Guns Offer False Sense Of security (so says Kimberly) - The Firearms Forum

WAGCEVP · 06-13-2003, 10:27 PM

Self defense is a matter of choice, Kimberly. Some women don't have the choice you choose and must rely on a hand gun.
ie: Women in wheel chairs can't kick a rapist where it hurts and NOT everybody chooses to get as up close and personal as you! You defend yourself your way and let me defend myself my way, ok? guns save lives over 2 million times a year -
false security is believing cops and retraining orders can protect you!

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Guns offer false security
By Kimberly Shearer Palmer
Before I held a revolver, I thought only police officers and psychopaths shot guns. Guns seemed uncontrollable objects that could inflict death at any moment; I preferred to avoid them.
Then I learned how to shoot. My friends arranged a trip to a shooting range outside Chicago. Our instructor, a former police officer, taught us how to stand and point, hunching our shoulders for accuracy. We shot at the target silhouettes' heart and lungs before aiming for its head. In real life, our instructor explained, our attackers might wear bulletproof vests.

I was thrilled with my new power. A technological advantage now would let me fight the bad guys, even ones bigger and stronger that I am — or so I thought. Guns give women equal killing ability, but they also draw us into the dangerous illusion that owning one makes us safe.

More women are using guns. The number of National Rifle Association Women on Target programs — shooting clinics for women only — more than doubled between 2001 and 2002, says Stephanie Henson, manager of the NRA's women's programs. Last year, clinics were held in 38 states. Henson says women's interest is so strong that the NRA recently launched Woman's Outlook, its first magazine aimed just at women.

Self-defense is the reason the overwhelming majority of Women & Guns' readers are interested in using guns, says Peggy Tartaro, the magazine's executive editor.

Not so equal

But gun popularity among women is based on two misconceptions. First, gun advocates often call guns the great equalizer between men and women. In reality, according to a new study by the University of California at Davis, women who own handguns are more than twice as likely to be murdered with a firearm by their partners than those who do not. While this may be partly explained by the fact that women who fear an attack are more apt to buy a gun, the study shows guns often fail to help women protect themselves.

"Having a gun gives women a false sense of security," says Naomi Seligman, communications director of the Violence Policy Center, a Washington non-profit that urges stricter gun control. "Guns can be taken away, and women can be killed by their own guns."

The second misconception is that guns are the only solution to help otherwise "weak" women protect themselves. In fact, a wide range of self-defense options, from chemical sprays to street fighting, gives women the tools to fight back.

Fight, don't shoot

A popular new form of self-defense training simulates attacks on the street and in the bedroom by male "attackers" wearing protective padding. This realistic-training approach includes verbal and psychological elements that prepare women for real-life situations. Fighting off a man in a simulated attack is much more likely to resemble a real incident than shooting at a target-range silhouette.

Self-defense classes also offer a significant psychological benefit. After taking self-defense courses with simulated attacks at The Empower Program Inc., a Washington non-profit, my younger sister and I felt more confident walking down the street. We were aware that at any time, anywhere, we knew how to fight back. The course also taught us how to avoid violent situations and how to de-escalate encounters before they become deadly. Like Jennifer Lopez's character in the 2002 movie Enough, in which she learns to fight to protect herself and her daughter against her abusive husband, we had reclaimed our right to feel safe while depending only on our own bodies.

Considering guns as women's only shot at self-defense is like eating fat-free cookies to ward off obesity; they can make the situation even worse. Instead of buying a gun, I'm sticking to basic street smarts that will always be there when I need them most.

Kimberly Shearer Palmer is a graduate student at the University of Chicago.

wuzzagrunt · 06-14-2003, 12:01 AM

Quote:

Kimberly Shearer Palmer is a graduate student at the University of Chicago.

She is obviously not a graduate of the streets. Guns give a "false sense of security" but self defense classes don't? In her self defense classes, did she ever hit someone for real? Did she take a serious punch to the melon? Learing to recognize and avoid violent confrontations has value. Learning how to fight, hand to hand...likewise. Get into enough streetfights, however, and your best stuff will eventually be found wanting.

The artiicle is absurd to the point that I suspect it is really satire.

Jay · 06-14-2003, 06:45 AM

If you put situational awareness together with a male or female who is competent to legally carry a firearm, there won't be a street fight.

We all know ownership or possession of a firearm hardly equals complete safety. But when you factor in the training, mental attitude, and situational awareness, the "goal of safety" is much more attainable.

Kimberly should be the "bad guy" in a training scenario. She could receive an education that isn't offered at the University of Chicago. Funny she should feel that way, going to school where handguns are illegal......don't ya think ?

1952Sniper · 06-14-2003, 04:52 PM

This has got to be satire. I can't believe that someone would actually prefer to get into hand-to-hand street fighting than to use a gun to protect themselves.

What if the attacker has a gun? What if he has a knife? What if he (gasp!) actually has more street fighting experience than you?

I agree with one point: women carrying guns are not automatically safe. They still need to be vigilant and smart enough not to get into situations where their safety might be threatened.

WAGCEVP · 06-14-2003, 06:59 PM

as do men, sniper, as do men!

1952Sniper · 06-15-2003, 08:02 AM

LOL, you're right there, WAGCEVP. It's true for anybody. I didn't mean to single out women.... I was just responding to the original article talking about women. Anybody who carries a firearm for protection should not only know how to use it, but be trained in how to avoid problems in the first place.

