The father, so to speak, of Pink Pistols is Jonathan Rauch, who, in a 2000 essay for Salon, proposed gays "become comfortable with guns, learn to use them safely and carry them." He was motivated by the murder of Matthew Shepard and created the name Pink Pistols for an organization that would educate and arm gays, plus help them get licenses to carry for their own protection. One PP goal is to get members to a gun range at least once a month.