Two In Two Days
It must be something in the water.
This is the second local story, in just two days, on the subject of the increasing number of women owning guns and getting involved with recreational shooting. And, this one's refreshingly void of any anti-gun propaganda - cut n' pasted from some Brady Center press release - being passed off as legitimate journalism.
From CBS4Boston.com (7/19/06):
Boston Women Empowered By Pulling The Trigger
"Empowering" women? How dare they? Why, everyone knows women should be rendered weak and powerless, and that any choices to be made pertaining to the preservation and well-being of their bodies should be made for them by high-ranking, male government officials.
Well, that's Mayor Menino's take on this subject matter, anyway, for women "lucky" enough to be living under his authority.
"...one person at a time." ~ KdT
Compensation, no doubt, for their small...ummm...never mind.
Bingo!
And, there lies the big difference between this piece and the one the Boston Globe ran on Tuesday of this week - the recognition of the concept of LEGAL, ARMED SELF DEFENSE.
The Boston Globe is known to trot out what appears to be a pro-gun article from time to time, but upon closer examination, you'll find they're always centered around the belief that guns are OK, as long as they're to be used only for target shooting, at a government-regulated shooting facility, where they can be checked out by the proletariat, like library books, for use on the premises.
It's all part of that whole "individualism vs. collectivism" thing that lots of folks 'round here can't quite get their heads around.
In other words, don't hold your breath waiting for the Globe to print anything that could be interpreted as being supportive of the rights of individuals to actually own and carry firearms for the purpose of personal protection.
You want to go duck hunting with a break-action shotgun? Senator Kerry gives you his blessing. You want to go to a local pistol range and do a little target shooting? That's OK with the friendly folks at the Boston Globe. It's what they call being supportive of your second amendment rights.
Well, if the gun-grabbers are happy, chances are I'm not. So, I'll be scoring this one as a win for the good guys. And as to their brilliant claim that "more guns" lead to "more gun use", well, I would certainly hope so.
Indeed.
Top-10 Causes of Unintentional Deaths, 2003:
#1 Motor Vehicle Traffic 43,180
#2 Poisoning 19,431
#3 Fall 17,214
#4 Unspecified 6,610
#5 Suffocation 4,959
#6 Fire/burn 3,421
#7 Drowning 3,218
#8 Other Land Transport 1,542
#9 Natural/Environment 1,387
#10 Other Spec., classifiable 1,384
But what about those evil guns? Why, their sole purpose is to kill people in as efficient a manner as possible. It's what they were designed to do.
#15 Firearms 730
(source)
- CBS Channel 4 video here.
This is the second local story, in just two days, on the subject of the increasing number of women owning guns and getting involved with recreational shooting. And, this one's refreshingly void of any anti-gun propaganda - cut n' pasted from some Brady Center press release - being passed off as legitimate journalism.
From CBS4Boston.com (7/19/06):
Boston Women Empowered By Pulling The Trigger
(CBS4) BOSTON When it comes to gun ownership, women are a growing market. You don't have to look any further than Boston to find out why.
It's the fourth Friday of the month, and as gunshots ring out, members of the Second Amendment Sisters are practicing at the Boston Gun and Rifle Association. They're target shooting with handguns. Why? "It's fun, it's empowering," says Jacqueline Scott.
"Empowering" women? How dare they? Why, everyone knows women should be rendered weak and powerless, and that any choices to be made pertaining to the preservation and well-being of their bodies should be made for them by high-ranking, male government officials.
Well, that's Mayor Menino's take on this subject matter, anyway, for women "lucky" enough to be living under his authority.
Katherine DeSilva says "More women are living alone now. They want to have a firearm in their home." Deborah Spence adds, "I actually find it relaxing. There's also a great camaraderie."
Lynne Roberts is the coordinator for Second Amendment Sisters, which organizes shoots for women in Boston and in Braintree. She says membership is booming. "When I started here four years ago I had maybe 12 or 15 members on an email list. Now there's 200," says Roberts.
"...one person at a time." ~ KdT
Women's interest in shooting is growing across the country. According to the National Sporting Goods Association, in 1995 there were 2.7-million women involved in target shooting. Last year that number was five-million. Why are more women using guns?
Compensation, no doubt, for their small...ummm...never mind.
Reasons range from self defense and sporting fun to a sense of empowerment.
Bingo!
And, there lies the big difference between this piece and the one the Boston Globe ran on Tuesday of this week - the recognition of the concept of LEGAL, ARMED SELF DEFENSE.
The Boston Globe is known to trot out what appears to be a pro-gun article from time to time, but upon closer examination, you'll find they're always centered around the belief that guns are OK, as long as they're to be used only for target shooting, at a government-regulated shooting facility, where they can be checked out by the proletariat, like library books, for use on the premises.
It's all part of that whole "individualism vs. collectivism" thing that lots of folks 'round here can't quite get their heads around.
In other words, don't hold your breath waiting for the Globe to print anything that could be interpreted as being supportive of the rights of individuals to actually own and carry firearms for the purpose of personal protection.
You want to go duck hunting with a break-action shotgun? Senator Kerry gives you his blessing. You want to go to a local pistol range and do a little target shooting? That's OK with the friendly folks at the Boston Globe. It's what they call being supportive of your second amendment rights.
And an industry is growing up around it. They have their own magazine called "Women And Guns" with a growing circulation, manufacturers are making firearms to fit smaller hands, women's shooting apparel is popular, and the National Rifle Association sponsors a national program called "Women On Target" organizing shoots for women at gun clubs.
At the Boston club every session begins with safety instruction, even if a woman is an experienced shooter. For first timers the instruction session is longer and more detailed. However, some gun control advocates are not at all happy with the growth in gun interest saying that more guns lead to more accidents and more gun use.
Well, if the gun-grabbers are happy, chances are I'm not. So, I'll be scoring this one as a win for the good guys. And as to their brilliant claim that "more guns" lead to "more gun use", well, I would certainly hope so.
But most of the women at the Boston session bristle at that. According to Katherine DeSilva, "If you take it seriously it's not a dangerous piece of equipment to have. I think a car is much more dangerous."
Indeed.
Top-10 Causes of Unintentional Deaths, 2003:
#1 Motor Vehicle Traffic 43,180
#2 Poisoning 19,431
#3 Fall 17,214
#4 Unspecified 6,610
#5 Suffocation 4,959
#6 Fire/burn 3,421
#7 Drowning 3,218
#8 Other Land Transport 1,542
#9 Natural/Environment 1,387
#10 Other Spec., classifiable 1,384
But what about those evil guns? Why, their sole purpose is to kill people in as efficient a manner as possible. It's what they were designed to do.
#15 Firearms 730
(source)
- CBS Channel 4 video here.
