Category Archives: Self Defense

Self Defense information including shotgun, rifle and pistol.

How much training is enough?

27 Thursday Jul 2017

Posted by in Concealed Carry, Gun Safety, Just for Women, Self Defense, Training

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

,

It depends on who you ask.  And it may not be the same for everyone.

I would like to suggest you start with 2 basic questions:

  1. What do I wish to accomplish at the end of my training?
  2. How much time are you willing to commit to practice the skills you learn?

Consider the time it took to learn to drive an automobile.  One lesson, two, 10?  First you had to learn how to operate the vehicle, turn the ignition, position the seat, mirrors, turn signal operation, how to put it in gear, gas, brakes….and all those other buttons.  Not to mention how to properly maintain the vehicle so it is reliable.

Let’s not forget the laws regarding driving.  You have to learn the laws before you start driving.  There is a test you must take, just to be sure you get it right.  After all, a car can be considered dangerous to yourself and to others, when not operated correctly and legally.

So, you sign up for an all day, 8 hour class to learn to shoot.  Then, you wait 30-60 days, or more, before going to the range to practice what you learned in class.  How much do you think you would remember?  Would it be enough to save your life in a deadly confrontation?

How many classes, and how many times did you practice driving before taking your driving test?

It’s pretty simple, more training and practice is always needed to become competent at any skill.  Especially one involving the possibility of loss of life.

The gun doesn’t keep you safe

08 Thursday Dec 2016

Posted by in Gun Safety, Just for Women, Self Defense, Training

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,

“This lack of training is in my opinion negligent. A firearm comes with a lot of responsibility and a personal training requirement. Anyone who has a firearm in their home should know how to use it, what type of ammunition it takes, how to load and unload without assistance, and have formalized training that applies to how they are going to use it.”  quote from Rob Pincus at The Personal Defense Network and his article titled “The Baby Blanket Approach to Personal Safety”

Rob’s ability to convey important facts is always spot on.  I always look forward to reading his articles and watching his videos.  If you are serious about personal defense, Rob’s PDN website is well worth your time.

Don’t just buy a gun because it is your constitutional right.  Remember Abraham Maslow‘s saying , “If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.”

It is every gun owner’s responsibility to seek and obtain training on the safe and proper use of a firearm.  And if that firearm is intended to be used in the defense of life, additional training is absolutely necessary.

Thinking about buying a gun as a gift?

05 Monday Dec 2016

Posted by in Favorite Firearms, Gun Safety, Just for Women, Self Defense, Training

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , ,

“For that special someone in your life, you want to be there to protect her. However, realistically, you can’t be there all the time. That’s why you want her to have a gun. Fine and good but before you go to your local gun store and pick her out something you think will get the job done: stop.” quote from great article in Concealed Nation

Before you go out and by a gun for your wife, girlfriend or anyone, stop and consider all the ramifications.  First, be sure you are following all applicable laws concerning the purchase.

As stated in the Concealed Nation article: “And, in a lot of cases, it’s illegal to complete a straw purchase. You should never purchase a gun for anyone other than yourself. It’s not just our opinion — it’s a federal decision upheld by the Supreme Court.”

If that is not enough to stop you, consider this: Would you buy a pair of shoes for your wife or girlfriend?  Probably not.  Because you can’t be sure they would fit her foot properly or that she would actually like them.  Guns are like Shoes.  Yes, really.

If you really want to help your significant other get into the sport of shooting or guns for self defense, consider a training class first and foremost.  Without training, any weapon can be useless or even self destructive.  If safety is on your mind, education is absolutely the most important gift you can give another person.

Purchase a training class from a reputable instructor, or consider a gift certificate and let her pick out an instructor or class that meets her needs.  A good class will not only teach her gun safety and operation, it will go a long way towards helping her to understand HOW TO CHOOSE A HANDGUN.

In today’s world, learning to safely operate a gun could save a life.  Even if you don’t own or carry a gun.  What would you do if you found a dropped gun?  How would you respond to an Active Shooter Event?  Training is everything.  Choosing the tool is secondary.

Women and Guns offers customized training for women and is offering a FREE training class on Active Shooter Training.  Click on the link for details.

 

 

 

Classes for Women – What makes them different?

28 Monday Nov 2016

Posted by in Gun Safety, Just for Women, Self Defense, Training

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, ,

Classes for women only vs classes combining genders.  What’s the difference?

First, let’s look at what is the same.

  1. The content of the curriculum

That is all I could come up with for the “what is the same” in the classes I teach.

