More women purchasing guns in Chattanooga

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee(WDEF) – Recent reported crimes against women including two rapes by possibly the same suspect is sending more women to the local gun store.

Shooter’s Depot has seen a significant increase in gun sales. Owner John Martin said a growing number of their customers are women who feel the need to protect themselves.

"Across the country, women firearm and gun sales are up 400-percent. A lot of it is under duress and a lot of it is driven by fear," Martin said.

Minutes after talking to Martin, WDEF spoke to Megan McKinney who walked into Shooter’s Depot.

McKinney has already taken gun safety classes and is planning to purchase a handguns for a specific reason.

"I’m about to start living on my own and a handgun is a really good protection," McKinney said.

But not every woman is ok with owning a gun and McKinney says there are many factors that keep some women from walking into a gun store.

"I would think just accidentally hurting themselves or hurting someone they don’t mean to hurt because they don’t know how to use a gun," McKinney said.

Experts urge new gun owners to undergo training. And when it comes to women purchasing a firearm for the first time, experts say they should consider the type of gun they want to purchase.

"The most simplistic gun is a revolver. It does not jam and it goes off when it has to. Most women arm themselves with a revolver; there easy to load; easy to unload and they go off on command," Martin said.

Gun manufacturers are aware that more women are purchasing handguns; which is why it’s common to see some firearm painted pink. But don’t be fooled by the color. In the right hands, a pink colored gun will drop an attacker.