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Gunting

By Kevin Gallagher

It's the Pacific Northwest. And it's mid-to-late March. Who knew it was going to be in the high 60's or low 70's? And sunny?! But that was what the weather was like on March 20th at FAS. The Firearms Academy of Seattle run by Gila and Marty Hayes was holding it's first Women's Study Group discussion of the year with a match to follow. A panel of five women started off the late morning discussion of if they carry concealed, why they carry, how they carry, the places they carry, and even the little yet practical things such as where you put your firearm when you go into the public restroom or how to hug someone without revealing and how to communicate with your children in public if they're curious to know if you are carrying or not...Needless to say, the discussion was lively and open amongst the 20 to 30 women and we quickly established a friendly rapport that carried us out onto the range.

FISHER 1...To Bear Arms 2003

FISHER 1
Dan Fisher

Nancy Wilson

COM 101

18 April 2003

To Bear Arms

    "Start driving or I’m gonna blow your head off!" The words of the unseen assailant sent a wave of fear through B.J. Brown. Mr. Brown has just become another statistic, another victim of the increasingly popular crime known as carjacking. How will this story end? Will B.J. Brown become yet another statistic? That of homicide victim? The answer: NO. In a split-second Mr. Brown grabs hold of the .44 caliber revolver tucked neatly between the seats of his Ford Explorer and fires six shots, instantly killing his would be attacker (Ammons). B.J. Brown escapes without injury, but the story ends differently for many other victims of violent crime in America.

    Today an increasing number of Americans are choosing not to relinquish control over their destiny into the hands of criminals. They are a part of what is commonly termed the legally armed citizenry. By carrying a legally concealed firearm they have chosen to level the playing field for street thugs, robbers, and even premeditated murderers, and according to the law they are perfectly within their rights to do so, but they are not without opposition. In today’s society there exists an unfortunate sentiment that all guns are evil, even in the hands of law abiding citizens. This sentiment is based upon ignorance more than fact. The general public today holds many misconceptions about guns, crime, law enforcement, and the relationship each of these has with one another. To follow are some of the most common misconceptions.

  1. The responsibility for protecting the citizens rests solely upon law enforcement. According to published statistics from localities in the state of Oregon, the average police response time to an urgent call is 6.33 minutes (Oregon). For an armed attacker 6.33 minutes is more than enough time to inflict death or serious bodily injury on a victim. This figure also assumes that the victim has instant access to a telephone. In a real world violent encounter the victim may not be able to place a call for help immediately. In many cases the mere presentation of a firearm by a would-be victim is enough to diffuse an otherwise dangerous encounter. The fact is there cannot be an armed police officer on every corner; protecting oneself from a criminal attack is not vigilante justice, but a right guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States. In today's society it almost feels as if the citizens are obligated to be helpless victims until rescued by law enforcement.

  2. Citizens are not responsible enough to carry concealed weapons. Statistics show that the incidence of reckless or criminal behavior among concealed weapons permit holders is far fewer than that of the general population. Consider the following statement by Jim Sollow, board chairman of Virginians against Handgun Violence. "When people have these [concealed] weapons, our concern is that they tend to do dumb things with them." (Johnson 1) Now consider the following: Virginia issued 172,347 CCW (Carry Concealed Weapon) permits between July 1995 and April 2002. During that same period, 0.2 percent of those permits were revoked for any reason, including crimes committed that did or did not involve a firearm, medical deficiencies, and individuals who moved out of state but did not surrender their permits (Johnson 2). The average number of CCW permit revocations nationwide is 0.5 percent. During the same period from 1995 to 2002 the crime rate among the general population was 3.9 percent nearly 8 times that of permit holders. In order to obtain a permit to carry a concealed weapon, the applicant must hold himself or herself up to public scrutiny. An extensive criminal background check must be passed, along with classroom instruction, and intensive training in the proper use of a firearm.

