A mother sticks to her choice to keep a handgun handy

O

Oatka

New member
A bit dated (05/04) but a good one for the fence-sitters. From the Tacoma (Wash.) News Tribune.
http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a393ad91364f8.htm#1

A mother sticks to her choice to keep a handgun handy

Stephanie Madison

There was a time when I believed having a gun in the same house where children reside was not only unsafe but was bordering on recklessness. Mothers shouldn't own guns.

A single mom, I was accustomed to being alone. I don't remember being afraid. I left my windows open in the summer; I liked to breathe the crisp night air. I won't say I was careless; saying that would assume blame. A person should be able to leave a door or window open without signaling an invasion. No, I wasn't careless.

I worked late. It was dark when I got home. I was carrying my 2-year-old, a diaper bag, a purse, my paycheck in my teeth. I stepped into the darkness and heard what I thought was the answering machine clicking. I stopped. It was too loud. Someone was in my house.

I dropped everything except my daughter. I drove to my mother's house nearby and called the police. A stranger had been in the house but nothing seemed to be missing. Probably just some kids, police assured me.

That night as I undressed for bed I pulled open my top drawer. It didn't occur to me at first. I dug through the drawer almost frantically. Missing were garter belts and stockings, teddies and underwear. I was actually sort of scared.

The next day, at the urging of a girlfriend, I learned to shoot a gun.

I could feel the power of the handgun as I shot the silhouette target in the neck and head. I remember holding the gun, knowing it had the power to kill. I didn't like it.

My friend told me to take the gun ... just in case.

"No," I said, "I have kids." The argument lasted 30 minutes.

Finally, she took my hand gently, "It will be OK. Take the gun."

I don't know if it was her voice or her expression - but I took the gun.

Three days later I awoke to a man crawling into my bedroom.

It was about 5 a.m. It was still dark. He bumped the door with his shoulder and I remember my eyes opening wide as I struggled to focus. I reached under my mattress grabbed the loaded gun, and sat straight up. I did it instantly.

I jumped out of bed as the man rose to his feet and took a step toward me. I pulled back the hammer.

He threw his arms into the air, "No! Don't shoot! My friend is in the living room with your kid."

My hand was steady even as my mind raced around his words. He backed up into the wall.

"Who are you?" I yelled.

"I'm, I'm," he stammered, "I'm friends with Jeff."

Jeff, Jeff, Jeff, Jeff who? I don't know any Jeff. Do I know a Jeff? I certainly didn't want to shoot someone I knew.

I stood before this man. my gun loaded and aimed directly at him. A voice came from somewhere inside me, "Move! Now!"

I had never heard that voice before, nor have I heard it since. It was loud and strong and deep.

I wanted to pull the trigger as I followed him down the hall, into the living room, out the front door. I wanted to shoot him as he scurried and slipped on the wet grass in the front yard.

He didn't touch me. He didn't rape me. He wasn't allowed to. I had a gun. He didn't. I kept the power he had come to ruthlessly steal.

He is now serving a 106-year sentence for the subsequent rapes of four other women. All single moms, all non-gun owners. Sometimes I think of those women. When I do, I feel almost guilty I didn't pull the trigger.

I am not a member of the NRA. I don't picket or protest. I listen quietly as you tell me I shouldn't have a gun. I accept the flyers you send home from school stating the dangers of handguns but omitting the possible benefits.

Don't I care about the safety of my children? It is something you want to know.

My kids know not to touch my gun. I know my kids and I trust they never will.

I do not suggest every parent should own a gun. I can only speak for myself, from my experience. Unless you have lived my experience, please don't speak for me.

Socially acceptable or not, I will never be without a gun. I am a responsible mother.

- - -

* Stephanie Madison lives in Eatonville.
 
Good for Stephanie, a article that should be passed on to sheeple that think yelling or nail files are good defense options for women.

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Ne Conjuge Nobiscum
"If there be treachery, let there be jehad!"
 
"Socially acceptable or not, I will never be without a gun. I am a responsible mother."

A good woman indeed.

CMOS

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NRA? Good. Now join the GOA!
 
Chris:

You are right. It is a parent's responsibility to protect their children. It used to be the "Prime Directive" of parents and especially mothers. I cannot, for the life of me, understand why that has changed for so many women.

Maybe I've just gotten too old. I know in my soul without ever having to have it proved to me, that my parents would have given their lives to protect me before I was able to protect myself.

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If you're not a little upset with the way the world is going, you're not paying attention.
 