Let’s look at what might be different in an all women’s class:

  1. Location: is the location climate controlled with comfortable seating?  Or is it cold, hard benches/seating, poor lighting, and disgusting restroom facilities?
  2. Attendees: do the attendees share the same concerns, fears, and goals for the class?  Or do some of them simply want to be entertained or experience the thrill of shooting a gun?  Or, did the court mandate attendance in a gun safety class?
  3. Details: Do details really matter? Or is it more important to “cut to the chase”, and just learn how to load, point and shoot?
  4. Support: do the attendees place a high priority on receiving support from the instructor and other students, both during the class and as a follow up after the class?  Or are they just looking for the class to be over so they can go out and purchase a gun and go shooting with their friends, or start carrying for self defense?
  5. Perspectives: do women have a different perspective when it comes to self defense, planning, deadly weapons, and empowerment?  Or do they feel they are tough enough to handle any situation without help from others?
  6. Are the instructor(s) female?  Or men, and do they have an accurate understanding of a women’s perspective on guns and safety?  Or an ego that dictates what is best for the students?

This is a short list.  I could go on, but I think I have touched on the most important differences.

The classes offered at Women and Guns Training Company are customized to meet the needs of women, not men.

That being said, there are many men who value the same teaching style and level of detail that we offer in our women only classes.

However, 4 years of teaching coed classes has taught me the learning environment is quite different in a coed class.  And many women simply don’t feel comfortable enough to participate.

It is not a question of right or wrong.  It is just a fact that should not be discounted.

I understand and accept this difference, and try to provide the best possible learning opportunity for all women.

There is an abundance of coed classes available for men, many that are attended primarily by men.

Men and women both, should be able to attend a class where they don’t have to compromise their comfort or safety, while obtaining education that meets their needs and expectations.

Are you ready? CCW Considerations.

07 Monday Nov 2016

Posted by in Concealed Carry, Just for Women, Self Defense, Training

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

,

This article by the Personal Defense Network is excellent!  A must read for anyone considering carry a concealed firearm.  There is so much more to it than just learning to operate the gun and hit a paper target at the range.

ARE YOU READY TO CARRY A DEFENSIVE FIREARM?

By

smith wesson handgun

I’m not asking if you passed an arbitrary state minimum course or qualification course as an armed professional. I’m asking, are you really ready to carry a defensive firearm? Many people in both the civilian and professional worlds seem to believe that passing these minimum standards means they are ready — but that could not be further from the truth.Much more training and study are required to get to the level you should attain prior to carrying a defensive firearm. You don’t need to be an expert shooter. In this article I explain what I believe your minimum level should be prior to carrying a defensive firearm.

I teach a lot of newer students who are taking a defensive handgun training class to obtain their concealed handgun license. Many of them are able to meet the requirement but in my opinion are not ready to carry. I am open about this with students and in certain situations have even told students, “Don’t carry a gun.” Here are a few things I think are important to prepare you beyond an arbitrary state minimum requirement.

Using deadly force to protect property or money is wrong regardless of legal issues. Photo: author

MENTALITY

Prior to carrying a defensive firearm, take a step back and check your reasons for carrying. If these reasons include to stop a robbery, protect your money, your car stereo, or any other personal property, you should not carry a defensive firearm. Trying to stop crime as a civilian is absurd. Your defensive firearm’s only mission is to protect you or others from a threat of serious bodily injury or death, not from financial loss. The financial, psychological, and social losses of using deadly force far outweigh any benefit, and killing someone over property is not acceptable in modern society.

Law enforcement officers do not get this luxury and are sent into the bad places to capture the bad people, but there are important notes for mentality in law enforcement as well. Many times law enforcement has trouble backing away from a situation to get help. The complacency of the “routine” domestic call or “routine” traffic stop, where the person is being verbally or physically non-compliant, can be a killer. Understanding that just because 100 people in the past eventually complied does not mean that the 101st is going to can save your life.

Recently in my area, an LEO entered a room with a subject who had mental health issues and was believed to possibly have a handgun. The LEO left himself very exposed, and the subject used a pistol-shaped object under his shirt to convince the LEO he had a handgun. The incident ended with the LEO shooting and killing the suspect. I believe this LEO’s intentions were good and he didn’t think for a moment he would need to shoot the suspect. I am sure in his fairly lengthy law enforcement career he had been involved in many similar calls that ended peacefully.

