Its a great idea. This reminds me of a similar program in which a non profit organization earned money to donate shotguns to inner city families. The crime rate did go down which was amazing. The gun buy back program is a joke. Its just the big mans way of slowly getting people accustom to them controlling it all.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from coachsjike wrote 3 days 12 hours ago

but all of the training should include putting two shells in and shooting them up in the air...that's all ya gotta do!

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from DeanTX wrote 2 days 21 hours ago

For all of the people rushing to by handguns for self-defense, I've always thought shotguns are a much better way to go. In a high pressure situation, aim is going to be off. A shotgun is just point and shoot!

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Ontario Honker ... wrote 2 days 11 hours ago

Guess I'll be deleting Texas gals from my computer dating choices. "Ummm, say gal, is that a pistol in your bra or are you ... okay ... it's a pistol."

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Nyflyangler wrote 2 days 8 hours ago

I look forward to this non profit having the snot sued out of it upon the first occasion where one of these guns is used when one of these women's boyfriend is asked whether an article of clothing she's wearing makes her look fat and he responds with the truth.

This also probably explains why this offer is not also being extended to married women in the same area.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from macmadman wrote 2 days 23 min ago

I think this i a good idea. Unfortunately, they will probably be sued and end up spending all their funds on lawyers.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

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