  3. If you resist an attack using a firearm you are more likely to be killed or injured. According to Florida State University criminologist Gary Kleck, who authored a book on the subject of guns and violence, there are some 2.5 million incidents annually where law-abiding, responsible Americans use handguns to stop crimes. Many gun control organizations tell prospective victims never to resist rape or robbery in any way: "The best defense against injury is to put up no defense-give them what they want or run." But Professor Kleck says victims who use firearms to repel criminals are only half as likely to be injured as victims who submit-and much less likely to be raped or robbed (Kleck).

  4. More people carrying guns in public equals more crime. A study done by renown University of Chicago School of Law researcher John R. Lott, and his colleagues, found that the per capita incidence of violent crime in states that issue concealed weapons permits is, in fact, lower than in states that do not. Further, metropolitan areas that place the greatest restrictions on gun owners also have the highest rate of violent crime. Areas such as Los Angeles, New York, and Washington, D.C. are among the most restrictive. "They have basically put signs up everywhere in the city saying 'your guns are not welcome here. ' Of course, we've seen that that doesn't stop criminals from bringing their guns and committing crimes," says one researcher (Johnson 3). Conversely, their study found that states with the most lenient restrictions on law abiding gun owners, including concealed carry, enjoyed lower crime rates without exception (Lott 2).

The decision to carry a legally concealed weapon is a matter of personal safety, not paranoia. The fact remains that criminals commit violent crimes against innocent victims every day. Many of these crimes involve the criminal use of deadly weapons. If a law-abiding citizen is denied the ability to meet a lethal attack with an equally lethal defense, then our society has pledged its support to violent criminals by default. Far too many people say to themselves, "it can't happen to me," when in reality it can and it does.

Works Cited


Deep Thoughts and FAS Matches--from a woman's perspective 2004

"FAS Matches--from a woman's perspective"
by Jacqueline Smith

It's the Pacific Northwest. And it's mid-to-late March. Who knew it was going to be in the high 60's or low 70's? And sunny?! But that was what the weather was like on March 20th at FAS. The Firearms Academy of Seattle run by Gila and Marty Hayes was holding it's first Women's Study Group discussion of the year with a match to follow. A panel of five women started off the late morning discussion of if they carry concealed, why they carry, how they carry, the places they carry, and even the little yet practical things such as where you put your firearm when you go into the public restroom or how to hug someone without revealing and how to communicate with your children in public if they're curious to know if you are carrying or not...Needless to say, the discussion was lively and open amongst the 20 to 30 women and we quickly established a friendly rapport that carried us out onto the range.

Gila Hayes and company prepared four stages for us and we broke into groups of five or six and took each stage one by one. We shot at targets from on the move, behind cover, and even had our hands full to start and had to drop and engage. We tested our accuracy by shooting around "innocent" targets as well as our speed. There's nothing more satisfying than hearing the ping of steel and watching it fall...We cheered ourselves on and encouraged one another through our frustrations--it was the best time ever!

"Deep Thoughts"
by Misti Webb

All I can say is WOW! What an awesome experience! Saturday, March 20, 2004 was a perfect sunny day for this event. It started with a discussion lead by a panel of five women, including our fearless leader, Author and Instructor, Gila Hayes. All five women gave honest opinions and answers to questions put to them by the group and emails previously sent. We talked about the pros and cons of concealed carry options in everything from gun purses, to ankle holsters, to belly bands, to hip holsters and more. We even got into teaching safe gun-handling methods to our children. I learned that little things such as how one can hug another person without ever revealing the gun is present could be handled easily. The best thing about the event was getting to know other women who take the responsibility of self-protection as seriously as I do and still truly enjoy shooting as much as I do. You don't find that kind of camaraderie anywhere else!

The second half of the day included a Concealment Match in which there were four stages. I think the one I liked best was the one they called "Dog Day in The Park." The shooter starts behind a large wall barrier with an umbrella in the right hand and a stuffed dog on a leash in the left. As the shooter walks around the right side of the barrier, she was to drop the umbrella and leash at the first sight of the attackers and shoot. Five brown IPSC style targets represented the attackers. The trick was that part of them was obstructed from view by bushes represented by camouflage draping and they were also holding hostages. The shooter had to take down the "bad guys" without hurting the innocents. Tough but lots of fun! Each shooter also got to shoot the "Obstacle Course" in which she had to take down a few "bad guys," run, take down another "bad guy," run some more and take down more "bad guys!" I really felt like a tough guy in a movie by the time it was over! Awesome! What amazed me most was how encouraging the women were to each other. Whether the shooter was an expert or a pure beginner, they got the same respect and cheering from their group. The other thing I loved was the diversity among the women. I met "tomboy" type women, moms, and even women who loved to dress up for the event rather than just wearing jeans. One woman even wore gun earrings! You never know what you'll find when you go but you always have a great time!