The fact that the LEO entered the room did not make it “wrong” that he shot the suspect, but this is a case where a life may have been saved had the LEO reconsidered entering the room. This is a perfect example of when using discretion and accepting that you cannot solve by yourself all the issues you will face is important knowledge to have.

Reading On Combat is a great way to learn about the psychological and physiological effects of combat.

On the other end of the psychological spectrum is the person who is not capable of using their firearm. The act of killing another human is a difficult task mentally. This is especially true in close quarters, which is where your defensive encounter is most likely to occur as a civilian or in law enforcement patrol operations. You must mentally prepare yourself for the idea that by carrying a defensive firearm, you are accepting that you may need to take another human’s life. Using techniques such as visualization, realistic training targets, or reality-based training using Simunitions can help.I suggest reading Lt. Col. Dave Grossman’s book On Combat to learn more about the psychology of killing in combat. It explains how you are affected mentally and physically in a fight and how you should prepare. Lt. Col. Grossman is also a PDN contributor and covers these topics in numerous videos here on the PDN site.

SAFETY

Many people carry prior to being ready from a safety perspective. People often tell me they carry without a round in the chamber for safety reasons. I am always quick to tell those individuals that they are not ready to carry a handgun if they are not comfortable with the idea of a loaded chamber. Modern defensive pistols are made to only fire if the trigger is pressed. Specifically, striker-fired semi-automatics have nearly a 0% chance of going off unless the trigger is pressed. Many times I have seen someone fumble a draw and throw their gun, and never once has there been an issue with the gun going off.

Why then do people feel the need to carry without a round chambered? I believe they are compensating for their lack of training and understanding, as well as attempting to cover themselves for their lack of trigger-finger discipline. Training yourself not to touch the trigger unless you are prepared for a bullet to leave the muzzle is the best way to prevent a negligent discharge. Your trigger finger should be high and away from the trigger and not visible from the other side of the handgun.

In every defensive handgun training class I teach, I have students with trigger-finger issues. I suggest to many of them that they practice where to place their finger – but not with their defensive firearm. Instead, get a toy gun or an airsoft gun. Hold it while you are watching TV or other such activities and make sure you maintain proper trigger-finger discipline. If you continue to have trouble, tape your finger in the proper position with first-aid tape. Continue doing this until it becomes natural to hold the pistol in this manner.

Law enforcement is by no means exempt from this rule. I have heard of departments that will not move to striker-fired guns due to worries of officers having negligent discharges. If an officer has issues with trigger-finger discipline, they are no more ready to carry a gun than the average citizen with the same issue. One department I know of with this issue carries a traditional double-action pistol that has a heavier first trigger press for this reason and will not make the switch. I have read research that shows the clenching of the hands when holding an object that is caused when the person is startled has been measured at up to 25 pounds. This far exceeds what is necessary to fire a double-action trigger. The answer is not a piece of equipment but more training for the officers who have the issue.

emergency medical kit

GET MEDICAL TRAINING

I carry a firearm the vast majority of the time, but also a small trauma kit, including a tourniquet. I cannot stress enough how important medical training is. Even though I am a firearms instructor teaching defensive handgun training, I firmly believe medical training is more important. I routinely tell classes this and they look shocked. I remind them that although I have never had to shoot someone, I have had to render first aid many times. I hope it stays that way.

You are much more likely to need to bandage a wound, stop bleeding, or provide CPR than you are to shoot someone. If you are in the unlikely situation of shooting someone, your chances of needing this medical knowledge are extremely high as well.

If you are carrying a defensive firearm to protect life, you should also know how to protect life through basic medical training.

For any medical gear you carry, open the package and learn where each item is located. Having the right equipment (bandages, hemostatic agent, et al) but not knowing where they are or how to use them means you waste valuable time.

firing-line

DEFENSIVE HANDGUN TRAINING

Taking a single intro-level class or even a law enforcement qualification course by no means completely prepares you for carrying a defensive firearm. In fact I believe you can never be prepared enough. You should continue to train not only to increase your skill levels but to maintain them. Defensive shooting skills are perishable and you do not want to find out how many of those skills you have lost when you need them to save your life.

I can personally attest to some loss of skills myself. A few years ago, I had more time for defensive handgun training and practice on a regular basis. But now being busy teaching and working full-time makes it hard to find time to practice. I have fit training into my schedule and can see a depreciation in my skill level. I am now making even more of an effort to seek out training myself to improve my skill level and knowledge. Even after taking a single class recently, I saw dramatic improvement.

