Posted on 05/20/2002 12:15:05 PM PDT by tarawa
'Sisters' trumpet gun-owning rights
By April Johnston - Times Staff May 13, 2002
CHIPPEWA TWP. - Diane Leasure, the Beaver County coordinator of Second Amendment Sisters Inc., firmly believes the message printed on her red, white and blue T-shirt.
"Firearms - the ultimate in feminine protection."
Leasure is the holder of a concealed weapon permit, the carrier of a handgun, and a believer that Second Amendment rights should be protected.
She is also the victim of rape.
It's a personal, and painful, incident that Leasure does not feel comfortable discussing with strangers, but she will say this much: if she had been carrying a gun on that day, her situation would have been very different.
"A gun makes me feel safer - much safer than just knowing martial arts or carrying a knife," she said, her eyes brimming with tears. "I started carrying (a gun) as soon as I knew I could."
And now she is committed to ensuring that she will always be able to carry that protection.
Leasure met, along with two other women who would not disclose their names, in the Trap Range Trailer at the Beaver Valley Rifle & Pistol Club on Sunday afternoon. This is the second time the three women have gathered as the Beaver County chapter of the Second Amendment Sisters to discuss their rights and talk about ways to educate and recruit other women.
The Second Amendment Sisters, a grassroots, nonprofit organization formed in 1999 by five women, now spans 36 states. In 2000 the group joined for its inaugural event, the Armed In-formed Mothers' March. It was held on Mother's Day in May of 2000.
So it seemed fitting to Leasure that her small core of women meet on Mother's Day this year to plan recruiting events and reassure each other that their mission to protect their second amendment rights is thriving and strong.
"I heard this verse and I've never forgotten it," Leasure said as she sat in the trailer with an issue of Women and Guns magazine open in front of her.
"When they took my Fourth Amendment rights I was quiet because I didn't deal drugs.
"When they took the Sixth Amendment I was quiet because I was innocent.
"When they took the Second Amendment I was quiet because I didn't own a gun. Now they've taken the First Amendment and I can say nothing about it."
The three women fell silent, absorbing the message.
"The Second Amendment is our only true defense," Leasure added.
The Beaver County chapter of the Second Amendment Sisters meets at 3 p.m. on the second Sunday of the month at the Beaver Valley Rifle & Pistol Club.
Those interested in joining can access the Web site by going to www.2asisters.net/pa or e-mail Leasure at pa __beaver__coord@2asisters.org.
OTOH, a woman with a gun is (almost) the combat equal of a man.
THAT'S NOT TRUE!! Or rather, it's only partially true. Just a little bit. Not often. Well, sometimes. Only occasionally can they...uh...well...
(Slinking away silently hoping no one will notice...)
Having said that, it's still amazes me how many people continue to think that women arming themselves for personal protection is a bad thing!
One of a list of things you have to believe to believe in gun control is that somehow a woman who has been beaten, raped and choked to death with her pantyhose is somehow considered more morally correct than a picture of a woman with a smoking gun and a dead rapist at her feet. Go figure....
Don't blame me; I stole it from another FReeper.
A gun works better than that.
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