Even though violent crime numbers are down across Central Florida, FBI statistics show Orange County leads the state in the number of rapes.

According to the latest numbers from the Sheriff's Department, there were 784 reported sex crimes in Orange County for 2008. So far this year, there have been 565 reported.

Numbers like that may have contributed to an increase in gun sales, many of them to women.

"I don’t have any threat to me, but it would be nice to know that I'm protected if something did happen," Jennifer Whitney said.

Whitney is 24 years old and single, and she said she is looking for a way to protect herself. She said she was shaky and nervous the first time she fired a gun.

"Whenever you are relaxed and comfortable, go ahead and squeeze that trigger back and allow the gun to go off by itself," instructor John Potter said as he guided Whitney through the process.

Potter said women are better at shooting than men and he has seen more and more women signing up for firearm training classes.

The increase has led Potter and his company, Equip 2 Conceal, to begin offering a women-only class this past spring. He said enrollment in the classes is up 43 percent since May.

Potter said he has heard numerous reasons for women's increased interest in guns.

"Some actually scare me. They say, 'I have an ex-husband who has made death threats.' And I'm just blown away," Potter said.

A recent study revealed that nearly half of first-time shooters are women, and of those women, 74 percent said they purchased a gun specifically for personal protection.

It is not just single women like Whitney who are learning to use a gun.

Phong Farst also recently shot for the first time. She said her husband has been trying to convince her to get a gun for a while, but she finally gave in when a neighbor's car was broken into.

"I don't want to be a victim. I don't want to be a victim if I can help it," Farst said.

For some women, picking up a gun for the first time is just as much about sport as it is about security.

Gun retailers and manufacturers said they've begun to provide smaller and lighter handguns specifically for women, even pink and purple ones to cater to female shooters.