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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
Isn't it GREAT? … … GOD & GUNS & OLD GLORY & GUTS!!! ....all are 'fashionable' again! … … 

:^D ~ Yay!!!

................Never went 'out of style' at MY HOUSE!

41 posted on 10/13/2001 6:36:28 PM PDT by Pray4USA
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To: Mercuria
When I moved back to Texas in April of this year one of the first things I did was take some instruction in shooting and then a concealed weapons course. Finally after meeting my 6 month residency I sent my ap in for my CW license. Today I went out with my instructor to learn to shoot a rifle. I'm grateful to my NRA Instructor and to my CW Instructor.
42 posted on 10/13/2001 6:37:12 PM PDT by nancetc
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To: Mercuria
I posted it in FR awhile back.

Anyway, MCRGO memberships are steadily increasing, and there was an article about 2 weeks ago mentioning the amount of ladies getting CCW permits. That's definatly a good thing.

43 posted on 10/13/2001 6:38:18 PM PDT by Dan from Michigan
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To: Landru
"What's CNN's angle here reporting those stats; just what are those Leftist ticks up to, anyway..."

VPC is trying to lay the blame on "American gun manufacturers" for supplying the terrorist element of Afghanis with guns.

The members of the Violence Policy Center have gone beyond the realm of tastelessness in their eagerness to exploit the grief of Americans to continue their agenda of disarming law-abiding citizens. Naomi Seligman's organization continues to utilize the fraudulent and debunked studies of Kellermann, as well as conveniently forgetting that the horror of September 11th was committed totally without the benefit of firearms.

The Violence Policy Center made no mention in their press release or on their website the U.S. government's past assistance in arming Afghanis against Soviet occupation.

VPC and Ms. Seligman have risen to their grossest level of incompetence and desperation in attempting to make their agenda an issue under these circumstances Lacking the courage to address whatever their concerns may be about our government's involvement in arming Afghanistan in the past against the Soviet Union, instead they attempt to lay blame on "the gun industry".

I know that the founders of Liberty Belles have the stomach to take up any grievances they have with the U.S. government on the issue of gun control.

Since VPC is too cowardly to do likewise with their issues, they attempt once again to underestimate the intelligence of the American people through a press release that proves nothing but the VPC's own desperation to remain relevant in the eyes of their moneyed, misinformed supporters.

(And the same goes for Sarah Brady...I'm extraordinarily sorry about what happened to her husband, but disarming the good citizens of America is NOT the answer, Sarah!!)

44 posted on 10/13/2001 6:41:52 PM PDT by Mercuria
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To: Mercuria
I'm glad to see this. Few things are more sexier than a woman using a firearm.
45 posted on 10/13/2001 6:43:12 PM PDT by Mulder
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To: agrace
Bummer, a double failure, first your Dad is a lifetime member of an organization that really stands for nothing, and WHY didn't he teach you to shoot as you were growing up?
My daughter got a .22 semiauto rifle for her 8th birthday and has fired various revolvers, semiauto pistols and rifles, single shot and pump shotguns, AND fully automatic weapons, like the M-16, Uzi, Tommy gun and H & K MP-5 over the last ten years.
46 posted on 10/13/2001 6:44:43 PM PDT by Unbeliever
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To: Mulder
I'll give a big AMEN!!! to that.
47 posted on 10/13/2001 6:45:31 PM PDT by eyebeme
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To: Mercuria
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.

Well, at least this was not the new changes and the "all" feature. LOL

I loved his comment you quoted, but I think he blew it with the one above. One of the major reasons to carry is protect oneself from situations one has no control over.

48 posted on 10/13/2001 6:50:57 PM PDT by Angelique
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To: Unbeliever
The NRA is a damn good organazation that I'm proud to be a part of. They are the ones that stepped up to the plate in my state for Right to Carry.
49 posted on 10/13/2001 6:53:09 PM PDT by Dan from Michigan
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To: Dan from Michigan
I lived in Southaven for about a year while I worked in Memphis. They DO NOT tolerate crime (even traffic) there to the point of obsession. Also, the kids there say the Pledge there every morning in school; always have.

As a rule, N Mississippians don't put up with alot of BS - I'd LOVE to see BinRaghead try something there. Big Mistake! HUGE.

50 posted on 10/13/2001 6:54:08 PM PDT by clee1
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To: Mercuria
According to Ross Dykman, exec director of MCRGO, 4000(probably outdated number) permits have been issued so far, and the number is still going up each month.
51 posted on 10/13/2001 6:54:32 PM PDT by Dan from Michigan
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To: Unbeliever
Anti-gun politicians fear the NRA more than any other gun organization. No other group comes close.
52 posted on 10/13/2001 6:59:38 PM PDT by Shooter 2.5
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To: Mercuria
Just today I sold a 12 ga shotgun, which I can't handle, and bought a 20 ga., which I'm prepared to shoot. Might have to shoot the 20 ga more for the same effect. But more likely to get up from the floor to shoot some more. Shoot what can you can shoot, not the biggest gun on the scene.
53 posted on 10/13/2001 7:08:17 PM PDT by Quietly
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To: Angelique
You are 100% correct, Mademoiselle!

It might be well to say this in Mississippi, where the criminal element isn't QUITE so aggressive, but put the guy in L.A. County for a while and see how one can "avoid" a situation where one doesn't need a gun.

However, I refuse to throw the baby out with the bathwater.

I'm glad that the ladies from Southaven were offered an opportunity to learn to defend themselves.

54 posted on 10/13/2001 7:09:10 PM PDT by Mercuria
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To: Mercuria
Awesome quote! Anyone ever said you may have a future in radio? lol
55 posted on 10/13/2001 7:12:16 PM PDT by habs4ever
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To: reformjoy
He has a ranch in Chino but I don't know the address.
56 posted on 10/13/2001 7:26:11 PM PDT by doug from upland
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To: reformjoy
He has a ranch in Chino but I don't know the address.
57 posted on 10/13/2001 7:27:05 PM PDT by doug from upland
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To: Mercuria; AnnaZ
Hell has no fury like a woman about to use her gun in self defense!

58 posted on 10/13/2001 10:01:23 PM PDT by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub
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To: agrace
My seven year-old daughter is halfway to getting her black belt in taekwondo.

When she gets a little older, I'm going to offer to teach her to shoot.

If your dad isn't proud and pleased when you ask, let me know and I'll straighten him out :^)

59 posted on 10/14/2001 1:49:11 AM PDT by George Smiley
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To: AAABEST
I helped my Mom (a big time lib, who untill 9-11-01 thought only police and military should have guns) one too!. I will teach her how to use it this week.
60 posted on 10/14/2001 8:29:58 AM PDT by Native American Female Vet
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