Naturally exuding authority and humor, Donna Hilgert welcomed more than two dozen women to a Saturday morning meeting to assess interest in organizing a local Well Armed Woman chapter.
"I'm overwhelmed and so excited; we're definitely going to do this," Hilgert said by the end of the informal gathering.
The concept is simple - to bring women together to gain firearm training, safety knowledge, confidence and camaraderie.
"I've wanted to do this for several years," she said. "By golly, we're gonna have some fun here."
Hilgert put it off, knowing it would take significant work to organize a new chapter and unsure whether there would be enough interest.
Saturday's meeting assured her with dozens of ladies interested and inspired her the organizational work would be worth it.
Those who turned out for this first organizational meeting varied in firearm familiarity, age and background.
A second open house-style meeting will be set in early January to further invite interested ladies to sign up and learn more about the possible Well Armed Woman chapter.
"I just want to find women who want to shoot and protect themselves," Hilgert said. "We'll give them confidence and put them in situations to see what you can do to protect yourself."
The Well Armed Woman website says the organization is based on education, equipping and empowering. The national organization has more than 220 chapters in 49 states, including at least eight chapters in Missouri, the closest in Boonville.
"I don't like vigilantism; I believe in gun control," Hilgert said. "But I see a big need for this; we need to be able to protect ourselves.
"The world is changing."
Hilgert said she liked the Well Armed Woman founder's story - she was looking for such a group and not finding one, created one.
As a retired Jefferson City Police officer, Hilgert thought she might bring legitimacy to a local effort.
However, she also knows the experience of the woman who has never even held a gun.
Two years after joining the police department as a dispatcher, she attended her first police officer training, never shooting before. She's also experienced the "eye-rolling" of males on the range.
"I would like to get together with other ladies to shoot," Hilgert said. "If I can go from no shooting skills to 25 years on the street, you can do this," she told the group Saturday.
In addition to shooting for improved experience, the chapter also would bring in experts on laws, skills and other safety practices.
"We'll practice together, have fun and look good doing it," she said. "I want to be a girl, but I also want to be tough.
"And I don't want to do something stupid."
Email to [email protected] or call 573-645-0250 for more information.
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