Empowering Women Through Firearm Safety with Javondlynn Dunagan of JMD Defense

EP # 127- Empowering Women Through Firearm Safety with Javondlynn Dunagan of JMD Defense Part of noseyAF's 31 Days of Black Business series 🖤 She cried and left her first firearms training early. Now she's taught hundreds of women to shoot.

Javondlynn Dunagan spent 25 years as a US probation officer, retired at 49, and built JMD Defense around a thing she used to be terrified of. Her Ladies of Steel Gun Club® has grown from seven members to 760, ages 20 to 80, and a documentary about them is making its way through film festivals right now.

What We Talk About Why she wants you using your brain before anything else, and how to actually build situational awareness — where you park, why she recommends dusk to dawn lights over motion detectors, and what she's watching during church service Why your partner can't teach you to shoot, and what she noticed watching men and women train differently at the range Why firearm education can't stop after one concealed carry class, and the once-a-month practice she recommends The unexpected turn: when her male instructors would introduce her as the owner, she'd watch the energy in the room shift and men walk away If you love origin stories that don't skip the scary parts, this episode is for you. All about Javondlynn Dunagan You're gonna love Javondlynn she's prepared and paranoid, in her own words.

She founded JMD Defense in November 2016 and The Ladies of Steel Gun Club® the following April, and she teaches from her own testimony: she was scared of guns first, so she walks people through the fear at their pace and never rushes anybody. Over 600 five-star reviews and not a single safety incident.

Things We Mentioned JMD Defense → — classes held at 111th and Kedzie The Ladies of Steel Gun Club ® JMD Defense Safety Academy, her foundation The Ladies of Steel documentary, currently submitted to film festivals across the country Services offered: situational awareness training for organizations and corporations, intro to firearms, concealed carry, gun cleaning, how to purchase a firearm, draw from concealment, private lessons, and a service for families who find a firearm after a loved one passes Chapters: 00:08 - Celebrating Black Business Month 02:17 - Transitioning from Law Enforcement to Firearm Education 18:01 - The Rise of the Ladies of Steel Gun Club 31:20 - The Importance of Ongoing Firearm Education 41:37 - Embracing Fear and Leadership in a Male-Dominated Field 47:29 - Understanding Value and Pricing in Business This series is supported by Off the Grid, a podcast for small business owners who want to leave social media without losing their clients. Find them at offthegrid.fun 🖤 Connect with Javondlynn Dunagan TikTok: @jmddefensellc Website: Stay Connected 📬 Get the noseyAF Dispatch → Subscribe here 🏡 Grab the Good Neighbor Playbook → Download it free More ways to connect Email: stephanie@ Follow on IG: @stephaniegraham Listen to more episodes: Support & Feedback noseyAF is listener-supported ; thank you for being here. 💛🫶🏾 ⭐ Rate & Review the Show 📣 Share noseyAF with a friend who needs to hear this Episode Credits Produced, Hosted, and Edited by Stephanie Graham Lyrics: Queen Lex Instrumental: Freddie Bam Fam Cover Art: Emma McGoldrick