This does not necessarily mean you have to pay hundreds of dollars to train every month, but you should be out practicing defensive drills that you have learned in class to maintain and improve your proficiency. Taking a new class every month or even every three months may not give you the time required to become proficient in those skills. Learn the skills and practice them, then seek further knowledge rather than just bombarding your brain with a lot of different knowledge and not being able to ingrain it.

Three Things You aren’t Taught In Your Concealed Carry Course

13 Tuesday Sep 2016

Posted by in Concealed Carry, Just for Women, Self Defense

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

ConcealedCarryClass OC 2
64

Three Things You Aren’t Taught In Your Concealed Carry Course

Posted by Brandon Curtis, November 6, 2015

By Robert Farago via The Truth About Guns

I oppose mandatory firearms training. It violates our Second Amendment protection against government infringement on the right to keep and bear arms. That said, I’ve been impressed with the instruction rammed down my metaphorical throat. Tedious yes, but comprehensive; instructors cover everything from how a gun works to the legal use of deadly force to anger management and firearms retention (added in Texas for licensed open carry). Plus live fire! But the classes don’t cover everything. Here are three things they don’t teach you in a concealed carry class . . .

Carrying a Gun Makes You Paranoid – At Least at First

The first time you strap on a concealed firearm, it feels like you’re carrying a Howitzer. Like you’re wearing a T-shirt that says “I’VE GOT A GUN!” Even in states with a gun-friendly culture (e.g., Arizona), first-time concealed carriers worry that a stranger is going to see their gun and confront them.

Pistol-packing paranoia makes perfect sense. Public speaking is Americans’ greatest fear; we’re hard-wired to be afraid of public embarrassment. (Loss of social status is a thing.) Being “outed” while carrying a gun – especially by someone who’s rabidly anti-gun and/or terrified of guns – is public speaking on steroids. “Oh my God. He’s got a gun! What do you need that for?”

Even if you live in a gun friendly culture, this fear isn’t completely unrealistic. No matter how much you mentally rehearse a reply to gun shamers or prepare for a police response (the police!), the prospect of “armed confrontation” still creates low-level paranoia (and constant checking of cover garments). It’s not comfortable.

Exposure therapy is the only “cure” for this paranoia. More precisely, lack of exposure therapy. The more you carry a concealed firearm without being “outed,” the less paranoia or anxiety you feel. It’s simply something you have to go through; a condition that lasts between a week and a month. The trick: go through it. If you find excuses not to carry daily, the paranoia will never disappear entirely. Or you might eventually abandon the whole idea of concealed carry.

Carrying a gun changes your personality – for the better

Gun control advocates have this strange idea: they believe that carrying a gun makes a person into amucho macho trigger-happy Clint Eastwood wanna-be.

Like so many of the antis’ “arguments,” they’ve got it exactly backwards. Carrying a gun make you lessconfrontational. D’uh. Why would you want to engage in any confrontation when any confrontation could lead to escalation which could lead to a gunfight which is something you don’t want to have? Which you could have, now, because you have a gun.

This confrontation avoidance thought process becomes second nature. You become far less likely – if not completely unlikely – to engage in road rage or any sort of argy-bargy with a stranger. Sure there are concealed carriers with anger issues – which don’t disappear when they receive the state’s blessing to bear arms. But that’s not you, a person who took the time to read an article entitled Three Things They Don’t Teach You In Your Concealed Carry Class.

Another psychological aspect instructors don’t mention: concealed carry makes you more independent. By assuming direct responsibility for your own safety, the safety of your loved ones, and the safety of other innocent life (optional), you lose your inherent perhaps subconscious dependency on the state’s protection. You realize that you are a sovereign citizen.

I don’t mean that in the terrorist sense of the term (obviously). It’s an understanding that you’re in control of your own destiny in the worst case scenario: when controlling your destiny is a matter of life and death. Which makes you feel more in control of your own destiny at other, less dramatic times.

Don’t get me wrong: firearms instructors talk (and talk and talk) about the enormous responsibility of carrying a deadly weapon. Fair enough. What they don’t tell you is how good, how right that feels. How it makes you a better person.

Carrying a gun is addictive

The only way to tell if you’re addicted to something: remove it and see if you suffer withdrawal. At the risk of giving the antis [additional] ammo to deride Americans exercising their gun rights, I’m going to say it. Concealed carry is addictive.

Anyone who carries a gun on an everyday basis can tell you about those times when they suddenly realize they’re not carrying one. Like when they disarm to go into Whole Foods, forget to rearm and enter a non-gun-free zone. Crap! I don’t have my gun! They’re plagued by the niggling (at best) thought “what if this is the one time I need it?” Which, by the way, can happen.

