Don't Be A Victim: Get A Gun
Don’t Be A Victim: Get A Gun
Tragedies surround us everyday minute by minute, yet we are all stuck in the mind set that “it could never happen to me”. What if you were attacked? What if there were absolutely no one around but you and the attacker? Will you be prepared?
1.9 million Women in America are physically attacked each year. 1 out of every 6 women and 1 in every 33 men will be a victim of sexual assault in their lifetime. College age women are four times more likely to be sexually assaulted and in 2007 248,300 citizens were victims of sexual assault. Since 1993 reports of sexual assault have increased by 1/3. Unfortunately 73% of rape victims know their assailants and only 6% of rapists will ever spend a day in jail. To sum it up, every two minutes someone in the United States is sexually assaulted.
Now that you know it could happen to you, it’s time to focus on what you can do to protect yourself in your home and on the streets, because 60% of these attacks occur in private homes and 38% of attacks will happen in your own home.
Safety tips for your home:
• Install home security devices.
• Keep your windows and doors locked.
• Install a peephole so you can see who you are about to allow inside.
• Keep self defense products at hand like pepper spray, stun guns and personal firearms.
• The three enemies of burglaries to remember: time, light and noise.
Tips and advice to avoid dangerous situations outside of your home:
• Use your senses. If you sense a problem, change your route and prepare to defend yourself or run.
• Maintain eye contact and show potential aggressors you are not intimidated by them.
• When using public transportation, keep in mind there is normally safety in numbers. Also, try to sit close to the driver and avoid window seats.
• Always have your keys ready when entering your car, and don’t be embarrassed to ask someone to escort you to your car.
• Intersections are a great opportunity for assailants to attack, so keep your doors locked and windows up at all times.
• If you recreationally walk or jog, avoid using a portable music player and continuously change your routine.
• Choose your clothing wisely. Dress modestly to not draw attention to yourself and wear clothes that will allow movement in case you need to run.
• Enroll in a self-defense class.
When women are faced with such assaults as rape, women are told to become passive, because they are less likely to win a physical battle due to the fact that they are normally the weaker person, and have a greater chance of getting hurt. Firearm protection will help eliminate the strength difference between attacker versus victim, leveling the playing field. Granted, stun guns and pepper spray will temporarily disable an attacker, but it may not stop them, and most likely will not protect you against multiple attackers. Women who own a gun, train and know how to use it, are less likely to become victims of such crimes. Professor John Lott, in his book "More Guns, Less Crime", says that "by far the safest course of action is to have a gun. A woman who behaves passively is 2.5 times as likely to end up being seriously injured as a woman who has a gun." The main thing to remember when owning a handgun for personal protection, is learn how to use it safely and efficiently.