Ward Clark writes for RedState.com about interesting trends in gun ownership.
Gun ownership among women is, if you’ll forgive the play on words, booming. That makes sense; a firearm is the only thing that can put a 110-pound woman on equal footing with a 220-pound, would-be rapist. With rising crime rates in our big cities — and elsewhere — along with some high-profile pro-Second Amendment court cases, it should come as no surprise that women are arming themselves. …
… It’s difficult to determine precisely how often armed citizens use their personal firearms to deter criminals or to stop a crime in progress. While there are some high-profile cases, … there are doubtless many, many more where a firearm is only displayed and not fired, or maybe even simply referred to — “I have a gun, get the hell away from me.” Many of these folks are, understandably, reluctant to talk to the authorities, especially in crime-friendly jurisdictions where they may find themselves in legal jeopardy for their act of self-defense.
Estimates, though, run anywhere from tens of thousands to millions of uses of firearms in self-defense every year.
That, however, isn’t the point. Whether defensive gun uses happen once per year or a million, the Constitution guarantees the people the right to keep and bear arms, and women are increasingly more and more likely to exercise that right. Urban jurisdictions are getting slapped down when they try to deny the Second Amendment, and people are taking advantage of that.
Women, most of all, should be pro-Second Amendment. My wife, for example, is small (4’11”) and visibly disabled; one would think she would make an obvious target, but the Glock 43 in her waistband would beg to differ. That’s the only way she would ever be able to resist a young male attacker; fortunately, the Second Amendment guarantees her right to defend herself.
She’s a good shot. And she’s in good company.