Oh, yes, I know, mine would have done the same, but according to all the "mothers" at the MMM the best way to defend there children is to disarm all the law-abiding parents, while all the criminals run free with whatever they can steal or buy.

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"The supreme power in America cannot enforce unjust laws by the sword, becuse the whole body of the people are armed"
Noah Webster

Second Amendment lover? www.2ndamdlvr.homestead.com/home.html
Support H.R.347 Citizens Self-Defense act of 1999! Sign petition at: www.petitiononline.com/protect/petition.html
 
That's the best safety you could do for your children, they probably wouldn't of been with that person now if that person hadn't had that gun. I'm glad that friend talked her into taking it home. :)

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WHEN IT COMES TO FRIENDS THE SKY IS NOT THE LIMIT
TFL End of Summer Meet, August 12th & 13th, 2000

[This message has been edited by terridarri (edited June 05, 2000).]
 
TerriD, I see I'm not the only one having trouble sleeping tonite! :)

What a contrast this article is in comparison to the one I posted about IL's suggestions for a woman's "self defense!" This woman did the right thing to protect herself. Using a nail file (see my thread for explanation), or trying to talk the guy out of it prob. wouldn't have worked!

Good for her, but I too think she should have pulled the trigger.

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"At last we shall reveal ourselves to the Gun-Grabbers, at last we shall have revenge at The TFL End of Summer Meet on August 12 & 13, 2000..."
 
To answer Allan's question - the NRA needs some serious image consultant work to maximize the impact of stories like this one and attract members interested in self-defense.

Too much preaching conspiracy stuff to the choir.

Also, the perception of gun rights organizations as being correlated with unpleasant aspects of conservative ideologies.

Sorry - but that's the reason.

Chuck's waving of the musket is a prime example.

Turns on the choir - turns off people in the middle. Now this mom may go NRA when she realized the issues.

But - here's the deal - whenever an NRA dude is interviewed, they are likely to start to huff and puff about the Founding Fathers.

They should start out when an anti attacks them with turning the topic to:

Do you want women to be raped?

Instead - they play the game of the interviewer and go on the defensive.

Go for the heart strings first!

Self-protection sells. Do the research on
persuasion techniques.
 
Re: the NRA.

I'm not a member because I don't like the organization. I used to be a member, but no more.

I'm leaving out examples to try and avoid a fight, but it seems like the NRA sees itself as supporting "sportsmen" rather than gun owners, and its willingness to "compromise" and support more gun laws is upsetting to me.

I'll join back up when they start refusing to surrender more rights. Until then, it's GOA and JPFO.

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I stand before Almighty God and I'll say what I have said for years. I will never again soil my responsibility as a voter by voting again for a candidate who turns their back on the fundamental principle of justice by which this nation's freedom lives or dies. --Alan Keyes, 2/2/2000
 
Folks, it pays to write the reporters and cc the editors.

For the pro-gun or even-handed articles, I pat 'em on the journalistic back; for the antis, I question their professionalism and comment on how badly it reflects on the paper.

As an example, here's my "goodonya" to the Tribune:

"Dear Ms. Madison:

Thanks for this interesting, and Oh Happy Day!, accurate article of the benefits of gun ownership. One doesn't see many like this, and if so, they are printed back with the obits.

Thanks to the Internet (where I found it), your article is now being seen by hundreds, if not thousands, with nothing but kudos (and some amazement) posted in reply.

Collaterally, the Tribune gets a pat on the back as a newspaper in the true sense of the word. i.e. balanced reporting.

This is especially encouraging since most of the public no longer views the media as a government watchdog, but as their intellectual whores (sorry) when it comes
to gun control. I used to be a tramp printer, with a great respect, if not affection for the Grand Old Lady of Journalism and have been deeply saddened to see her prostituted like this.

I'm down at the other end of the world, but I've bookmarked the Tribune's website for future reading."

This morning I received this from top management, "Got your message and appreciate it. I'm forwarding it to our reader representative, who posts a daily note that is sent to all newsroom staff, the publisher and all the senior department managers. Thanks for writing. Dave Zeeck executive editor"

Ok, the "intellectual whores for the government" now makes it way throughout the newsroom. Maybe the next guy that is all set to put an anti-gun spin on an article might have second thoughts, or be blue-pencilled by his editor. Small steps, small steps.

BTW, I posted this and Darthmaum's Illinois "safety" tips on the San Antonio MMM board -- written equivalents of an attention-getting 2x4 between the eyes.


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The New World Order has a Third Reich odor.

[This message has been edited by Oatka (edited June 05, 2000).]
 
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