JOEL JONES: You got to understand, you have to defend yourself.

KEYRIS MANZANARES: Nestled in Virginia Beach is the Strong Arms Gun Club, where Joel Jones teaches gun safety, education, and training.

JOEL JONES: All right, you're going to be right here.

We're simply here to train all of our members in the ways of the Second Amendment and to be more proficient in their firearms and to help them defend themselves.

And that's in line with the national mission with the National African American Gun Association.

KEYRIS MANZANARES: Jones spent 25 years in the U.S. Navy and calls Virginia a gun enthusiast state where gun culture is embedded.

JOEL JONES: We're about that Second Amendment here in Virginia, and we're going to keep that going strong.

It's not going anywhere, especially in the Black community.

We're not going to rush anybody through.

KEYRIS MANZANARES: More specifically, Jones wants women to join his club to learn safe practices for using and being around firearms.

JOEL JONES: Have you ever shot a gun before?

So I created a goal that I wanted to have 1,000 women certified in concealed carry.

(gun firing) We're going to pull hard and let go.

It's been a great success.

Right now I'm at 302 women, and I started this in 2021, right, right after I became the instructor.

(gun firing) KEYRIS MANZANARES: Jones' concealed carry permit class consists of gun safety education.

Boom, boom!

KEYRIS MANZANARES: And practice shooting time at the local range.

(gun firing) Nikki Bynum says seeing other Black women in the room learning about firearms is empowering.

NIKKI BYNUM: The stigma is that the man has to be the one to protect, but there's a lot of single women.

JOEL JONES: Are you in immediate fear of death?

NIKKI BYNUM: So you have to be able to defend yourself at all times, I think, so I think it's great that women are, in general, are arming themselves and getting educated and taking it serious.

(gun firing) KEYRIS MANZANARES: Tonya Warren, a local realtor, decided to take Jones' class because one of her colleagues was shot and killed while on the job.

JOEL JONES: Are you prepared?

KEYRIS MANZANARES: The Hampton Roads area has been experiencing a surge of violent crime.

Data from the Gun Violence Archive shows that 2022 ended with more than 160 gun violence-related homicides across the seven core cities.

TONYA WARREN: I've never used a firearm.

However, in this climate and with the occupation that I've chosen as a realtor, I've found that it's necessary because we're living in a time where people are doing active shooting.

And as a female, I go into areas all over the Hampton Roads area, and I just want to make sure that I'm not a victim.

KEYRIS MANZANARES: Warren's husband got her a gun last year, but she was scared to use it.

Now she's practicing her skills at the range.

(gun firing) TONYA WARREN: I was intimidated, and there was some fear.

However, I realized I needed to attack this head on, so I decided that I'm going to come and get the proper training and knowledge on how to use the firearm and make sure that I'm doing it according to the law.

Invigorating.