A Few Of FR's Finest....Every Day....01-17-03....Armed Females and the Second Amendment

dansangel; Billie

[dansangel]

A Few of FR's Finest.....
......Every Day

FR is a Treasure Trove of talented, compassionate, patriotic, wonderful people who gather every day to discuss the latest news and issues; salute and support our military and our leaders;  tell a few jokes;  learn a new word;  write poetry;  pray for those in need;  and congratulate those who are deserving. Thank you, Jim Robinson, for giving us the vehicle in which we can express ourselves.

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   I can remember lurking when there were only a few regulars who posted, and now there are over 60,000 who have registered for posting privileges. The forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest November 11, 2001

So many people have written me since my original Veteran's Day Tribute, asking how they, or a loved one, could be included in that tribute. Since I can no longer add the photos to the body of the thread, I've been including them in additional posts as I received enough to make another collage.

Still that doesn't seem to be enough. I think there's never been a better nor more appropriate time to keep the faces of our own Veterans and Active Military in front of FReepers--every day! That's why I wanted to do yet another Daily Thread .....ABOUT FReepers .....and FOR FReepers. But not only about our Military FReepers; for all FReepers! Wouldn't it be nice to get to know a few of the other FReepers as well? That's why, in addition to seeing FR's Finest Military Personnel every day, I thought it might be fun to feature a different FReeper (or FReepers) each day. If you would like to be pictured, or know someone who would, please FReepmail me and we'll turn the spotlight - on YOU - for the day!

And do let me know if you'd like your picture added to the groups of Veterans/Active Military below. I will keep this page updated, and continue to add them to the comment section of the original Veteran's Day thread as well.

<

TOP:  g'nad, AgThorn's son Justin, SLB, AgThorn's son Brett.
MIDDLE:  fish70, razorback-bert, CheneyChick,Leroy S Mort, Mark17.
BOTTOM:  Terry's Take, Taxman, DinkyDau.

TOP:  ValerieUSA's son Grant, SK1Thurman, kd5cts, RangerVetNam,
dansangel and .45man's son-in-law Tony
BOTTOM:  rangerX, Old China Hand, Trish, Howlin's dad, Mustang

TOP: ohioWfan's son, MamaBear's father-in-law, MamaBear's dad, ladtx
MIDDLE:  The Mayor's niece, M.Kehoe, Beach_Babe's son-in-law
BOTTOM:  deadhead's dad, HiJinx, Severa's hubby, viligantcitizen's granddad.

TOP:  spectr17, RightOnline, SERE_Doc, Tet68.
MIDDLE:  FutureSnakeEater, RightOnline's wife, CIApilot, Clamper1797
BOTTOM:  usmcobra, onedoug, DiverDave, Joe6-pack

We now have eleven groups of veterans/active military; we will post each group of three or four twice a week, with thumbnail/links of the remaining seven or eight groups on each thread. Click on any of the thumbnails below to see the group full-size.

         

GROUP 1A: TOP: Logos, SwedeGirl's hubby, Neil E Wright, FallGuy, 1John, Sneakypete MIDDLE:  T'wit, COB1, LadyX, Dick Bachert, 68-69TonkinGulfYatchClub BOTTOM:  YankeeinSC, Delta21, JoeSixPack1

GROUP 2A: TOP:  Bosniajmc, AFVetGal, Archy, A Navy Vet MIDDLE:  4TheFlag, Aeronaut, 68Grunt, Xinga BOTTOM:  Codger, AAABest, Clinton's A Liar, Duke809, dcwusmc

GROUP 3A: TOP:  mc5cents, Norb2569, LBGA's son, VanJenerette MIDDLE:  Jim Robinson, KJenerette, davidosborne, KG9Kid BOTTOM:  gwmoore, Equality7-2521, SAMWolf

GROUP 4A: TOP:  porgygirl, Phil V., MudPuppy, NorCoGOP MIDDLE:  RaceBannon, OneidaM, rdb3, jwTexian BOTTOM:  USMC Vet, TheMayor, Vineyard, rhododogma

      

GROUP 9A: TOP: Q6-God, Scan59, Mama Bear and JKPhoto's son, ofMagog. MIDDLE:  Big'ol_freeper, JustAmy's great uncle, Prodigal Son. BOTTOM:  JustAmy's husband, JustAmy's brother-in-law, JustAmy's brother.

GROUP 10A: TOP: dakine's wife, MeeknMing's dad, Auntbee's nephew, MilitiaMan7, AlasBabylon. BOTTOM:  Joe Brower, Temple Owl, Temple Owl's wife, dutchess' dad, Aomagrat.

GROUP 11A: TOP: ladtx #2 son; DiverDave's twin Don; petuniasevan and husband poorman; Mustard; ladtx #1 son. BOTTOM: AlamoGirl's brother Floyd; AG's dad; AG's brother Jim (inset); WVNan's husband; ladtx' Aunt Eva.

                     

Armed Females and The Second Amendment

"A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed."

Anyone who has gotten to know me on Free Republic knows that I am a staunch defender of the Second Amendment. Along with that, I am very vocal when it comes to women defending themselves by training with firearms and carrying concealed.

