The past 2 days have been more than a whirlwind of decision making and action.
I finally did it. I bit the bullet and became a fully licensed & insured Delaware Business owner!
I have been extremely passionate about self defense and have been a firearms instructor for years. But now... I get to do what I am passionate about FULL TIME through one of the best training agencies in the state. EEEEKK!!
For me, life started out being born into abuse. I survived and I now have a passion for teaching women how to #TrainToLive.
Self defense is so much more than just buying a firearm and taking a class. Survival is about mindset. It's about actively choosing to LIVE, no matter what comes at you.
For a project I was working on in the past, I had to do some research on Delaware crime rates and I came across an article that blew my mind. It was about the un-talked-about epidemic sweeping not only Delaware... but the nation.
Recently, Delaware tried to pass a Resolution stating Gun Violence is a public health crisis. I call bull on this. I have done the research. I have seen the actual numbers. The real public health crisis is rape and sexual assault here in our little state. Sex crimes more than quadruple gun violence, statewide. In Kent County alone, you are 10 times more likely to fall victim to a sexual predator than gun violence. Sex crimes are in the triple digits, not in the singles or doubles.
Two years ago I was able to secure a meeting for a myself and a group of 30 women with our Governor's legislative aide to talk specifically about the value our 2nd Amendment holds for women here in Delaware. During this meeting a question was raised....
"How many people in this room are survivors of rape or sexual assault?"
Every single hand in that room went up except 2, one of them being the Governor's aide. He looked stunned and had no idea what to say at that point. As a man over 6 feet tall, he'd never been rendered powerless by someone bigger or stronger than him..... nor had he ever been in a position of fear when it came to his own body. Kind of an eye opening moment for him, I'd say.
I have to admit, the fact that every woman in that room had been sexually assaulted, except 1.... it hit me hard. I knew evil existed in the world but never to that extent.
Studies and statistics on threats women face are out there in droves. Statistics are broken down by race, gender, age, sexuality, town, state, country. You name it, it's been dissected hundreds of ways. Studies even break it down to the cost of rape in America. Triple digit MILLIONS $$$$$.
22 million women a year become the survivors of rape, sexual assault, attempted rape, and attempted sexual assault in the US. For me, that screams 1 thing....We need to change the mindset of society.
As women, we need to view our right to self defense as normal. In the world, it sometimes seems as if we are damned if we do and damned if we don't.
If we are raped, society yells...
"Well, look what she wears"
"She is kind of flirty"
"She shouldn't have been so nice to everyone."
"Look at all that make-up she wears"
If we carry pepper spray, society blurts....
"Did she really think that would work?"
"She could have sprayed her self with that!"
"She's just going to make it worse for herself if she fights back."
Then there was that period of years where "top experts" advised us to pee ourselves in order to stop the predator. Again, I have seen the statistics... forced sodomy is prevalent in Delaware. I'm not sure some sterile urine is going to do anything but humiliate us even more.
Then, what happens when we carry "the great equalizer"... a firearm?? The world goes mad and treats us as stone cold baby killers. No mention of how abortion takes the cake in that category.
Let me ask.... WHY is it not acceptable to defend our own bodies? I thought we had come further than this in today's world. I guess not.
MY passion for instructing full time comes directly because of my past. A past where I didn't have a voice and I sure as hell didn't know how to use it. I had no idea saying NO ... and backing up my NO.... was even an option. I was taught to be a lady... reserved, submissive, a compliment to the man. A PLEASER.
Don't be too loud. Watch your mouth. Sit up straight and stop slouching. Dress nice. Not that nice. Cover up. Show more skin. That dress is too long... too short... too hugging... too loose. You look like a bum. ... like a slut. Are you trying to get attention? You should be more proud of your body. Love the skin you are in... but not too much.
Confusing AF, isn't it, ladies??? Good god, society! What do you want from us??
Our creator did not intend for us to be door mats. We were never intended to be abused and broken inside. The bible says, a man is to respect the woman... and the woman respect the man. A woman was designed to be cherished, loved, and cared for. As were our male counterparts. One was not to have power over the other. One was not to exert fear and control. We were intended to be equal but equally different. But that's not quite how society taught the majority of us to be treated and viewed, is it?
In Biblical times, a woman was to be believed and surrounded by the protection of her community. The rapist... immediately stoned to death as punishment for the crime. Now, we have false allegations, courts of law, and a system in place to protect the rights of the accused. A system, mind you, that will only prosecute 6 out of every 1000 rapists, convicting only 1 of those 6.
My advice.... Stand tall. Follow the law and embrace ALL the ways in which we can legally defend ourselves. Advocate for those rights and our right to choose survivor over victim.
However, today, when the media portrays members of the gun community... it isn't pretty. Gun nuts. Movie set rejects. Old white dudes. Storm troopers. I've heard it all from our far left leaning politicians in Delaware.
What about..... Courageous? In control of our own safety? Mama or Papa bear? Strong? Grandmothers? Aunts? Sisters? Survivors?
Why are we not portrayed as individuals who want to LIVE? Who want to survive? Who want to protect the very babies we cradle in our arms?
These are the things we need to teach society to picture when it comes to our right to choose how we defend ourselves. These are the changes in which I will advocate for. My job isn't just to teach you how to shoot a gun. It's about giving you the tools, skills, and confidence to LIVE.