Emily Miller never thought of owning a gun — not until she interrupted what she describes as a home invasion. Her wallet was stolen, and Miller watched as fifteen men drove away in two pickup trucks.
The hardest part was sleeping that night. “I just remember thinking if I could just have a gun by my bed, I know that…I could defend myself,” she said. “I put a dresser against the bedroom wall.”
It turns out, they messed with the wrong lady.
(Listen to audio of our full conversation with Emily Miller here.)
From her perch at the Washington Times, Miller launched a series called, “Emily Gets Her Gun” which chronicled her efforts to obtain a firearm — and learn how to use it.
Until recently, it was impossible for citizens to lawfully obtain a gun in the district. Even now, it’s nearly impossible. “It took me four months and cost $465 in fees,” Miller said. “DC has the absolute worst gun laws in the country, and by worst, I mean, most restrictive.”
When Miller began her journey, there were seventeen steps. But her efforts led to the elimination of one of the biggest hurdles: A required $250, five hour, gun safety class outside the district. “I said to Police Chief [Cathy] Lanier: … ‘You’re insisting that I, as an unarmed woman, go to a strange man’s house, in another state, who is known to be armed, in order to have a gun?,” she said.
Miller’s story is one of perseverance and struggle. But it turns out, she’s also a trendsetter for young women: “It is kind of a trendy girl thing to do, and I have to say, I don’t think men are upset about it,” she said.
“I don’t know what it is with men and girls with guns, but they do seem to like it.”
Listen to our full conversation with Emily Miller here. Or download the podcast on iTunes.