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Pink Pistols Pittsburgh is part of a nationwide network of nonpartisan, single-issue focused chapters dedicated to the legal, safe, and responsible use of firearms for self-defense within the LGBTQIA+ community.
Founded in response to an increase in hate-based violence, our organization operates on a simple principle: armed minorities are harder to victimize. We believe in changing perceptions and deterring violence through education, visibility, and community strength.
Our Instructors are Certified in a number of Firearms training programs, including Basic Pistol, Basic Rifle, Personal Protection Inside & Outside the Home, and we are regularly completing new trainings so that we can offer the highest possible quality education to our community. Our Range Day facilitators hold Range Safety Officer and Stop the Bleed Certifications, and we hold ourselves to an extremely high standard for safety at our events. We also work with other licensed self-defense instructors in the community to connect our members with other less-lethal training resources.
We are proud to be part of Operation Blazing Sword, an organization that offers FREE introductory training to new queer shooters! Contact us to learn how you can take advantage of the resources.
Our Values:
Our Values:
Safety First: Helping you access comprehensive training and responsible ownership
Inclusivity: Welcome to all, regardless of experience level or identity
Education: Knowledge is power and safety
Community: Building connections and support networks to protect each other and foster resilience
Advocacy: Promoting awareness and understanding
We are FOR the LGBTQIA+ community, but not exclusively OF it. Allies and supporters are welcome to join our mission of creating a safer world for everyone! As long as you are not hateful, you have a place with us.
We encourage you to check out our local Chapter's Code of Conduct, as well as our National Organization's Utility Manual. These are the principles we operate by, and expect all our community members to acknowledge and agree to when they enter our spaces.
Our Code of Conduct
Our Code of Conduct
We are a diverse, nonpartisan group dedicated to promoting safety, responsibility, and empowerment within the LGBTQIA+ community through firearms education and training.
Our mission is simple: we believe in the fundamental right to self-defense and the importance of being prepared. Through education, training, and community building, we help LGBTQIA+ individuals and allies develop the skills and confidence needed for personal safety.
In order to support our mission and ensure our club remains as welcoming and inclusive as possible to all the diverse groups we serve, we have developed a code of conduct. All members of our club must acknowledge and agree to abide by the code of conduct. By entering the Pink Pistols PGH community spaces such as our events chat, social chats, or other digital spaces, or by becoming part of our community through participation in events, you agree to acknowledge and uphold this code.
If you are found to violate this code, reports of your behavior may be adjudicated by a rotating ethics board, comprised of Leadership/Volunteer members. Consequences of violating the code of conduct may result in a formal warning, suspension from participating in events, complete removal / banning from the community space, or other action.
If someone in the club is behaving in a way that makes you feel unsafe or uncomfortable, or if they are displaying behavior that is unbecoming of our community, you are welcome to report this to any member of Leadership/Volunteers. You may do this verbally or via DM's. We ask that you please provide some type of evidence to support your report, such as screenshots or a written statement. They will maintain your anonymity and present the report to the rotating ethics board so the situation can be investigated and dealt with.
In extreme cases, if Leadership believes that an individual is a danger to themself or others, or is behaving in a manner that puts the community in jeopardy, Chapter Heads may move to remove or suspend a member without a hearing.
1) We do not condone violence or violation of the law.
1) We do not condone violence or violation of the law.
Gun ownership is predicated on respect for the social contract. We have the right to defend ourselves against those who seek to deprive us of our right to life or liberty. Violating the law puts people at risk of losing their freedoms, including the freedom to keep and bear arms. Queer people are already disproportionately criminalized, especially in the current political climate. To ensure that we can fulfill our mission and support as many people as possible in their self-defense journey, we must maintain an environment that encourages respect for the law. Do not post illegal content or encourage others to participate in illegal activities. Your autonomy is yours to do with as you wish, and we do not intend to police member's lives. Consider that you have the right to remain silent and not disclose details that could incriminate you or put you at risk for criminalization.
