More and more women are getting behind the barrel of a gun to learn to protect themselves.

Spartanburg Sheriff Chuck Wright struck a major nerve earlier this month when he pleaded with residents to learn to protect themselves by any means necessary. As his news conference made its way across the nation, mostly in support of his call to arms, it appears that women were actually listening.

In a report by WYFF 4, more women than ever are learning how to shoot a gun.

Top Gun Shooting instructor David Blanton said his classes have “gone off the scale.”

“This time last year, if we had 10 people in a class, that was good. This year, we’re having 60 people a week in class,” said Blanton.

And, it’s not just a fad or novelty. There’s real, meaningful, desperate proof that the women are learning a skill that could save their life. Sheriff Wright made the call for women to arm themselves after several violent crimes in Spartanburg County.

And, after last week’s story about an impostor cop pulling over a woman only to rape her, there’s clearly still a need for women to protect themselves.

“If people would have been able to defend themselves, the crimes might not have happened,” said Blanton.