My Beretta 9mm Custom Carry

My Taurus PT111 Millenium

It is a well-known fact that women are typically attacked and harmed by males in greater numbers than by other females.*

*US Department of Justice Criminal Victimization in the United States, 2000 Statistical Tables, Table 38. Personal crimes of violence, 2000 Percent distribution of single-offender victimizations, by type of crime and perceived gender of offender http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pub/pdf/cvus0002.pdf

It is also a well-known fact that women, due to physiological differences, are not as strong as men. Women have attended personal defense classes in droves in order to protect themselves against assaults by men and in many instances these skills have paid off. It is quite common to read stories in the newspaper or hear stories from acquaintances affirming that competently trained women have successfully defended themselves against rape or bodily harm.

dansangel at the rifle range (first time!) with FreedomPoster's Mini-14

There are several points to consider, however. What if the intended female victim is elderly and in frail health? What if the intended female victim suffers from arthritis, multiple sclerosis or some other condition that compromises strength and agility? What if the attacker comes armed with a knife or, more importantly, a gun? All of the hand-to-hand combat types of self defense techniques in the world will not help such a female victim.

This is where access to "the great equalizer," also known as a handgun, comes into play. What the gun-grabbers do not want you to know is that in many circumstances, merely brandishing a handgun has stopped an assault from happening. The reason this is not common knowledge is because the "Brady Bunch" along with the liberal media strive to keep it from public knowledge. Just knowing this, however, could convince a woman that having access to a gun in the event of an attack is not such a bad idea.

An armed female, however (or anyone for that matter), needs to understand that although one may not need to fire a gun, one must be ready, willing and able to do so in a situation where imminent bodily harm exists. This is a rule of gun ownership that goes hand-in-hand with the cardinal rule: "A gun is ALWAYS loaded. If you point the barrel of a gun at something you must be willing to destroy it."

Returning to the issue of women arming themselves for self-defense, a common argument that is heard during discussion of this is that "women are nurturers, not killers." This is true. No argument there. Following this line of thinking, however, is it not "natural" for a woman to want to preserve life? In a situation where a woman's child, spouse, sibling, friend or parent is in grave danger, wouldn't that woman want to do everything possible to preserve the life of a loved one?

FreedomPoster (foreground) with .45MAN who is trying out the Mini-14, too!

Being a woman, I can safely say that if an attempt was made by an armed assailment to harm my daughter, my husband or any loved one, I would be 1) very grateful for the fact that I have my gun at my disposal and 2) would not hesitate to use it. Likewise, if my own life was at stake, the same two previous conditions would apply.

Another common and credible argument that can be heard is that it is dangerous to have a firearm in a household where there are children. This is true when the household contains children that have not been educated to understand and respect guns. Paxton Quigley, author of "Armed and Female" has several viable suggestions for the safety and education of children.

One of the suggestions she makes is to take a child to an outdoor range and set up a plastic gallon jug full of water. Tell the child that the gallon jug represents a human head. One very well-aimed shot center mass from a medium caliber handgun or rifle will make the jug explode. That is a visual that is bound to leave a lasting impression on a child as to how lethal a gun really is.

In addition to taking the first step to becoming armed, it is absolutely essential that a woman take a gun safety course as well as an armed self-defense course. .45MAN and I took a personal armed defense class run by David Blinder here in Atlanta this past November. It was by far the most valuable practical training that either one of us has had. Not only was there plenty of range time in which defensive skills were learned and practiced, there was classroom time in which the local GA laws governing the taking of a life in self-defense were thoroughly discussed by an attorney who was once a Florida State Trooper.

It is my hope that if you are a woman who is contemplating becoming armed for self-defense, this thread will help to convince you that it is the right decision. No matter how you were brought up, the facts are out there to support the validity and practicality of being armed and female. I was brought up in a liberal, gun-hating home. During my conversion to conservatism, I became the victim of a crime against property. That was all of the convincing that I needed to decide that becoming an informed and trained gun-owner was a natural extension of my conservative conversion.

I have never looked back.

The following links are just a handful of Websites available for insight and information:

Armed Females of America
Keep and Bear Arms
Second Amendment Sisters
Liberty Belles
Women Against Gun Control
A Guide To Concealed Carry Laws in Participating States

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 01-13-03 tgsltakoma 01-14-03 Name That FReeper 01-15-03 Pippin 01-16-03 JohnHuang2 Essay

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' The guy's good, folks!

Thanks, Mixer!

1) Click on the graphic to open the Calendar.
2) Once there you can click on any month and even click to the right to go into next year. Once you are in the month that you joined FR you will need to click on the number in the calendar and then an add item screen will come up.
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5) If all else fails or simply if you want me to do this for you send me an FReepmail and I will gladly do it for you. ~Mixer

[Pippin]

Now you're talking, HG!

[GailA]

WOW. While we were visiting DK's Uncle Jimmy down in FL a couple of years ago we were sitting out in the back yard grilling steaks and playing with DK's 22 pistol shooting at bottles (Uncle Jimmy has 40 acres) when DK spots this form slithering it's way toward us. It was a Diamond Back. He shot it with the 22, a head shot, thankfully that killed it. It was about 5 ft long. Uncle Jimmy said it probably was a female. They cut off it's rattlers and DK brought them home.