06-13-2003, 10:27 PM	#1
WAGCEVP V.I.P. Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Georgia Posts: 179	Guns Offer False Sense Of security (so says Kimberly) Self defense is a matter of choice, Kimberly. Some women don't have the choice you choose and must rely on a hand gun. ie: Women in wheel chairs can't kick a rapist where it hurts and NOT everybody chooses to get as up close and personal as you! You defend yourself your way and let me defend myself my way, ok? guns save lives over 2 million times a year - false security is believing cops and retraining orders can protect you! ================== Guns offer false security By Kimberly Shearer Palmer Before I held a revolver, I thought only police officers and psychopaths shot guns. Guns seemed uncontrollable objects that could inflict death at any moment; I preferred to avoid them. Then I learned how to shoot. My friends arranged a trip to a shooting range outside Chicago. Our instructor, a former police officer, taught us how to stand and point, hunching our shoulders for accuracy. We shot at the target silhouettes' heart and lungs before aiming for its head. In real life, our instructor explained, our attackers might wear bulletproof vests. I was thrilled with my new power. A technological advantage now would let me fight the bad guys, even ones bigger and stronger that I am — or so I thought. Guns give women equal killing ability, but they also draw us into the dangerous illusion that owning one makes us safe. More women are using guns. The number of National Rifle Association Women on Target programs — shooting clinics for women only — more than doubled between 2001 and 2002, says Stephanie Henson, manager of the NRA's women's programs. Last year, clinics were held in 38 states. Henson says women's interest is so strong that the NRA recently launched Woman's Outlook, its first magazine aimed just at women. Self-defense is the reason the overwhelming majority of Women & Guns' readers are interested in using guns, says Peggy Tartaro, the magazine's executive editor. Not so equal But gun popularity among women is based on two misconceptions. First, gun advocates often call guns the great equalizer between men and women. In reality, according to a new study by the University of California at Davis, women who own handguns are more than twice as likely to be murdered with a firearm by their partners than those who do not. While this may be partly explained by the fact that women who fear an attack are more apt to buy a gun, the study shows guns often fail to help women protect themselves. "Having a gun gives women a false sense of security," says Naomi Seligman, communications director of the Violence Policy Center, a Washington non-profit that urges stricter gun control. "Guns can be taken away, and women can be killed by their own guns." The second misconception is that guns are the only solution to help otherwise "weak" women protect themselves. In fact, a wide range of self-defense options, from chemical sprays to street fighting, gives women the tools to fight back. Fight, don't shoot A popular new form of self-defense training simulates attacks on the street and in the bedroom by male "attackers" wearing protective padding. This realistic-training approach includes verbal and psychological elements that prepare women for real-life situations. Fighting off a man in a simulated attack is much more likely to resemble a real incident than shooting at a target-range silhouette. Self-defense classes also offer a significant psychological benefit. After taking self-defense courses with simulated attacks at The Empower Program Inc., a Washington non-profit, my younger sister and I felt more confident walking down the street. We were aware that at any time, anywhere, we knew how to fight back. The course also taught us how to avoid violent situations and how to de-escalate encounters before they become deadly. Like Jennifer Lopez's character in the 2002 movie Enough, in which she learns to fight to protect herself and her daughter against her abusive husband, we had reclaimed our right to feel safe while depending only on our own bodies. Considering guns as women's only shot at self-defense is like eating fat-free cookies to ward off obesity; they can make the situation even worse. Instead of buying a gun, I'm sticking to basic street smarts that will always be there when I need them most. Kimberly Shearer Palmer is a graduate student at the University of Chicago. __________________ The Second Amendment IS Homeland Security ! -->

06-14-2003, 06:45 AM	#3
Jay Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Indiana Posts: 1,286	If you put situational awareness together with a male or female who is competent to legally carry a firearm, there won't be a street fight. We all know ownership or possession of a firearm hardly equals complete safety. But when you factor in the training, mental attitude, and situational awareness, the "goal of safety" is much more attainable. Kimberly should be the "bad guy" in a training scenario. She could receive an education that isn't offered at the University of Chicago. Funny she should feel that way, going to school where handguns are illegal......don't ya think ? __________________ "For those who fought for it, freedom has a flavor the protected cannot taste." "USMC 8652, 2531, RVN Jun '67, - May 69"

06-14-2003, 06:59 PM	#5
WAGCEVP V.I.P. Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Georgia Posts: 179	as do men, sniper, as do men! __________________ The Second Amendment IS Homeland Security !

06-14-2003, 04:52 PM	#4
1952Sniper Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 5,138	This has got to be satire. I can't believe that someone would actually prefer to get into hand-to-hand street fighting than to use a gun to protect themselves. What if the attacker has a gun? What if he has a knife? What if he (gasp!) actually has more street fighting experience than you? I agree with one point: women carrying guns are not automatically safe. They still need to be vigilant and smart enough not to get into situations where their safety might be threatened.

06-15-2003, 08:02 AM	#6
1952Sniper Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 5,138	LOL, you're right there, WAGCEVP. It's true for anybody. I didn't mean to single out women.... I was just responding to the original article talking about women. Anybody who carries a firearm for protection should not only know how to use it, but be trained in how to avoid problems in the first place.