By Frank Miniter
There is an old debate about whether difficult times fashion great leaders or whether great people simply rise to the occasion.
Gayle Pearlstein, COO and co-founder of Lox & Loaded, a Jewish-owned-and-operated gun club that was launched only about a year ago—now with 50 chapters around the United States—was clearly there all along, waiting to stand up if needed.
But then, her character has also been forged on the range—that old debate should not be framed as an either-or question.
What Pearlstein has done shows that hard times may create the opportunity for leadership, but great leaders determine how opportunity is used.
Though perhaps “opportunity” is not quite the right word for the need she is filling by helping so many understand and practice their Second Amendment-protected rights. A better word would be strength, as in a self-reliance citizens must build to be on guard for evildoers.
In an episode of the NRA’s The Armed Citizen Podcast, Pearlstein, who is an NRA Certified Instructor and who calls the NRA a “fantastic partner,” said, “ ... After October 7 happened, it destroyed me and I’m still having trouble grasping what happened on October 7. When that happened, I was a firearms instructor in Chicago and I wanted to do something. I wanted to just not send charity to Israel or just not jump online and write something. I wanted to physically do something. And the only thing that I could think of that I could actually make a difference is [to give] free basic pistol lessons to the community. I partnered with the Chicago Jewish Alliance, which is now the American Jewish Alliance, and I said, ‘I’m going to donate everything.’ I said, ‘I’m happy to do this if you guys want to schedule this and help me get the word out. My time is completely free. My ammunition is free. Just help me get help me pay for the range and I’ll take care of everybody.’”
Pearlstein’s local Jewish community embraced the opportunity. And now, just about a year later, Lox & Loaded has chapters across the country.
The idea for the organization grew fast, she said, “This is what happened after I did basic pistol lessons and concealed and carry lessons with these community members … . I realized just because they did it once, that’s not sufficient training and that’s not what firearm ownership is about. You have to consistently train.”
That is when she said she decided to branch out beyond helping just her local community, reaching out across America to help others gather to train people to defend themselves, noting that about 60 percent of those signing up for classes with Lox & Loaded chapters are women.
“A lot of women want to learn,” said Pearlstein. “A lot of women like the fact that I started it. [They also like that] I want it to be very gentle. I want it to be very safe. And I want it to be more about community and learning together. All the instructors, all the NRA instructors are very warm, very welcoming, very helpful and gentle.”
Pearlstein said that about half of Lox & Loaded groups were previously either anti-gun or ambivalent about their Second Amendment rights. Her chapters, then, are likely changing a lot of minds about the need for this critical freedom.
Pearlstein says there is a method of walking new gun owners through the process. “All of our chapter events happen at a gun range. I didn’t want it to be at a meeting hall. I didn’t want it to be in a classroom," she said. "I can’t tell the bad guys to hold on for a year till I get everybody trained."
Pearlstein said she began by renting a range, but soon found help from local ranges, many of which also hold Federal Firearms Licensees and sell guns. This allows members to try various firearms and then buy what is right for them.
“A lot of women want to learn,” said Pearlstein. “A lot of women like the fact that I started it. I want it to be about community and learning together. So, [they are] not walking into, a drill sergeant [environment]." Pearlstein said the training is very welcoming. She said that every shooter is on that line, as it's the quickest and best way to learn out to shoot. "Once they ask what their next steps are—that’s what we’re here for. That’s what Lox & Loaded is here for.”
Most importantly, Pearlstein emphasized, is that no one has to feel intimidated, especially if you’re a woman. "You have the chapter leader and the instructor with you, but you have the community," she said. "Gun ownership is kind of addicting and it’s empowering. It is fun to go shooting. It is fun to go shooting with your friends.”
