An Idea That I'd Like To See Spread

My friend Rob at the SlowFacts blog had a story Sunday about a trainer in Reno, NV who provides free firearms training classes to anyone who has a signed protective order.

Actions speak volumes about a person, and that is why I’m impressed with Vicki Kawelmacher. Vicki is a firearms instructor in Reno, Nevada. She specializes in teaching women. She offers free classes to students who have a signed protective order. A protective order, also called a restraining order in some other states, means these students convinced a judge there is a serious threat to them or their children. These students to learn self-defense right now. Vicki has been in that position with an attempted abduction of her daughter. Vicki knows that a piece of legal paper is ineffective without a means to back it up.

He proposes that local gun clubs, ranges, and other such organizations establish scholarship funds for those in immediate need of training and who have limited means. I agree fullheartedly with Rob that this would a charity I'd love to support. As Rob say, " If we really advocate responsible self-defense, then we should donate and volunteer to make that happen without asking instructors to teach for free." It's great that Vicki Kawelmacher is doing what she is doing but we as a community should make it so that she and others like her don't have to assume the burden.

I think Rob's idea is one that we should encourage.

Good Story On Women Getting Carry Licenses In Detroit

This is a great story from Fox 2 News in Detroit on women in that city stepping up to get Michigan Concealed Handgun Licenses to protect themselves and their families. I love the quote near the end from one woman who said, "I'm not a vigilante but I'm going to protect myself, my family, my property."

I had a chance to meet their instructor, Rick Ector of Rick's Firearms Academy, at the NRA Annual Meeting in St. Louis. He is one of the good guys out there and I think it is great what he is doing to bring firearms training to women in Detroit.

Women Packing Heat: More Getting Concealed Pistol Licenses: MyFoxDETROIT.com

My only criticism of the story is that I wish TV reporters would find another cliche instead of "packing heat" to describe women obtaining concealed carry permits.

Or You Could Just Allow Campus Carry

TV station WAVE-3 in Louisville, Kentucky ran a story this week on self-protection for women. They wanted to know if some of the "secret weapons" for women were worth the money and they asked a University of Louisville police officer for his opinion. Some he liked and some he didn't.

I do agree with his suggestion to be aware of your surroundings and to avoid getting into risky situations. That is good advice for anyone. However, neither the story nor Officer Graham mentioned the one thing sure to make a rapist think twice - a legally concealed handgun.