Women and Guns

A few Weeks ago, there was an article in the Bucks County Courier Times about women protecting themselves. It talks about guns and self-defense classes, but also mentions tasers, pepper spray and mace. We felt it was an appropriate topic for everyone to read. Excerpts from the article follow below:

Should a woman carry a gun for protection?

was originally written by MANASEE WAGH at Bucks County Courier Times.

Half of Steve Rementer’s students at the shooting range are women these days. In fact, he has designed his course around teaching women how to shoot firearms in self-defense.

“If a woman can protect herself, it’s the first line of defense. She is 30 to 40 percent more likely to be attacked than a man,” said Rementer, a police firearms instructor at Pistol People, a shooting range in Bensalem, and a Philadelphia police officer for 30 years. He said he’s met many women who have been raped and attacked.

“Women are better students than men. They are more focused, and they don’t want to be victimized. Every woman I could teach, I would. ” The National Sporting Goods Association reported In 2006 that 50 percent more women are now target shooting. The association attributed rising gun ownership in part to self-defense.

The National Rifle Association has several women’s programs, including teaching women how to shoot. Web sites selling defense gear to women have been popping up sellings tasers, stun guns and pepper spray. Three women at southern university campuses were slain within one week recently.

The body of Lauren Burk, 18, an Auburn University student, was found five miles from the campus. Eve Marie Carson, a 22-year-old attending the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, was shot and killed. And Katharine Wood, 24, a senior at the University of Arkansas, was shot dead in her off-campus apartment.

Last April, 32 people at Virginia Tech were murdered by a mentally unstable gunman. A failed 2006 bill would have allowed students who have a concealed weapon permit to carry firearms anywhere on a Virginia campus. The Bureau of Justice’s research shows that in 2005 alone, 5. 2 million crimes of violence were committed in this country.

In Bucks County, more people are getting gun permits. In 2006, 4,874 gun permits were issued. The number jumped to 5,392 in 2007, according to the sheriff’s office. In the first two months of this year, the county issued nearly 1,000 permits. While Sheriff Edward J. Donnelly did not have gender statistics, he said the percentage of gun permits issued to women probably has stayed at about 10 percent to 11 percent for years.

People interviewed in Lower Bucks expressed differing opinions about gun permits for women.

William Miller of Levittown said he worries when his girlfriend goes to Philadelphia alone.

“I recently told her to take a can of Mace into the city. It’s dangerous,” he said. Some said that people would face less risk if strangers think they may be carrying lethal weapons.

“We have the right to bear arms by the Constitution,” said John Chester of Trenton. “Law-abiding citizens are sane enough to use them just for self-defense, as opposed to criminals. Law enforcement can’t be everywhere. You need the ability to fight back. ”

However, Susan Perry, who was visiting Yardley from New Jersey, said she is against women carrying guns. “They should bring Mace, or anything they can use to protect themselves. ”

Her husband said even a knife would be better than carrying a gun. “And never walk alone. Take a defensive action course,” he said. Some agreed avoiding risk is best.

“There’s safety in numbers,” said Lucy Sanderson of Falls. “I’m not sure if a woman should be carrying a gun. And education is the key — how to defend yourself besides using a weapon. ”

She liked a recent citizens’ police academy workshop in Bristol Township, which taught people ways to avoid an attack. Like checking the back seat of your car before you climb in and not bringing your pocketbook into a mall during the holiday shopping rush. Brian Buchanan of Bristol Township agreed.

“When someone has a weapon, it’s too risky. I’m not in favor of people arming themselves. That’s something for law enforcement,” he said. As the brother of five sisters and uncle to nieces, Buchanan was concerned.

“But the best way is not to attack a violent criminal. We should have more security patrolling the streets,” he said.

Mary Morse, a professor of women’s studies and English at Rider University in Lawrenceville, N. J. , said she’s thought about it a lot. But she’d never buy a gun to defend herself, said the Morrisville resident.

“I feel the same about Tasers. Pepper spray is the furthest I’ll go. I’ve discussed it with my students, though I’m not sure they would all agree. ” Her husband, Steve Morse, thinks the same way.

Regardless of what type of protection you need, it is clear that the discussion is a strong and ongoing one, and the decision as to how to protect yourself – especially if you are a woman – is a personal choice.

Written by on January 23rd, 2010 with no comments.
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