Pistol-packing mamas, and daughters, take increasing aim

Page 2 of 2 -- The group reaches out to beginners, some of whom don't own firearms. Roberts brings spare firearms and ammunition to shooting practices for novices, and keeps extra paper targets tucked inside her red polka-dot beach bag.

Most new members end up purchasing a firearm within a year, Roberts said.

Jack Levin, director of the Brudnick Center on Violence at Northeastern University, has concerns about gun groups like the Second Amendment Sisters. Firearms can be an effective means of self defense, said Levin, but only under ideal conditions -- which rarely occur.

''You must be absolutely sure that children do not have access, you must keep a firearm separate from bullets, and in a place of concealment where other people wouldn't find it. You should keep the gun unloaded. The problem with that is, when an intruder threatens you, what good is your unloaded weapon?"

According to the National Sporting Goods Association, in 1998, 2.7 million women participated in target shooting; by 2003, the number was 3.9 million.

At Friday night's shoot, Evelyn Freeman of South Boston used her own Springfield .45-caliber handgun. Her knit cardigan sweater covered the holster on her hip.

Freeman, 47, was introduced to shooting 10 years ago while dating an ex-Marine. Today, she shoots regularly and reads Women & Guns magazine. She joined Second Amendment Sisters after she met Roberts at a South Shore gun show.

''All mothers and women are against violence, but they're all not against guns and safe gun ownership," said Freeman.

''Someone told me about the way the gun laws were going. . . . I hate being told I can't do something."

For years, Freeman was unaware that the Boston Gun and Rifle Association existed. The entrance is on Faulkner Street, a short block of three-deckers off the heavily traveled Dot Ave, and visitors must ring a buzzer to get inside. The letters ''BGRA" on a gray metal door is the only sign on the nondescript building that was once a parking garage. Since 1976, the facility has served as headquarters for the gun association; for 22 years, it has also been used for MBTA police training.

''It's the best kept secret," said Jackie Beard, a BGRA instructor.

Zoe Scott, a sophomore at UMass-Boston, attended the Friday night shoot with her mother. It was her second time shooting with her mom, Jackie Scott, a paralegal from Brookline and avid target shooter.

Dressed in a David Bowie T-shirt, jeans, and white Converse sneakers, the younger Scott stepped up to the yellow line with a gun in her hand.

Jackie Scott watched proudly as her daughter shot the balloons and bowling pins.

''That's my baby!" cried Scott, 53.

Major nodded in agreement.

''Who says women can't shoot?" she said.

Emily Sweeney can be reached at esweeney@globe.com.