I met Desi Bergman at GunProm held by San Diego County Gun Owners back in June of 2022. At the Gun Rights Policy Conference in 2024, we got to meet again. I always plan on filming shows while I’m on a trip, and GPRC 2024 was no different. But I had to make changes to my plans. Desi and I caught up on the Friday evening social. I asked if she was interested in doing the show, and she agreed to it. We headed to Coronado Island and got a selfie at Dog Beach.
As a young child, guns were always around for her and her family. Her grandparents owned a farm in central California. While her dad was out checking the property, she was the girl who was shooting at rabbits from the truck with a BB gun. Her father was a sheriff reserve and taught the kids to respect firearms, how to be safe, and how to shoot. One of her prized possessions is her father’s Colt Python. When her mother inquires about it, she keeps telling her it’s in for repair.
Having been in San Diego for 13 years, she discovered San Diego County Gun Owners about five years ago. I had Michael Schwartz from SDCGO on episode #153. Desi & Michael met at a BBQ for SDCGO. He told her about Not Me SD and how he was trying to get it up and going. She loved the idea and got involved in volunteering to learn more about it. When the virus that shall not be named hit, they needed someone to be more involved. She stepped up and took on the part-time role. There were some instructing certifications she needed and earned. Having them gives her more credentials for converting women to gun ownership.
Not Me SD is a program for women who are survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. The program takes the women all through the process to get a CCW in California. They have scholarships for those in need. They teach the women all aspects of self-defense, from situational awareness to pepper spray and firearms. Since 2020, females have been the largest growing demographic of firearms owners and those seeking training. Not Me is a huge resource for women who want help.
They have regular and monthly get-togethers for training and shooting socials, as they call them. This pairs women up with instructors. We do talk about the process of obtaining a permit in the Golden State. Step one is a 30-question test to get the firearm safety card.
We did talk about what makes a good first gun for a woman. Of course, there is no “correct” answer, but it was fun to discuss. Desi used a term about GLOCK that I hadn’t heard before. She called it the “Honda of the gun world.” We also discussed the SIG P365 getting added to the CA roster and using red dots.
One of the amazing success stories from Not Me SD is of a woman who was shot in the neck twice by her ex-husband. Not only did she survive the incident, but she got into firearms and self-protection; she enjoyed learning and turned into a survivor. A big step for domestic violence survivors is actually hearing the gun being fired. Her program has reached over 1,300 women. Every time she is on a local TV show, she has more and more people reaching out to get training and education.
California has a roster, much like Massachusetts. Both states have lots of restrictions and unconstitutional laws about firearms. We also have so-called assault weapon bans and magazine restrictions.
Desi and I talked more about Not Me SD while we drove to Coronado Island. We grabbed a selfie at Dog Beach. San Diego is a beautiful place. The weather is amazing. It could be a perfect place, but the gun laws in Cali… Not so much.
Favorite Quotes:
- “I was holding a gun since I was two years old and I could hold one.”
- “I like to have all the qualifications because it help me articulate better when I’m teaching these classes.”
- “GLOCKS are the Honda of the gun world.”
- “We always end the day with a mag dump on the .22.”
- “I believe that women should have as many tools as they can to protect themselves.”
About Riding Shotgun With Charlie
Riding Shotgun With Charlie isn’t about firearms. It is about having an intimate conversation with 2 people talking. You’re the fly on the rearview mirror. Many of the passengers are involved in the firearm community.
This is a more intimate conversation than a phone, radio, or Skype interview. You get to see the passengers. And you’ll see where the road and the conversation take you!