2) We are committed to protecting everyone's privacy.
2) We are committed to protecting everyone's privacy.
In keeping with the nature of Pink Pistols, we do not maintain membership lists or require people to share identifying information about themselves. By participating in this community, you are expected to respect the privacy and autonomy of everyone in this space. Do not disclose the identity of fellow members to others without their explicit consent. Do not harass, stalk, intimidate, bully, or treat others abusively.
3) We do not condone political extremism.
3) We do not condone political extremism.
By nature of being queer gun owners, our existence is politicized. We strive to maintain a nonpartisan, big-tent community where folks of all political identities can come together to seek self-defense training. Fascism and campism are not tolerated in our community. Respectful discussions are encouraged but if you cannot see eye-to-eye with someone else, agree to disagree. Do not try to force your beliefs on others, or judge others harshly if their opinions don't entirely align with yours.
4) We do not participate in discriminatory behavior.
4) We do not participate in discriminatory behavior.
Any prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed towards trans, nonbinary, gay, lesbian, bisexual, asexual, or any other gender identity or sexual orientation is not tolerated in our club. Racism, sexism, ableism and other forms of discrimination or bigotry are not tolerated. It is important to be aware of these forms of discrimination and speak out against them if you see them.
5) We do not tolerate the solicitation or making of sexual advances towards those who do not consent.
5) We do not tolerate the solicitation or making of sexual advances towards those who do not consent.
This is a club centered around sexual orientation, and many of our members are part of romantic & sexual minority communities such as LGBTQIA+, asexual spectrum, polyamory, kink, etc. Naturally, discussions about sex and sexuality may come up in conversation. We are all adults and flirting and dating is totally fine, but don't treat Pink Pistols like a dating pool. Do not DM people without their consent. Consider that some people may identify as asexual or have trauma associated with sex, and flirting or sexual topics might make them feel uncomfortable.
6) We encourage personal responsibility and accountability.
6) We encourage personal responsibility and accountability.
Part of being a firearms owner means a commitment to acting with restraint, understanding the law, being able to assess and de-escalate risky situations, and accepting consequences of your actions after the fact. If you can solve a problem yourself without escalating, do so. Engage in open communication and use "I statements" (I feel X when you do/say Y. Please Z) to navigate challenging conversations with other community members. Use appropriate language and be mindful of things that people could find offensive. If someone offends you, respectfully address it with them. If someone tells you that you offended them, graciously listen to their feedback, apologize and commit to learning & repairing the harm. Do not perpetuate drama or rumors about others. Do not weaponize the Code of Conduct against people for petty disagreements or just because you do not like them. If there is a serious issue that cannot be resolved without intervention, you can contact a member of Leadership/Volunteers.
7) We do not police other's identities.
7) We do not police other's identities.
Because this is a big-tent space that welcomes queer folk and allies, we are naturally a safe space for people who are closeted or still figuring things out. Sometimes, a vocal ally is really just a queer person who's not ready to come out yet. Sometimes, someone who starts out identifying as trans or nonbinary will end up identifying another way. Don't assume someone is cis, trans, gay or straight just because they don't look like the stereotypical version of that identity. Ask for pronouns if you're not sure. No one is obligated to disclose their identity or orientation if they're not ready or don't want to. All identities are valid, no matter where you're at in your journey. All pronouns are valid.
8) We keep communication open and transparent.
8) We keep communication open and transparent.
In order to ensure we can adjudicate issues in a reasonable timeframe, do not block or ignore Chapter Heads or other members of Leadership/Volunteers. If you are contacted about an issue, please respond in a reasonable amount of time so we can figure out how to best resolve it. If you would prefer not to communicate with a certain member of Leadership for whatever reason, be sure to reach out to someone else who is part of Leadership/Volunteers so we can continue to work towards resolving the concern.
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