1. Some people, not all of them female, believe that if an abusive person knows he runs the risk of arrest, he will do nothing to increase the likelihood of arrest. If we are dealing with calm, law-abiding people, this is probably true. The threat of arrest may protect a person from being mildly harassed by some innocent but harmless lovestruck soul who does not realize that persistence can equal harassment.
2. In many jurisdictions, the cops can do more to protect someone who has a restraining order on file than someone who just calls 911 out of the blue and says “this guy is bothering me, come and arrest him.” The restraining order permits them to act far more swiftly and decisively. In the area where I live, anyone who complains of harassment, stalking, or endangerment is required to seek a restraining order. This is in a sense a protection for the accused, because it means that both parties must appear in court before a judge, who can make some determination about whether (for instance) an innocent man is being accused by a vindictive wife.
3. Anybody of either sex who is really being threatened would be insane not to obtain a gun and undertake serious firearms training, spend lots of time on the range, make real security upgrades to his/her home, and let the perp know that s/he will blow his/her head off. Keep a weapon on you and be prepared to use it whether your state allows you to or not; it’s better to be judged by 12 than carried by six.
I am very glad that more and more people, especially women, are getting weapons and seeking formal firearms instruction. They realize that the best police force in the world can’t always be there for them, round the clock. You can’t depend on government to solve all your problems for you.
>>I am very glad that more and more people, especially women, are getting weapons and seeking formal firearms instruction. They realize that the best police force in the world can’t always be there for them, round the clock. You can’t depend on government to solve all your problems for you.<<
As one guy said a few years ago, “The police are merely secretaries with guns.”
Police are not there to protect you. They are there to clean up the mess afterward and try to find out who did it. If one wants protection, one must find ways to protect themself. Guns, wasp spray, fences, cameras, motion detectors, minefields with tripwires... Wait a sec. Better scrap that last one.
very good post. Thanks.