In this episode of the NRA’s The Armed Citizen Podcast, we interview Gayle Pearlstein, COO and co-founder of Lox & Loaded, a Jewish-owned and -operated gun club that now—after being launched only a year ago—has 50 chapters around the United States.
Pearlstein is an NRA-certified instructor who calls the NRA a “fantastic partner. We are truly blessed to have them on our side and helping us.”
She helped start Lox & Loaded after the October 7, 2023, attack in Israel made her—and so many others—realize she needs to do even more to show the Jewish community how to utilize their Second Amendment-protected rights to defend their own lives and loved ones.
“So, after October 7th happened, it destroyed me and I’m still having trouble grasping what happened on October 7th. When that happened, I was a firearms instructor in Chicago and I wanted to do something,” said Pearlstein. “I wanted to just not send charity to Israel or just not jump online and write something. I wanted to physically do something. And the only thing that I could think of that I could actually make a difference is [to give] free basic pistol lessons to the community. I partnered with the Chicago Jewish Alliance, which is now the American Jewish Alliance, and I said, ‘I'm gonna donate everything.’ I said, ‘I’m happy to do this if you guys want to schedule this and help me get the word out. My time is completely free. My ammunition is free. Just help me get help me pay for the range, and I’ll take care of everybody.’”
Pearlstein’s local Jewish community embraced the opportunity she was presenting. But now Lox & Loaded has chapters across the country now. When asked how the idea grew so fast, she said, “Well, this is what happened after I did basic pistol lessons and concealed and carry lessons with these community members … I realized just because they did it once, that’s not sufficient training and that’s not what firearm ownership is about. You have to consistently train.”
This is when she decided to help not just her local community, but to reach out across America to help others gather to train people to defend themselves. She says that about 60 percent of the people signing up for the classes with Lox & Loaded chapters are women.
When asked how many members of Lox & Loaded groups were either anti-gun or ambivalent about their Second Amendment rights, she said, “I would say around 50/50.” Her chapters then are changing a lot of minds about the need for this critical freedom.
“Yeah. A lot of women want to learn,” said Pearlstein. “A lot of women like the fact that I started it. [They also like that] I want it to be very gentle. I want it to be very safe. And I want it to be more about community and learning together. So, you’re not walking into, you know, a drill sergeant. Not that there’s anything wrong [with that], but the training is very welcoming. All the instructors, all the NRA instructors are very warm, very welcoming, very helpful and gentle.”
When asked how she walks new gun owners through the process, she said, “So, all of our chapter events happen at a gun range. I didn’t want it to be at a meeting hall. I didn’t want it to be in a classroom. I can’t tell the bad guys to hold on for a year till I get everybody trained. So, everybody’s on the line and everybody’s shooting. It’s the quickest and best way to learn how to shoot. So, everybody’s on that line and once they [ask] what are my next steps? That’s what we’re here for. That’s what Lox & Loaded is here for.”
You can find out more at LoxandLoaded.org.
