My Friday plans landed me in Philly-Girls Day at the Range

I found a gem on Instagram this week—a post from @HeelsandShells about a women’s-only event at a Philly gun range. Just two hours from my Jersey home, I was stoked to join and support sisters in the 2A community. A quick DM, a warm reply, and I snagged my ticket, ready for a Friday night out that wasn’t just another range trip but a chance to be a participant, not the host or speaker for once.

The drive smooth—Jersey traffic (lol), then Philly’s five o’clock chaos—but nothing was stopping me. Pulling up to the unassuming range right off the highway, I found parking fast, buzzed in, and headed downstairs after the front desk asked, ‘You here for Nori?’ The vibe hit me instantly—warm, brown, smiling faces from women who felt like family. Heel andShells and Noristarr welcomed us with open hearts, sharing their stories that gave the day weight. Heelsand Shells spoke on surviving sex trafficking as a young woman, turning pain into purpose by teaching personal defense. Noristarr recounted two terrifying home invasions, sparking her 20-year mission to empower others through firearms training. As women who looked like me, their words lstoked my fire—proof we are unstoppable when we lift each other up. The camaraderie was unreal; we swapped jokes, stories, and encouragement like old friends, even as I worried about being an out-of-state stranger doing similar work. But they shut that down with warmth, making it clear we were all there to grow together. We dove into gun safety basics, then hit the range.

The range setup was a little different from other ranges I’d been to, but it didn’t matter—letting loads fly down range is always home. I got to try a suppressor for the first time, tying perfectly into my discussions with US Senator Andy Kim’s office about suppressor’s value. It was a game-changer—less noise, no sacrifice in power, proving you shouldn’t lose your hearing to exercise your Second Amendment rights. The range turned into a celebration, not a competition. We ran contests, laughed hard, and cheered each other’s shots, building bonds that stretched beyond the day. I bought some Heels and Shells gear to show love, and as a range safety officer instructor, I couldn’t leave without helping clean up—old habits die hard.

Afterward, we snapped photos, shared stories, and connected as women in 2A from Philly to Newark, sisters in every way. I left that range buzzing with energy, more convinced than ever that I’m on the right path with my own work, especially with my one-year anniversary coming in August. This day fueled me for my next events—a workshop in Bloomfield,NJ on July 20th and my monthly range day at Gun for Hire on July 23rd . My Philly sisters reinforced the message of the power of women supporting women, and I’m carrying that fire forward.” #Blackgirlmagic #sisterhood #2A #womensupportingwomen #philly #Newark #naturallyarmed75