| A few Weeks ago, there was an article in the Bucks | | | | percentage of gun permits issued to women probably |
| County Courier Times about women protecting | | | | has stayed at about 10 percent to 11 percent for |
| themselves. It talks about guns and self-defense | | | | years. |
| classes, but also mentions tasers, pepper spray and | | | | People interviewed in Lower Bucks expressed |
| mace. We felt it was an appropriate topic for | | | | differing opinions about gun permits for women. |
| everyone to read. Excerpts from the article follow | | | | William Miller of Levittown said he worries when his |
| below: | | | | girlfriend goes to Philadelphia alone. |
| Should a woman carry a gun for protection?was | | | | "I recently told her to take a can of Mace into the city. |
| originally written by MANASEE WAGH at Bucks | | | | It's dangerous," he said.Some said that people would |
| County Courier Times. | | | | face less risk if strangers think they may be carrying |
| Half of Steve Rementer's students at the shooting | | | | lethal weapons. |
| range are women these days. In fact, he has designed | | | | "We have the right to bear arms by the Constitution," |
| his course around teaching women how to shoot | | | | said John Chester of Trenton. "Law-abiding citizens are |
| firearms in self-defense. | | | | sane enough to use them just for self-defense, as |
| "If a woman can protect herself, it's the first line of | | | | opposed to criminals. Law enforcement can't be |
| defense. She is 30 to 40 percent more likely to be | | | | everywhere. You need the ability to fight back." |
| attacked than a man," said Rementer, a police firearms | | | | However, Susan Perry, who was visiting Yardley from |
| instructor at Pistol People, a shooting range in | | | | New Jersey, said she is against women carrying guns. |
| Bensalem, and a Philadelphia police officer for 30 | | | | "They should bring Mace, or anything they can use to |
| years. He said he's met many women who have been | | | | protect themselves." |
| raped and attacked. | | | | Her husband said even a knife would be better than |
| "Women are better students than men. They are | | | | carrying a gun. "And never walk alone. Take a |
| more focused, and they don't want to be victimized. | | | | defensive action course," he said.Some agreed |
| Every woman I could teach, I would." The National | | | | avoiding risk is best. |
| Sporting Goods Association reported In 2006 that 50 | | | | "There's safety in numbers," said Lucy Sanderson of |
| percent more women are now target shooting. The | | | | Falls. "I'm not sure if a woman should be carrying a gun. |
| association attributed rising gun ownership in part to | | | | And education is the key - how to defend yourself |
| self-defense. | | | | besides using a weapon." |
| The National Rifle Association has several women's | | | | She liked a recent citizens' police academy workshop |
| programs, including teaching women how to shoot. | | | | in Bristol Township, which taught people ways to avoid |
| Web sites selling defense gear to women have been | | | | an attack. Like checking the back seat of your car |
| popping up sellings tasers, stun guns and pepper spray. | | | | before you climb in and not bringing your pocketbook |
| Three women at southern university campuses were | | | | into a mall during the holiday shopping rush.Brian |
| slain within one week recently. | | | | Buchanan of Bristol Township agreed. |
| The body of Lauren Burk, 18, an Auburn University | | | | "When someone has a weapon, it's too risky. I'm not in |
| student, was found five miles from the campus. Eve | | | | favor of people arming themselves. That's something |
| Marie Carson, a 22-year-old attending the University of | | | | for law enforcement," he said. As the brother of five |
| North Carolina Chapel Hill, was shot and killed. And | | | | sisters and uncle to nieces, Buchanan was concerned. |
| Katharine Wood, 24, a senior at the University of | | | | "But the best way is not to attack a violent criminal. |
| Arkansas, was shot dead in her off-campus | | | | We should have more security patrolling the streets," |
| apartment. | | | | he said. |
| Last April, 32 people at Virginia Tech were murdered | | | | Mary Morse, a professor of women's studies and |
| by a mentally unstable gunman.A failed 2006 bill would | | | | English at Rider University in Lawrenceville, N.J., said |
| have allowed students who have a concealed | | | | she's thought about it a lot. But she'd never buy a gun |
| weapon permit to carry firearms anywhere on a | | | | to defend herself, said the Morrisville resident. |
| Virginia campus.The Bureau of Justice's research | | | | "I feel the same about Tasers. Pepper spray is the |
| shows that in 2005 alone, 5.2 million crimes of violence | | | | furthest I'll go. I've discussed it with my students, though |
| were committed in this country. | | | | I'm not sure they would all agree." Her husband, Steve |
| In Bucks County, more people are getting gun permits. | | | | Morse, thinks the same way. |
| In 2006, 4,874 gun permits were issued. The number | | | | Regardless of what type of protection you need, it is |
| jumped to 5,392 in 2007, according to the sheriff's | | | | clear that the discussion is a strong and ongoing one, |
| office. In the first two months of this year, the county | | | | and the decision as to how to protect yourself - |
| issued nearly 1,000 permits.While Sheriff Edward J. | | | | especially if you are a woman - is a personal choice. |
| Donnelly did not have gender statistics, he said the | | | | |