Tucson Chapter of Pink Pistols national LGBT firearms organization.
We are a diverse organization that welcomes all shooters, provided they are pro-gun and pro-LGBT, based in Tucson Arizona and welcoming members from the Tucson metro including Marana and Oro Valley and South Tucson.
What is the cost to join? Do I need to fill out a form?
There is no cost associated with joining Tucson Pink Pistols. However there are discounted Training and range fees for groups. There is also no paperwork to fill out. Simply declare you want to be a member. Use the contact form to tell us if you want to and so we can contact you via email if you wish and you are a member.
What are the “Pink Pistols”?
We are a shooting group that honors diversity and is open to all shooters. We help bring new shooters into the practice and provide a fun social environment for all our members. We work to build bridges between the shooting community and other communities, such as those based on alternative sexualities. We advocate the use of lawfully-owned, lawfully-concealed firearms for the self-defense of the sexual minority community.
We teach queers to shoot. Then we teach others that we have done so. Armed queers don’t get bashed. We change the public perception of the sexual minorities, such that those who have in the past perceived them as safe targets for violence and hateful acts — beatings, assaults, rapes, murders — will realize that that now, a segment of the sexual minority population is now armed and effective with those arms. Those arms are also concealed, so they do not know which ones are safe to attack, and which are not…which they can harm as they have in the past, and which may draw a weapon and fight back.
The Pink Pistols are the ones who have decided to no longer be safe targets. They have teeth. They will use them.
Do I need to be queer to join?
You don’t have to be queer to join us, any more than you have to be Black to support civil rights, or be Jewish to support the JPFO (Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership). We include members from the GLBT, Polyamarous, and BDSM communities, but you don’t need to be gay or have an alternative sexuality to join and shoot with us. We like to say that we are FOR the sexual minority community, but not exclusively OF it. We welcome anybody.
Do I need to know how to shoot, or have my own equipment?
No, we want to make the practice accessible and we are friendly to new shooters. We can give you basic instruction, and on all our range trips you can either rent guns and ammunition or club members will bring extra for you, in accordance with Arizona state law.
Do I need a Permit to participate?
In Arizona you do not need a permit to purchase or own a fire arm. You must be 21 to buy from a dealer or 18 to buy from an individual. You must also be 21 to join or 18 with guardian permission and presence on range days or when you will be handing firearms. You must not be a felon or have any other legal limit to you owning, possessing, handling, or using fire arms.
What kind of gun is right for me?
Only you can say for sure, but anyone who has any clue about firearms will tell you to start by renting. Rent several and try different makes and models of firearm with varying calibers. Most important, start with a light caliber. For a first time shooter, the muzzle flip and recoil can be a bit of a surprise. There is no shame in building up to something you’re sure you can tolerate. Besides, the primary concern here is safety. Biting off more than you can chew with a firearm can be very dangerous. If you need help in finding what’s right for you there will be people there to help. But the best gun is the gun that you are most likely to practice with.
I’ve never touched a gun before. How will I know how to shoot it?
Ask. Please don’t feel embarrassed that you might be asking a “stupid” or “lame” question. There’s no such thing. If you’ve never fired a weapon before, please let us know in advance. It’s better to learn the right way to load, unload, and fire a weapon, than to learn the hard way.
We partner with gun stores to provide training to new gun users or people that want to feel more comfortable
Are you associated with a political party?
No. We are strictly non-partisan.
I like this idea, but I’m not in the area. How do I start a local group?
Contact Erin Palette at [email protected] for more information. We have rewritten the “New Chapter E-Book”, and renamed it the Pink Pistols Utility Manual. It is highly recommended that individuals find a couple of friends to assist them before they start the process of opening a chapter. Due to problems in the past with viability, we no longer open chapters with a single founding member. Please have at least two or more before asking to open your chapter.
… And yes, there will be snacks