Armed
Monday night I attended a gun safety course. By recieving the gun safety training certificate I am now able to apply for a concealed weapons permit, should I choose to do so. Several things lead up to the decision to take this class, for which I would like to share....
At the age of 22 I began living without a roomate. I was a single woman living by myself. My first sole residence was a four-plex. I had two families living on either side of me, and thus felt fairly safe. I then bought a house. It was on the other side of town from where I grew up. Which really only means 20 minutes, but still an unfamiliar neighboorhood. I was now in my mind officially "living alone". I am a very independent person and so I enjoyed it and rarely was afraid. I was rarely afraid but not stupid, I needed some protection. A .38 special became my protector.
My father enjoyed hunting. When I was around 6 or 7, the son of my fathers hunting buddy and I had a bet on who would get a bb gun first. I think I won. Now before you get the wrong idea of my family we are not hillbilly's and only partially rednecks.. We didn't have dead animals hanging on our walls for decorations or anything like that. My father taught me about guns and growing up around them made me comfortable enough to feel safe purchasing one for myself.
So... a few years later I thankfullly have never had to use the weapon. I have had scares, the normal noises and such, but no real problems. Then this past New Years Eve I was walking to my car well after midnight, to take a friend home. A car pulled up blocking our driveway. A man got out of his vehicle and began walking towards us. As my boyfriend walked towards him I ran and got my gun. Just in case..
A few weeks ago we read about a class that was being offered for gun safety. Not only would we feel more comfortable around our guns but also if we chose to we could apply and obtain a concealed weapons permit. We signed up.
The weekend after we signed up we were supposed to meet a girlfriend for brunch and a day at the pool. She is a single girl. We have known her for a few year as an aquaintance and have recently been going out with her for drinks about once a week, and meeting at the pool on Sundays. She lives by herself and has always felt safe doing so.
Sunday morning we woke up ready to meet up with our friend hit brunch and the pool. Our phone rang and it was our friend calling to cancel our weekly date. She was just leaving the hospital.. Someone broke into her house the night before threw chemicals in her face and raped her. Our friend had experienced the ultimate violation. She had been talking the past months of getting a gun. If only she had.
