Gun Free Zones

Gun Free Zones. Words that chill my heart, because we all know, in a Gun Free Zone, only
honest law abiding citizens don’t have guns. However, not having a firearm doesn’t make up
defenseless. I once told someone that in trained hands a knitting needle was an “Assault
Weapon”. Think about it, long, strong, pointy…but no, I’m not advocating that you carry knitting
needles everywhere you go. What I am suggesting is that you think about what you do have, or
could easily add, and practice how to use them.

Because if where I work I cannot carry my firearm to and from work. Hanging on the front of my
purse is an assortment of charms, they are fun, and express my personality. They also give me
an inconspicuous place to hang my SABRE Personal Alarm. These little noise makers couldn’t
be easier. Grab, yank and throw. Yep, grabbing then yanking disengages the pin which sets off
a loud noise. Throwing it makes it harder for an attacker to silence since they would have to
find it. To shut it off, simply reinsert the pin. Works on purses, backpacks, lanyards…don’t
have to worry about age and legal issues.

Inside my purse, in designated pockets, I have a quick open folding knife with a window break
on the end and a tactical flashlight. Both handy if you ever need them. On my keychain I have
pepper spray. I also have some basic empty hand skills learned from a variety of personal
trainers (I have a few limitations so I take private training whenever I can to work around them
and avoid slowing down a class or getting injured by a hyper millennial).

Recently, with all the nastiness in the world, I started thinking more about being out and
about…the mall, a theater, etc. Violence is everywhere and living in a concealed carry state we
are more likely to be attacked in a “gun free” zone. What to do. I did some research, watched a
great “The Best Defense” video and decided to look for a ballistic pad to fit in a backpack. Well,
turns out there are a lot of them out there. Some already incorporated into the backpack. I
opted for a level IIIA soft pad that slips into the laptop straps on most of my backpacks (the
tactical looking and the cute ones). It is 16”x12”, and weighs about 2 pounds, which is pretty
light. I found it on Amazon, and after reading all the reviews made my pick. Several people had
bought two, one to shoot up and one to use. Based on those reviews I opted to buy one and
save my pennies. But, from now on if you see me at the mall I will likely have a backpack
nonchalantly thrown over my shoulder (Sorry Michael Kors) instead of a purse. My charms will
be clipped to the pack, and my knife and light will be within easy access, but I will have an area
of cover, within my grasp should something happen. I hope I never need it, but it will be nice
knowing that I have a little extra protection.

The world around me is changing…

I can’t turn on the news without a report of violence, mass shootings, corrupt politicians and
more calls to strip me of my 2A rights. Last night 5 Police Officers lost their lives in Dallas,
responding to sniper fire and trying to protect the protestors who were protesting Police
shootings (note the irony here). POTUS and the left immediately responded with the cry for
“gun control”.

I recently watched the movie 13 Hours, the story of Benghazi and the heroes who risked
everything to save American lives. This was my second time watching this film. It isn’t an easy
film. I was a bystander to 9-11- 2001, being directly across the street from the Pentagon. I
watched the live coverage of the second plane flying into the WTC. I heard the third plane and
felt the blast even before the sound of the explosion as the plane entered the Pentagon. Those
are hours, minutes and seconds, that still haunt my memory and my nightmares. Watching 13
Hours I started thinking about what is happening here. I realized that we are on a steep slope
and picking up speed to becoming just as dangerous as many places in the middle east. Taking
my gun won’t make me, or you, any safer. It makes both of us nothing better than a staked goat
waiting for a predator.

Police Officers are second guessed at every turn. Terrorists, both home grown and infiltrating,
are attacking our way of life and killing without discrimination or warning. We are at war, and it
is the worst kind of war because there are no uniforms to help discriminate one side from
another. Angry protests erupt every time a black person is shot by a police officer. Where are
the protestors when a cop is shot, or a white person is killed by a Police Officer? I subscribe to
a simple rule:

IF YOU DON’T WANT TO BE SHOT BY A COP, DON’T BREAK THE LAW!

If we don’t put the brakes on fast we could easily be overrun by thugs and criminals who have
no regard for life or property and the Police won’t be able to stop them. Stop pandering to the
loudest and teach personal responsibility.

I am proud to support the Law Enforcement agencies of our Nation. I may not always agree
with those at the top (i.e., Director Comey), but I support the boots on the ground. The men and
women who risk their lives for ours every day. I support our Military, even when our government
looks at them with disdain. I wore a uniform for 20 years. I know the sacrifices, the long hours,
the feeling of homesickness when on the other side of the world. I even support Government
employees, who are some of the most maligned workers in the country and the first to suffer
pay freezes, furloughs and job loss at the hands of a bloated Congress.
I love my country, and I want it back…from the thugs, the terrorists and the corrupt politicians.
Do what you can…
Thank a Law Enforcement Officer.
Thank a Military Member.
Display the Flag.
VOTE!

#Blue Lives Matter
#All Lives Matter
#USA
#Dallas
#911