So You Want To Get Into The Gun Industry?

State of the Second 1x46 brings on competitive shooter, instructor, and firearms writer Kenzie for a conversation about how to actually get into the gun industry and the shooting sports. Hosts John and Kaylee open from Gatlinburg, Tennessee, where they're prepping for GOA's convention in Knoxville this August. Kenzie shares her path: she grew up around guns and hunting, joined the rifle association at Florida State University, made its pistol team, and spiraled into nearly every discipline she could find, from GSSF and Steel Challenge to USPSA, three gun, cowboy action, IDPA, NRL 22, and PRS. She got her permit in Florida at 21, taught concealed carry for a decade across Florida and Tennessee, and now writes, runs YouTube, and hosts her own podcast. A large part of the episode is about lowering the barrier to entry. Kenzie and the hosts push listeners to try at least one competition even if they're terrible at it, because the pressure test is worth it. They talk about how easy it is to start with a Glock at a GSSF match, the camaraderie at the range, and people like Battle Buddy 3 Gun and shooters with disabilities who prove there are no excuses. Kenzie describes bringing friends to matches with gear, ammo, and guns in hand, and running a women-only event that's grown to roughly 92 attendees in its fifth year. The group gets candid about women in the industry. Kenzie says it took ten years and a lot of work to be taken seriously, and that brands and gun shops are finally listening instead of trying to 'shrink it and pink it.' They talk through slimline carry guns built for women, the importance of fit and reaching the trigger, and a gun-shop scene where a clerk tried to sell a beginner a 500 S&W Magnum. The back half turns to training: the state minimum is a floor not a finish line, constitutional carry has driven demand for more class options, and you should vet instructors hard because an NRA credential alone proves little. Practicescore rankings, round counts, and whether an instructor can demonstrate a drill on command are the real tells. Kenzie can be found at her website and on Instagram as 3gunkenzie, and GOA's convention runs August 17th and 18th in Knoxville. Links3gunkenzie.comQuestions this episode answers How do you get started in competitive shooting if you've never done it before? Just sign up and try one match even if you're terrible at it, because the pressure test is worth it. Kenzie started by joining her university's rifle association, making the pistol team, and then branching into nearly every discipline she could find. What's the cheapest, easiest way to enter your first match? Start with a Glock at a GSSF match, which is an easy on-ramp with a welcoming, camaraderie-driven range crowd. Kenzie also brings new shooters to matches with the gear, ammo, and guns already in hand so cost and equipment aren't barriers. What's it like being a woman in the competitive shooting space and the firearms industry? Kenzie says it took about ten years and a lot of work to be taken seriously in the industry. The upside is that brands and gun shops are finally listening to women instead of trying to 'shrink it and pink it.' Are gun shops giving good buying advice to first-time and women buyers? Not always. Kenzie recounts a clerk who tried to sell a beginner a 500 S&W Magnum, which is why she stresses that you have to have a voice in a gun shop and not just take what you're handed. What carry guns are actually built for women who want to carry on the body? Slimline carry guns designed with women in mind, where fit matters and the shooter can actually reach the trigger. The episode frames proper fit as more important than marketing a gun as a 'women's' model. Why is the state-mandated concealed carry class minimum not enough training? The state minimum is a floor, not a finish line. As constitutional carry has driven demand for more options, Kenzie and the hosts argue the bare-minimum class is just a starting point and ongoing training beyond it is the real goal. How do you vet a firearms instructor before paying for a class? Vet them hard, because a credential like an NRA certification alone proves little. The real tells are Practiscore rankings, round counts, and whether the instructor can demonstrate a drill on command. How can you find or build a shooting community or training event in your area? Bring friends to matches and lean on the built-in range camaraderie, and create the event you want if it doesn't exist. Kenzie runs a women-only shooting event that has grown to roughly 92 attendees in its fifth year. Chapters 00:09 — Prepping for the Knoxville convention 02:58 — Kenzie's path into shooting and the industry 04:36 — Why everyone should try one competition 07:58 — Growing the shooting sports by bringing friends 11:05 — Being a woman in a male industry 14:52 — More women, fewer 'shrink it and pink it' guns 18:51 — Carry guns actually built for women 21:29 — When the gun shop sells you the wrong gun 27:45 — Hosting women's events and demo days 38:38 — Training off the range and dry fire 39:58 — Why the state minimum class isn't enough 47:47 — Training deserts and traveling instructors 50:50 — How to vet a firearms instructor 56:19 — Where to find Kenzie and convention details About the guest Kenzie is a competitive shooter, firearms instructor, and writer in the firearms industry. She grew up around guns and hunting, with both grandfathers and her father into firearms. At Florida State University she joined the school's rifle association and made its pistol team, then competed across disciplines including GSSF, Steel Challenge, USPSA, two gun, three gun, cowboy action, IDPA, NRL 22, and PRS. She got her permit in Florida at 21 and taught concealed carry for ten years in Florida and Tennessee, and is now 31. She also does private training, runs a YouTube channel and her own podcast, and hosts a women-only shooting event now in its fifth year. Her surname is not stated in this episode. [VERIFY] Key quotes "So I think that's where people see the overnight success and don't really see the work behind it to get there." — Kenzie "I encourage everyone to go do a competition at least one time, even if you don't like it." — Kaylee "You have to have a voice in a gun shop." — Kenzie "It's a minimum requirement for a reason. It's the bare minimum you can do." — John "There's also training deserts where there's just not an opportunity to receive quality further instruction." — Kaylee "The NRA credential of an instructor means absolute jack." — Kenzie