The paranoia/anxiety of having a gun eventually becomes the paranoia/anxiety of nothaving a gun. Traveling to states that don’t recognize your concealed carry license/permit can be an ordeal for a habituated concealed carrier. There are gun owners who won’t go anywhere where their gun isn’t welcome: local businesses, entire states and foreign countries.

Normally, NGP (No-Gun Paranoia) manifests itself in increased situational awareness: scanning for bad people, checking exits, carrying or contemplating alternative weapons, etc. Gun control advocates believe this behavior indicates some kind of moral weakness or personality disorder. It is, in fact, a normal, natural survival instinct, amplified by carrying a concealed weapon on a regular basis.

I’m sure those of you who carry have other examples of what you didn’t learn in concealed carry class. Please share them below.

Wasp Spray vs. Pepper Spray

29 Monday Aug 2016

Posted by in Just for Women, Self Defense

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Many of my students come to class and share their idea that Wasp Spray is better than Pepper Spray.  It is not.  And I tell them so, and explain why.

Great Article from Guns.com

Wasp spray for self-defense?

10/30/15| by

 Wasp spray is not a substitute for pepper spray (and neither are substitutes for a gun).

Facebook posts usually don’t get me riled up, but as I perused my news feed the other day one in particular got my blood pressure up. It was one of those posts that read like an email chain and had been simply shared by one of my Facebook friends.

The post described how wasp spray is a better substitute for pepper spray. I won’t subject you to the pseudo-facts presented in this article, because frankly it was all misinformation that doesn’t need to be printed twice.

Wasp spray, for the record, should never be used in lieu of OC or pepper spray. Let’s put this myth to rest with some facts on why insect spray should stay in the cupboard.

Legal woes

“It is a violation of Federal law to use this product in a manner inconsistent with its labeling.” That little nugget is the very first sentence written under directions of use. Before the company even delves into describing how to use the product, they want to ensure you know that it is illegal to use it for anything other than the killing of insects.

By knowingly carrying wasp spray as a self-defense tool, you not only are placing yourself in danger (which we’ll get to later) but you’re also opening yourself up to some legal repercussions. You will have quite the time trying to explain to the bad guy’s lawyer why you were using a product outside of its intended purposes when it clearly states not to do so.

Pepper spray labels will carry similar warnings only with the mention that they are intended for self defense.

Pepper, or OC, spray on the other hand carries a warning similar to this; “The use of this substance or device for any purpose other than self defense is a crime under the law.” It’s important to note that pepper spray explicitly names self-defense as its intended purpose.

The moral of this story is if you want less legal headaches; choose the spray that explicitly touts itself as a self-defense product.

Effectiveness

The Facebook post argues that wasp spray acts just as well as pepper spray at disabling an attacker. To better understand how wrong this information is, let’s talk about what each spray contains and how they work.  Capsaicin, the active ingredient in pepper spray, is an inflammatory agent that incapacitates an attacker.

Pepper spray is an inflammatory agent. The active ingredient, capsaicin, affects the eyes, skin and respiratory system causing an involuntary, physiological reaction. Upon contact with the eyes, eyelids immediately shut and eyes water profusely. Contact with the nose and mouth results in contractions of the esophagus, trachea and respiratory tract ultimately restricting breathing. It also irritates skin, causing a burning sensation. Rubbing only makes the effects worsen. Water helps but it can take up to 45 minutes for symptoms to dissipate.

Wasp spray is a combination of chemicals but uses a pyrethroid compound as the active ingredient. This compound affects the nervous system of insects causing paralysis and ultimately death. Most vertebrates have sufficient enzymes to counteract pyrethroids, meaning they aren’t as effective on us as they are on insects.

The active pyrethroid compound in wasp spray attacks insects nervous systems but is not nearly as effective on other animals.

Individuals with very sensitive skin or an allergy to an ingredient in the wasp spray may experience greater side effects. It’s impossible, though, to know whether your attacker is one of those people. There’s no reason to risk wasp spray on the off chance your assailant is effected when there is an alternative that has been tested on humans and is known to cause involuntary physiological reactions.

If you prefer proof in the video form, wander over to SABRE’s Youtube page and watch astheir “assailant” faces a both wasp spray and pepper spray.

