Gun Control & RKBA
In reply to the discussion: The Gun Is Civilization [View all]spin
(17,493 posts)to other nations. However the OP wasn't discussing this issue. It didn't suggest that citizens should own weapons of mass destruction or provide weapons to their friends to be used for self defense.
The author of the article made a decision to arm herself in order to have a viable means of self defense. Such a decision involves a lot of serious thought and there is always the possibility that the choice might ultimately lead to a tragedy.
In many states of our nation honest citizens have the right to use firearms for legitimate self defense. There have been many documented incidents in which an armed citizen was able to survive a violent attack. If you have the training and skill, a firearm can enable you to win against a much larger opponent or one armed with weapon such as a gun or a knife.
Of course there is no guarantee that having a firearm on your person will protect you against any attack. Much depends on the situation. You can do everything right and still end up dead.
The fact remains that violent criminals do prey on victims when they sense an advantage. For example, a strong young thug may decide to attack a much smaller female in an isolated area of a parking garage. Even with extensive training in the martial arts his victim will be at a disadvantage, however with training and skill and a concealed handgun she may be able to equalize the odds.