We're winning

Even in blue, blue Connecticut:

[Kelly] Carter, a West Hartford resident who grew up in Indiana, has spent the majority of her life around guns. She took a required firearm safety course in school; her mother is the proud owner of a pink pistol; her dad served in the military. Carter said she believes owning a gun is a mark of self-empowerment.

...

In Connecticut, 30,374 women own gun permits, according to data provided by state police spokesman Lt. J. Paul Vance, although it is unclear how many of those women are active gun users. In 2002, there were a total of 625 new gun permits issued to Connecticut women. By 2007, 2,204 new permits were issued to women. Data for 2012 so far show the numbers are on pace to reach 6,000

Connecticut is deep blue, and even Hartford's deep, deep blue newspaper is running supportive stories about the empowerment of women.  It sure is different from 15 years ago.