Posted on 08/11/2008 3:37:56 AM PDT by sig226
A friend sent me a link to this site and I liked what I saw. The site is dedicated primarily to female shooters, but the articles are well written and worthy of anyone's time. Kathy Jackson deals primarily with new shooters and people new to the idea that they might one day have to use deadly force to protect themself or their family. Although I've been around this stuff for a long time, I read many of the articles and even found a couple of things I didn't know on some of the n00b pages. It's definitely worth your time. If you are first considering firearms for your personal use, you'll see information presented in a different light than the common gun press and internet. If you're an experienced shooter, take my word for it, there is good stuff here.
Men:
If a woman in your life is wondering about your enthusiasm for firearms, or wondering if she should learn to shoot, send her here.
Women:
If you've wanted to find a more sympathetic ear to your concerns, this is an excellent site. "What should I do?' and 'What can I do?' are addressed by knowledgeable people without a lot of blather and "you have to do this," "you have to do that." These are some excerpts to the site, with links. The main link is a table of contents and will likely address any question you'd like to ask.
Cornered Cat.
When a cat feels threatened, she gets away from the danger as quickly as she can. She doesn't care what damage she inflicts on her way to safety, but she's not interested in fighting for fighting's sake. She does only as much as she needs to do in order to escape. She doesn't deal in revenge. If she feels threatened, she simply leaves. Efficiently.
Until she needs to use them, her claws stay sheathed. She doesn't go around threatening to maul people. She's cuddly, she's cozy, she likes to curl up next to a crackling fire on a warm winter's day. She's great company.
But don't try to trap her in a bad situation.
This site is about women and guns, not about cats. But in a way, it's about the cornered cat in all of us. It's about the determination to get away from an attacker if you need to. It's about making the decision to say, "Not me. Not mine. Not today." And it's about the tools to make that decision stick.
If you have to fight ... Fight like a cornered cat
A Word to Women
I didn't get permission from the author to excerpt, but this is a must read for anyone who might be on the fence about lethal force, not just women. Point a spouse or family member to this page if they're in that position.
Why a Gun?
If a criminal attacks me without provocation, why should he -- the aggressor, the malefactor, the bad actor -- get to choose which one of us survives our encounter? In initiating such extreme violence, the criminal has already chosen that at least one person will die or be seriously injured as a result of his acts. The law allows for lethal self-defense because wise people through the ages have recognized that in some circumstances, literally the only choice left for another person to make is whether the intended victim or the person who attacked her will be the one to survive.
There is something else, something perhaps more fundamental. I say more fundamental because at this point, those who are skeptical about the necessity of using lethal defensive force may be thinking, "Yes, but isn't there some other way?" And the answer is, not really. Not when innocent life hangs in the balance, and the attacker is both aggressive and determined.
Which Gun for Me?
Quality guns cost money. That's all there is to it. When it comes down to it, you may find yourself trying to find an ideal compromise between price and quality. I'm not hypocritical enough to say, as some do, "Well, how much is your life worth ...?" There's a lot more to the story than that, and I've been broke enough that we wondered how to finance the next trip to the grocery store. If you are in such a situation, you may have to make some hard choices -- but make them with your eyes wide open, aware of exactly what you are trading away and what you are getting in exchange. And don't be too quick to grab the first "bargain" gun that comes along. That's nearly always a mistake. If you're broke, you've got to spend twice as much time on research as someone who isn't broke. They can afford to make a mistake or travel down a blind alley in their quest for the perfect gun. When you're broke, you really can't afford that kind of waste.
I'll add that if you want to know how to get good guns cheap, I will write a piece about it and post it here soon enough. If you can't wait, freepmail me. I'll give you a few hints.
My wife is not really interested in shooting, or even practicing much so it is probably a moot point. She does not like the noise, even with double hearing protection. I taught her gun safety and marksmanship using a Thompson Contender with .22 barrel using the Aguilla Collibri ammo that is just primer and makes almost no noise.
I got her the Key Defender pepper spray to carry around. She thinks I should be there if something bad is going to happen. I just tell her that if she can tell me when a bad thing will happen then she should not be there.
Say, you know, now that you point it out, that’s just how I do it with the 9mm. I’ll have to try that with the other handguns. Possibly the shotgun, too. That one is a trick. Thank you, appreciate the advice.
That’s too bad, even just plinking is a blast (no pun intended.) If you’re in a state that allows CCW, she should really reconsider. Can imagine that’s frustrating for you.
Myself, I enjoy practicing self-defense techniques. (Too bad I haven’t done it in over a year... got to get out and do it soon.)
I live in Colorado and before that in Florida. I have had CCW permits in both states for a long time. My wife doesn’t like any loud or sudden noises like thunder, fireworks or loud guns. She can shoot well with the Aguila Collibri 22 ammo which doesn’t make much noise.
Best,
L
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