TAKING MATTERS INTO HER OWN HANDS very woman comes to firearms ownership in a different way. Women’s paths to the ownership of a gun store are even more diverse. The three woman-owned stores outlined here are thriving in today’s environment ach was built on a foundation stemming from a profound personal experience coupled with the goal of educating and empowering women who have an interest in firearms. BULLET & BARREL HUNTSVILLE, ALA. Melanie Hammer Murray, president of Bullet Barrel in Huntsville, Ala., always planned to work in retail. After she graduated from the University of Alabama in with a degree in retail management, marketing and studio art, she worked for Rich’s department stores and then oldsmith’s department stores in the Birmingham, Ala., to Memphis, Tenn., area. “When I left in , I was the youngest senior manager in the company at the time to my knowledge,” she informed. “I was managing seven stores and writing training programs.” Murray’s husband, who is a physician, finished his residency about the same time she had their first baby and the family moved to Huntsville. “I didn’t want to go work at the one or two department store chains we had because they weren’t anything like where I’d been,” she said. “And I didn’t want to open a dress shop because I knew I wouldn’t make any money. o, I stayed home and did every volunteer job on the planet.” Her kids grew up, as kids do, and her middle child son, Davis decided to attend the United tates Military Academy West oint. He wanted to learn to shoot a handgun before he arrived on campus. “He and my husband did it together, and I went with them once or twice and shot the revolver we had,” she recalled. Then four years ago, the Murrays had a break-in at their home. The burglar didn’t get much, and the police caught him. But she couldn’t shake the feeling it could happen again. “ ix weeks later we were out of town, and Davis came home from West oint,” Murray shared. “He had friends over, they went to a party and he didn’t turn on the burglar alarm when he left. The security cameras were rolling, but the alarm wasn’t on. Burglars came in through an unlocked window.” While the burglars were still in the house, Davis came home. “Fortunately, he’d had a lot of fun at the party and he was not totally with it,” Murray said. “He fumbled around at the back door and went in as the burglars were climbing out the window.” They stole the family pickup truck and took off. “That was the day I said, o more. I will never be afraid again,’” she asserted. “Then a friend of a friend came to us and asked, Hey, I really want to do this indoor shooting range. I’ve done a lot of research on it. Would you be interested ’” Murray jumped in and Bullet Barrel opened its doors in . WOMEN OWNED STORES THRIVING TODAY BY CAROLEE ANITA BOYLES 38 MAY 22001199 Subscribe to SI DIGITAL www.shootingindustry.com
Share
Print
Download PDF file
Archive
.