[Pippin]

Ah, well! He is the mischievious type! LOL!

[GailA]

Did I read QUILT? Me too, I love to quilt. I'm working on a Party Hat right now. Hmm I may have a problem, I have to use the floor to lay the quilt and ROCKY is gonna have a ball trying to Help me.

[LadyX]

What an ordeal that must have been for all - you, your mother - and the opthamologist.
The good news is there are such wonderful new techniques to correct or greatly help most vision problems - if one can afford them.

I am so blessed the long term diabetes has not affected my eyes at all.
I praise the God who made me An Appreciator, and able to see so many of His creations all over America!

[dansangel]

That earned for me the nickname 'Snakecharmer' from a fellow at school.

My first husband refused to do yard work. I was fastidious about the yard...every blade of grass had to be the same height - LOL! I had a few "close encounters" with snakes. Chopped what turned out to be a harmless black snake in half as it slithered in amongst the bahama grass vines while living in Delray Beach. Didn't want my daughter to encounter any such creature while playing in the yard.

While in Sebastian, had a very close encounter with a coral snake. NOT a fun experience. Had a male acquaintance do HIM in....did not have the fortitude to take care of that one myself. Also, in Sebastian, found the remains of a mini rattler in my bedroom. Fearless male cat (now deceased, but not from that) did that one in. Earned his tuna treat that night! LOL!!

[GailA]

When they did my left eye I was totally under I think. I sure don't remember them doing a thing after they started up that IV. They sucked out the cataract with a needle and inserted the new lens with one too. The hardest part was not having much vision until I got new glasses. Unfortunately I didn't get improved vision with the removal. I still need tri-focals and will even when they go after the cataract in the right eye. For now it is growing slowly.

[LadyX]

Having the rifle would have made it easy, but I knew he'd get away before I could return with it, on the move toward high grass.
I kept the rattlers in a jewelry box for decades, finally giving them to a teenage grandson.
Better than pure gold!

[LadyX]

When I returned home with two little boys, they had two jobs when I mowed the lawn - have iced tea ready for me about every 5th circuit of the yard - and stand by with the shovel to dispatch the inevitable snake stirred by the mower vibrations.

They still laugh that it became No Contest, hitting the snakes in the head with one shot, and a waste of ammo.
I reverted to the good old shovel unless it was over 3' long.

Have to laugh, since my husband is not comfortable around snakes either. It always fell to me to kill the snakes, and one day in Port Malabar, a ground rattler was in our bedroom.

He bravely kept the three children out of the room (all 3 laughing..:)) while I leaped up on the bed and decapitated it along the baseboard, kids yelling, "Go, Mom, go!"

[GailA]

On spotting the rattler moving my direction I made a stragic RETREAT to the house and left the rattler to DK to dispatch.

[LadyX]

Looks as if we frightened all the guys away!!
LOL

humblegunner, you must have a few snake stories to toss around, growing up in Texas!

[humblegunner]

kids yelling, "Go, Mom, go!"

Hooo Yahhhh!

[humblegunner]

humblegunner, you must have a few snake stories to toss around

Well, rattlesnake does not taste like chicken.

We had a place in Elgin that was purely infested with rattlers
when I was nine or so.. all these red clay ditches surrounding the rear stock tank.

It was kind of like a maze, ditches and mesquite.. very snakey. The rattlers
had actual dens in hollows there, seven or eight snakes sometimes.
My job then was to clear 'em out..

I decimated the poor creatures. Land maintenance, don'tcha know.

Had to do it, snakes can bite cattle.

[LadyX]

Bet you cracked a bullwhip and struck off the snake's heads...:))

[dansangel]

Well, sorry to wimp out on all of you, but I've been up since 4:00 a.m. I need to wind down for a few, then hit the sack.

Thanks to all of you for joining us today!

Goodnight {{{{{{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}}}}}} to everyone!

[humblegunner]

Bet you cracked a bullwhip and struck off the snake's heads...:))

Almost! I discovered automatic rifles then, way more fun than shotguns!
I got my first auto .22 because of those snakes.
Dad is practical.

[humblegunner]

Thanks to all of you for joining us today!

Thank YOU for the great thread!

G'nite.

[LadyX]

"Had to do it, snakes can bite cattle."

How well I know, hg.
The mid-section of Florida used to be heavily cattle country, including where I was.

We had 1,000 acres, using only about 5 of them (my Dad was a consulting engineer), and allowed a friend who was a rancher to place his cattle on the land.

For that reason, we were not allowed to fire our .22 rifle unless it was at a threatening target, the bullet apt to carry a mile and possibly strike live objects.

The concept of respect and common sense in use and handling of weapons was a given for our generation.

It so happens that rancher later sold much of his vast holdings to create the city of Port Malabar!

I used to go along sometimes with them and others in their family for branding, and had my own horse.

[LadyX]

Good night, dansangel.
Thank you for an interesting thread today.
Your presentation was top notch!

[Pippin]

Good Night, Dansangel!