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Women taking lessons on using guns
Scripps Howard News Service ^ | October 12, 2001 | Jennifer Biggs

Posted on 10/13/2001 2:31:38 PM PDT by Mercuria

SOUTHAVEN, Miss. - The police department here armed 50 women this week and Chief Tom Long gave them this frank advice:

"It's better to be judged by 12 than carried by six."

The advice was heartfelt and in the spirit of the class.

"We're not trying to tell anyone to violate the law," Long said. "But we have to stress that personal safety should be everyone's primary goal."

The class, devoted to handguns, drew an overflow crowd. Capt. Phil Cox said about 100 women were turned away because there wasn't enough room.

At the session, Long and Cox explained different types of handguns, showed how to load them and demonstrated how to shoot them, including a lesson on recoil.

Recoil is the kickback of a gun after it's fired. Long told the students to lock their wrists and elbows to direct the recoil through their arms to their bodies. Controlling recoil is particularly important in self-defense shooting, Long said, because one shot is usually not enough.

"A one-shot stop with a handgun just usually doesn't happen," he said.

Linda Henderson, 62, said she knows a little about guns, but wants to conquer her fear. "I've been shown several times how to use them, but I'm still scared of them," she said. "I think I'll get more out of this class than my husband and my son showing me."

Betty Bigelow, 57, was accompanied by her daughter, Kelley, 21. "We thought it would be good to know how to defend ourselves," Betty said. "We drive back and forth to Memphis a lot."

Kelley Bigelow said she wants to learn how to use a gun so she'll feel comfortable having one.

"There's this overconfidence in just having a gun," she said. "You feel safe having it, but if you don't know how to use it, you can get hurt."

And even though knowing how to use a gun is a good defense, Long said there's a better one.

"The first thing, the best thing, is don't put yourself in a situation where you need a gun," Long said.


(Contact Jennifer Biggs of The Commercial Appeal in Memphis, Tenn., at http://www.gomemphis.com.)


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; News/Current Events
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To: Mercuria
How ironic the notion of women defending themselves by using a firearm, should become trendy given the PC nightmare of the past 8 years.

I was in Indianapolis past few days, & all the hotel offered in the way of cable news, was CNN.
The Leftist sleeze extruder continually ran a "news" ribbon at the screen's bottom saying gun sales in Texas are up 100%, & CC lic applications were going ballistic.

Given who it was running those ribbons I wondered, "What's CNN's angle here reporting those stats; just what are those Leftist ticks up to, anyway..."

21 posted on 10/13/2001 4:33:40 PM PDT by Landru
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To: Mercuria
This is the best thing I've read today. Hats off to the Chief for taking the commonsense approach to self-defence and not parroting the usual anti-gun drivel.
22 posted on 10/13/2001 4:34:44 PM PDT by backlash
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To: Mercuria
Oh yeah..great post!! http://www.armedfemalesofamerica.com/..we oughtta notify carma too!
23 posted on 10/13/2001 4:51:56 PM PDT by Freedom2specul8
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To: Mercuria
BUMPING YOU WITH THE NO-NONSENSE SONG OF PISTOL PACKIN' MAMAS EVERYWHERE
24 posted on 10/13/2001 5:17:24 PM PDT by doug from upland
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To: Mercuria
Yesterday, I, a woman who loves shooting pistols, had the honor of answering handgun questions by a fellow I work with. He wants the ability to defend his family if needed.

The interesting thing is he has different scenarios of having to use a gun in self-defense running through his head and is wondering of legal ramifications and all. I offered to loan him two books which he gladly accepted, "The Seven Myths of Gun Control" by Richard Poe and "Second Amendment: Preserving the Unalienable Right" by David Barton. I'm hoping the same will happen to him that happened to me, that he will not only be armed with a gun soon but also armed and secure with the knowledge of his constitutional rights and the truth about guns and self-defense.

If anyone meets up with ladies who wants to know more about their Second Amendment rights, it is my firm belief you would do them well recommending these books to them.