Distance and accuracy

Well what about accuracy and distance? Does wasp spray have an advantage? The answer is no. While a can of Raid may say that it can fire up to 27 feet, the reality is that the further the stream goes the wider it gets. Your only real shot is to get someone directly in the eyes with the wasp spray, but if the stream dissipates all over the place before it hits the target, you’re not going to accomplish that shot.

The only time to chose the wasp spray is when there is no other choice.

Distance on pepper spray depends on the style of canister. Foggers and spray guns can reach between 20 and 25 feet; while the handheld variety usually fall between 10 and 12 feet. I’d gladly trade a few feet of distance for a product that I know works on most assailants versus one that requires precise aim.

Final Thoughts

I always prefer a concealed handgun to pepper spray, but in some states that’s just not an option. If you’re suffering under a non-pistol friendly regime and spray is all you have make sure you’re choosing the right one. Leave the wasp spray for the wasps.

The First 4 Hours – Your MAP

23 Tuesday Aug 2016

Posted by in Just for Women, Self Defense

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , ,

The creation of many different websites, blogs, and Facebook pages dedicated to encouraging female shooters and support of the 2nd amendment is a great testimony to the increased involvement of women in a gun society that has always been dominated by men.  This is a big step for women, and I am very pleased to see things changing in this way.  That being said, this fact also raises some serious concerns in my mind.  These concerns are not unique to women, but also apply to the gun owning community in general.  But today my focus is on the female gun owners or those considering the purchase of a gun.

Since the inception of my Women and Guns blog, (and subsequent training school), I have always placed great emphasis on personal safety and planning.  Without proper training and preparation, the gun can be a dangerous tool to employ in any emergency.  Simply put, “The gun does not keep you safe.”  This statement is repeated at the beginning of every class I teach.  This is often met with a look of confusion on the faces of many of my students.  After all, they paid their registration fee and showed up for class to “learn how to shoot”, with thoughts of possessing a gun as being the much needed solution to all of their personal and home safety needs.  Nothing could be further from the truth.

When dealing with any threat, whether it be created by mother nature, or initiated by a human with criminal intent to harm you , proper preparation in advance of the event has been proven to be the most effective way to survive and minimize damage.  Preparation is the most effective tool.  As instructors, these skills should be the first and most important skills taught to current and future gun owners – before encouraging women to buy, shoot and carry guns. (Gun retailers will surely hate me for making this statement.)  Oh well.  I could write an entire article on the manner in which gun store employees conduct themselves.  Maybe another time.

The First 4 Hours of every class I teach is spent on awareness, observation skills, avoiding violence, and developing and implementing home, automobile and personal safety plans with the goal of preventing violent criminal confrontations.   I refer to this as their MAP. (I would prefer more hours be spent on this subject).  

As instructors, these skills should be the first and most important skills taught to current and future gun owners – before encouraging women to buy, shoot and carry guns.   

Most, if not every student that has made the decision to take a gun class has done so because they no longer feel safe.  Some have already been victimized, other’s are hoping to avoid becoming a victim.  Some simply state they feel it is time.  They may have husbands with a safe full of guns at home, none of which they have ever touched.  It is not unusual to meet students that are realtors, live alone, or have husbands that are currently deployed.  More and more seniors, (often widows), are coming to class.  Their safety and the safety of their loved ones’s is the number one reason they have decided to buy or learn to shoot a gun.  I am grateful they have made the decision to take a Basic Handgun Class.  I am also aware their first class should not be their last class.  Sadly, this will be the case for many women. Not only in my classes, but in other classes across the country.  The reasons are many: financial, not enough time, not a priority, and others.  We can’t force people to seek out additional training.

With rights come responsibilities.  Including instructor responsibilities – you are responsibly for the consequences of the advice you give.  A gun is a great equalizer in the hands of a trained woman.  It can also be a tool to do great harm to innocents, (including the gun owner), should it not be handled and stored correctly.  Common sense is not a given.  No one is born knowing how to safely handle, operate, store and employ a gun in every situation.  (Guys, that includes you.)  Anti-gun supporters will use every negligent incident to further their cause. 

This is why it is so important to teach these women the skills of Mindset, Awareness and Preparation.  I refer to this skill set as their MAP.  With a good MAP, you will know where to go and how to get there.  Should things ever get to the point of needing the gun, maybe, just maybe, a basic knowledge of gun operation learned in a basic gun class will be enough.  I would much rather see a women be able to avoid a violent criminal encounter by employing their MAP skills, than having to use deadly force to stop her attacker.  Wouldn’t you?

To learn more about personal safety, self defense and firearms training classes, go to our website at www.womenssafedefense.com