The day finished and we had to say goodbye to our new friends but only for a month or so until next time. I loved it and plan to be back for the next one!

Women's Safety



Author unknown

We can now add to the list of victims the retired 77 year old TCU professor from Ft Worth whose body was found last week in Oklahoma -- and the 11 year old in Sarasota, Florida. Because of these recent abductions in daylight hours, refresh yourself of these things to do in an emergency situation. This is for you, and for you to share with your wife, your children, everyone you know. After reading this, forward it to someone you care about. It never hurts to be careful in this crazy world we live in.

  1. Tip from Tae Kwon Do: The ELBOW is the strongest point on your body.
    If you are close enough to use it, do!
  2. Learned this from a tourist guide in New Orleans. If a robber asks for your wallet and/or purse, DO NOT HAND IT TO HIM. Toss it away from you. Chances are that he is more interested in your wallet and/or purse than you, and he will g o for the wallet/purse. RUN LIKE MAD IN THE OTHER DIRECTION!
  3. If you are ever thrown into the trunk of a car, kick out the back tail lights and stick your arm out the hole and start waving like crazy. The driver won't see you, but everybody else will. This has saved lives.
  4. Women have a tendency to get into their cars after shopping, eating, working, etc., and just sit doing their checkbook, or making a list, etc. DON'T DO THIS! The predator will be watching you, and this is the perfect opportunity for him to get in on the passenger side, put a gun to your head, and tell you where to go. AS SOON AS YOU GET INTO YOUR CAR, LOCK THE DOORS AND LEAVE.
  5. A few notes about getting into your car in a parking lot, or parking garage:
    1. Be aware: look around you, look into your car, at the passenger sidefloor, and in the back seat.
    2. If you are parked nex t to a big van, enter your car from the passenger door. Most serial killers attack their victims by pulling them into their vans while the women are attempting to get into their cars.
    3. Look at the car parked on the driver's side of your vehicle, and the passenger side. If a male is sitting alone in the seat nearest your car, you may want to walk back into the mall, or work, and get a guard/policeman to walk you back out.
      IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY. (And better paranoid than dead.)
  6. ALWAYS take the elevator instead of the stairs. Stairwells are horrible places to be alone and the perfect crime spot.
  7. If the predator has a gun and you are not under his control, ALWAYS RUN! The predator will only hit you (a running target) 4 in 100 times.

    And even then, it most likely WILL NOT be a vital organ. RUN!
  8. As women, we are always trying to be sympathetic: STOP. It may get you raped, or killed. Ted Bundy, the serial killer, was a good-looking, well educated man, who ALWAYS played on the sympathies of unsuspecting women. He walked with a cane, or a limp, and often asked "for help" into his vehicle or with his vehicle, which is when he abducted his next victim.
  9. Another Safety Point: Someone just told me that her friend heard a crying baby on her porch the night before last, and she called the police because it was late and she thought it was weird. The police told her "Whatever you do, DO NOT open the door." The lady then said that it sounded like the baby had crawled near a window, and she was worried that it would crawl to the street and get run over. The policeman said, "We already have a unit on the way, whatever you do, DO NOT open the door." He told her that they think a serial killer has a baby's cry recorded and us es it to coax women out of their homes thinking that someone dropped off a baby. He said they have not verified it, but have had several calls by women saying that they hear baby's cries outside their doors when they're home alone at night.

    Please pass this on and DO NOT open the door for a crying baby. This e-mail should probably be taken seriously because the Crying Baby theory was mentioned on America's Most Wanted this past Saturday when they profiled the serial killer in Louisiana.