Featured tonight at 9:40 p.m. on XM166 NRA News, Cookeville's June Madewell-Smith shared her views with the world.  The international NRA News program, heard by 3-8 million listeners, asked June if she was the most famous person in Cookeville these days.  

Tonight, she just may be. 

It started with a hair cut.   Dave Roland of Roland Advertising was getting a hair cut from June, a stylist at Southern Sun, and talking with her about her new handgun when a billboard idea popped into his head.   What followed was a bold statement on the billboards advertising Outdoor Junction, in which June held a gun pointed straight at on-coming motorists.   It's not every day you see that on a billboard. 

CookevilleTimes featured June in a story, which caught the eye of producers at NRA News.   Today, they called "the woman behind the gun" to invite her to be on tonight's show. 

Why?  Because June's story is one to which many women may relate.   An area stylist, June is recently divorced and determined that her new life be free from fear.    June has experienced the fear of an intruder and "didn't want to live that way."  So she took a hand gun carry class.

Tonight, before the radio program aired, June had the opportunity to meet candidate for governor Congressman Zach Wamp, a 2nd amendment advocate recently endorsed by the Murfreesburo-based Barrett firearms company.  Wamp told her that she could sleep well knowing that she and 300,000 other Tennesseeans had some sort of personal protection in their home.  

Local business Outdoor Junction says they wanted to make the point that women's handgun safety is an important issue.   June says that she was surprised that she could buy a gun, learn how to use it, and receive the license to carry it in one place. 

A graduate of the Handgun Carry Class, June says that she found the experience empowering.   "It was such an awesome feeling getting that... I just felt strong and enjoyed it so much." 

When asked about the response June has received from her picture on the billboard, she stated “I was stopped at a red light on Jefferson Ave when two men in a truck kept smiling and attempting to get my attention.  When I finally acknowledged them, I rolled the window down and they smiled and said “you’re the lady from the billboard, holding the gun!”

People have asked June since the Outdoor ad campaign has been published if she carries a gun.   June says that she is happy to know that she can.   “Being a woman has a lot to do with why I did this ad.  It was not meant to be a joke or sarcastic, women from all walks of life should take the opportunity to learn handgun safety for their own protection.”

June states that “the number of women who own guns that do not have knowledge of them, let alone a handgun carrying permit just amazes me.” 

Other women ask June, “Weren’t you scared?”  June replies, “Yes in the beginning, now no!  I do not feel like Rambo’s wife, but I do feel more comfortable knowing I can protect myself against those trying to do me bodily harm.  I refuse to be a victim!”

Oudoor Junction has a new handgun carry class that begins August 1 in Cookeville.  Interested persons should contact them at 931-520-7500.