In this episode of the A Better Way 2A Podcast, Jordan and Andrew are joined by firearms historian and researcher Ashley Hlebinsky for a deep dive into the overlooked history of women, feminism, and gun ownership. Ashley explores armed feminist movements of the 1960s and 70s, including radical self-defense pamphlets that paired sharp political messaging with accurate, well-researched firearms education, challenging modern assumptions about who has historically supported gun ownership.
The conversation expands into how history is selectively used in modern gun debates, why nuance gets lost in today’s culture wars, and how credibility, messenger choice, and restraint matter when educating the public. Ashley also explains why gun ownership has never been a single identity or ideology, and why recognizing that diversity is essential for any honest conversation about firearms, rights, and public policy.
Edited by Matthew Boerger