[jocon307]

"She would be alive today if things like that weren't accepted."

Well, I sympathize with how you feel, but sadly it is not accurate. Remember that gal Drue Sjodin (spelling?), out in the midwest, the pycho who murdered her grabbed her right off the street in broad daylight leaving her job.

As a mom of one I must say: women are at risk all the time. I hate to sound like some feminist hysteric, but it is the truth.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

I know there are different reasons people find trouble, but in this instance she would have been asleep in her bed, if her roommate had been alone.

[OldFriend]

The ONLY time my daughter and I have had serious disagreements is when she thinks she'll be safe somewhere that I think might be dangerous.

Young women have always felt they can handle just about anything.

[SuziQ]

Our 17 yr old daughter and some of the other Senior Girl Scouts in town are taking a RAD (Rape Aggressive Defense) Course. It is being taught by two detectives from our local police force. These guys are not pulling any punches; they're telling the girls just what to do, look out for, and be ready for. They taught them blocking, parrying and hammer fist, and some kicking moves, last week. This week, they're doing some more kicks and punches, and on the last night, two other police officers will be there in full padding so the girls can try to beat the snot out of them. The teachers told the girls that this is the only time they would be 'attacked' in a safe environment, but that they are to treat it as any attack and hit, punch and kick as hard as they need to. He said the girls really get into it because all the other girls are cheering them on on the sidelines. ;o)

One of the things they are going to do is have the girl being 'attacked' close her eyes, then they'll surprise her. One of the Girl Scout leaders told the guys that she was kind of uncomfortable with that, but I reminded everyone that many young girls are attacked in their beds, and they have to come up from a deep sleep to start fighting; it's good for them to be able to fight back when they're attacked without warning. I want them to have every advantage, especially the one of surprise; the guy will not know that they are trained in self-defense, and he'll think they're easy marks.