And a word of warning to women considering getting a handgun: Shooting Is Great Fun!

Another Second Amendment Sister
Wisconsin

25 posted on 10/13/2001 6:00:37 PM PDT by Ladysmith
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To: doug from upland
Hey doug, do you happen to know an address where all of us George Putnam fans can send him cards or letters? Since KRLA was so cruel to their longtime Host, I feel bad that there's no way to let Putnam know we love him and miss his show.

I certainly wouldn't send cards to the station!

26 posted on 10/13/2001 6:02:01 PM PDT by reformjoy
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To: Mercuria
"A one-shot stop with a handgun just usually doesn't happen,"

Then again, there is the unusual.

27 posted on 10/13/2001 6:17:03 PM PDT by Joe 6-pack
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To: Mercuria
Thanks for the ping. That old Southern saying surfaces once again, and it's so true:

Better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6.

28 posted on 10/13/2001 6:17:52 PM PDT by Twodees
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To: Mercuria
Amen!!
29 posted on 10/13/2001 6:27:21 PM PDT by blackie
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To: AAABEST; agrace
TERRIFIC!!!

Liberty Belles, the organization to which I belong, is ALL FOR ladies learning how to defend themselves using whatever means necessary...including a firearm!

We even have some great California members who are offering to assist ladies in learning the basics or "freshening up" their skills on the gun ranges.

Thank goodness for willing patriots like THEM!! Too many think that supporting the Second Amendment means simply throwing money at an organization, or keeping members (especially women) informed, but not necessarily encouraging PROFICIENCY in the instruments that will equip them to battle the criminal elements that might intrude upon them...or even protecting their lives by becoming gun OWNERS.

Liberty Belles wants criminals to FEAR the law-abiding women of America!

30 posted on 10/13/2001 6:27:31 PM PDT by Mercuria
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To: TEXASPROUD
Keepin' it dry, my dear Texan...keepin' it dry. **g**
31 posted on 10/13/2001 6:28:02 PM PDT by Mercuria
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To: supercat
On the other hand, even if your ammo has a one-stop percentage of 75%, you still have to be ready to deal with that other 25%.

YOU BETCHA!!!

32 posted on 10/13/2001 6:28:41 PM PDT by Mercuria
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To: 68-69TonkinGulfYatchClub
Hell has no fury like a woman about to use her gun in self defense!

Let EVERY criminal in America hear your wisdom. AMEN!

33 posted on 10/13/2001 6:29:41 PM PDT by Mercuria
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To: Dan from Michigan
DETAILS, my dear man...DETAILS!!

Let me know what's happening in one of my "home states"!

34 posted on 10/13/2001 6:30:31 PM PDT by Mercuria
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To: Plan B
I prefer the 115 gr. Corbon in .357 mag.
35 posted on 10/13/2001 6:31:04 PM PDT by eyebeme
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To: DoughtyOne
Ladies, you live in a different world than we do. I'm sorry, but thems the facts.

Sad but true, dearest D1.

All the radical feminist hyperventilation in the WORLD is not going to eliminate the fact that criminals are terribly "sexist" when it comes to deciding whom they will make their prey.

36 posted on 10/13/2001 6:32:07 PM PDT by Mercuria
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To: VOA
Got a link to Front Sight?

I'll research it myself while I'm asking you... **g**

37 posted on 10/13/2001 6:32:52 PM PDT by Mercuria
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To: MissAmericanPie
This is most likely the time to watch the gun grabbers closely, this kind of thing will drive them nutz.

I e-mailed this story to BOTH Senators Feinstein and Boxer.

Hehehehehe...live 'n' learn, laydeez!

38 posted on 10/13/2001 6:33:42 PM PDT by Mercuria
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To: HangFire
GO FOR IT!!!
39 posted on 10/13/2001 6:34:10 PM PDT by Mercuria
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To: the irate magistrate
You are MOST welcome...encouraging, isn't it??
40 posted on 10/13/2001 6:34:52 PM PDT by Mercuria
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