February 1995	Women & Guns

Parting  Shots ...

	Congressman Charles Schumer is off and running with his latest
anti right to keep and bear arms' offensive.

	He is filing a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission
claiming that women are being targeted with deceptive advertising by
firearms' manufacturers.

	He bases this claim on a study released by the anti-gun
Violence Policy Center.

	Susan Glick's "Female Persuasion: A Study of How the Firearms
Industry Markets to Women and the Reality of Women and Guns" states
that it is the "first-of-its-kind study" concerning the growing ranks
of firearms' ownership by women.

	In reality, it is nothing more than what it claims the
marketing of firearms to women is _ a ploy to reach a segment of
society with a new angle.

	The information used to prepare the study was gleaned from "an
extensive three-year survey of industry publications." Women & Guns
Magazine is one of those periodicals.

	Like this column, it is simply one individual's personal
perspective of the news.

	Ms. Glick along with her cohort, Josh Sugarmann, view women as
dupes.  They are promoting "Victim Feminism."

	The study, "Female Persuasion" states that its goal is to
rally women and organizations in the firearm's debate.  It is really a
slick collage of anti-gun scare tactics.

	Ms. Glick bases her analysis on what she feels are the four
myths about firearms' ownership by women.

	"Stranger Rape is the most common violent crime against women.
Women are most likely to be victimized by people they know." While
rape is not the most common violent crime perpetrated against women,
it is arguably the most feared.  But that fear is just as real if it
is an acquaintance and not a stranger.  Ms. Glick goes on to argue
that 60% of rapes occur to children under the age of eighteen and
therefore these victims are not legally allowed to possess firearms.
This makes me feel that as a parent, friend, aunt, and surrogate
mother, I have an increased obligation to aid these young people by
protecting them.

	"Most homicides stem from criminal attacks by strangers.
According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation . . . 29 percent were
slain by their husbands or boyfriends."  While murder is the ultimate
victimization of any person, assault with intent to do bodily harm is
also insidious.  More recent FBI statistics show that women are for
the first time more likely to be assaulted by a stranger.  And in my
definition, an irate ex-husband and irrational former, or want-to-be,
boyfriend are equally dangerous.  My personal perusal of the news
leads me to believe that these people are potentially the most vicious
in their attacks upon women and require the greatest deterrent.

	"People who want to kill themselves will find a way no matter
what . . . most gun deaths are not a result of homicide, but suicide."
The perceived realities that drive a person to take her/his life can
only be viewed with deep regret and heartfelt compassion.  I do not
believe that the availability of firearms increases the incidence of
suicide by women or men for that matter.  This can be shown as true
based on the study's conclusion: "most gun suicides are not committed
with weapons purchased specifically for the attempt . . ."

	"Guns, especially handguns, are effective self-defense tools .
. . only one percent of all intended or actual victims of violence
used a firearm of any type."  This does not take into account the
number of attempted violent crimes deterred by the mere show of
resistance with a firearm.  According to information compiled from
victimization surveys, Professor Gary Kleck, Florida State University,
surmises that "citizens who used guns for protection were less likely
to have the crime completed or to be injured than citizens who
responded in any other way, including those who did not resist at
all."  It is estimated that firearms are used 2.4 million times per
year for protection of selves and family.

	The most dangerous myth of "Feminine Persuasion" is the theme
of the study itself: Women are victims and have no legitimate means
for self-defense.  Women who choose persuasive self defense are
choosing "a bad solution to a real problem." This logic makes women
inevitable and perpetual victims.

	Feminine Persuasion is correct in the notion that more women
are choosing to empower themselves and protect themselves and their
families.  But it is incorrect when it states the decision to choose a
firearm is "one guaranteed to make it worse, not better."

	Each of us has the right to life, to liberty, to the pursuit
of happiness to use time-old terminology.  No one has the right to
take those choices away from us.  Even, or especially, if they claim
it is for our own good.
	
Personal  Parting  Shots ...

To Women & Guns, Happy 6th Anniversary.  To Miss Splendiferous and
Helen, Miss Spectacular and Rose and Master Stupendous and Johnathon,
love you all.  To my partner, thank you for your help.  To my readers,
I hope you like the changes in the publication. Kudos to Peggy Tartaro
for all her hard work.