Yeah, I didn’t have interest in carrying originally but I’ve found that I feel like this piece is only half as valuable to me if I can’t carry it around if need be. So I’m getting my CCW next.

It shouldn’t be a left or right issue. And I’m no less liberal for owning one to protect myself.

Even having an emergency bag has been huge for my mental health this week. I am not normally one to prepare for anything ahead, I procrastinate like a mf and I always assumed there would be time to gather supplies if need be. I’d rather be prepared for the unthinkable than to be found unprepared if shit rapidly hits the fan. It’s been liberating.

I’d agree with that, and I’m sorry to hear you’re feeling this way. I hope you have support and I hope you keep yourself safe, we all want you here even if it doesn’t seem that way.

Also, you’re not being dramatic. They are assholes.

Look for ranges that advert to women, this place I went to was incredible and I didn’t get any red pill vibes at all and they treated me with respect.

Many of them have ladies only days or female-instructor led courses specifically for women.

Thank you, honey! I’ve been on the death spiral in my brain this week but I woke up Wednesday with a “let’s get shit done” mentality and it helped keep me and my mind busy. I’ve been YouTubing how to make temporary shelters with tarps and how to tie certain knots and all that jazz. I’m already a camper so I’m building off some established knowledge. I started a fire last night (which, being able to do is another liberating venture) and burned a few American flags I had sitting around in the basement. I’m moving forward through this nightmare. I have a lot of life to live and they are going to have to pry it from my hands if they want my freedom.

I plan to. I’d really like to build an auntie network locally as I have the means to shelter and transport people, and I’m close to a blue state. I’d also love to get a community of sustainable gardeners together. Really, anything to be around likeminded people right now would do my heart some good, and we are stronger in numbers. We are going to have to help one another.

Good luck! Don’t get discouraged, it’s weird at first and you’ll feel clueless when you go in. If you get dismissed at one place, go to another until you find a salesman who will spend time with you and take your needs seriously. I went to three places.

A Smith & Wesson SD9 2.0. Cost about $400 for the gun, a safe box, and some target ammo

I’ve been thinking about it since Roe. It started as an afterthought at best. I’ve sat on it. But it’s time.

You’re spot on, this is everything I learned today! In storage, I’m still wondering what responsible people do in the real world. I was taught as a child that a gun is never to be loaded but I’m reading different things, example keeping a loaded magazine in the storage safe next to the gun.

In the US, a lot of people have guns for a variety of reasons. If you have a gun in the home then, statistically, yes you are more at risk for gun related violence or death… just because you’re changing an entire different factor in the equation. Many people are irresponsible with guns. Many other people are educated, trained, and take gun ownership very seriously… and that’s what I intend to be.

I think there is a culture here where having a gun is commonplace and therefor it begets more normalcy and has a ripple effect. If we were a country of mostly unarmed people, and we didn’t have such a violent past, I wouldn’t feel the need to do this.

I wish for the same, but we do.

Checkout “bugout bags”, there’s a subreddit for it but I found more info just by googling. It’ll give an idea of what you should have in your bag.

Fortunately I’m an ICU nurse and I’ve worked trauma. I have an advanced field kit plus quick clot in my go bag.

It’s nothing to mess with. I was nervous to even touch the thing. And one intro class isn’t enough to responsibly use it.

I absolutely plan to learn and practice as much as I can. I’m taking this very seriously.

Can you expand on that if you have time? I don’t own any defensive ammo yet, I’ve only used full metal jackets. I figure I’ll get defensive ammo eventually. Are there issues with batches of hallow points?

Also, I’m a gardener too and why did my recent dive back into composting make me feel so much better? I’m gonna try indoor hydroponics next year, I think. Lean into that and you’re already more prepared than many.

You should do what is comfortable for you right now because more stress and anxiety will not do you any good. Wait until you feel ready; and if you never do feel ready, that’s okay.

You’re taking good steps already so congratulations there. Optimize yourself within your personal boundaries and you’ll feel better than you did yesterday.

Yes we are 💙

Indeed. I want to be clear I am not telling everyone to go buy a gun especially if they’re uncomfortable, but you need to have something.

It is exciting. I feel so much more in control of what happens to me now. I still have lots of practice to do, but if something catastrophic were to come into my life tonight, I could use this thing.

Glad to hear it. You will feel in slightly more control of your safety.

Take that into account and maybe go shoot first before purchasing, because I have small hands too and though I think I made a good purchase, there may be options that work better with tiny weak hands like mine lol

Correct. All the fitness and self defense training in the world cannot make up for the discrepancy in the ability to be more violent and much stronger than us.

Me too.

Good on Canada for doing way better than we do.

It’s a good thing you know yourself well enough to make a safe decision. I agree, it wouldn’t be safe for you.

Por que no los dos? I plan to learn defensive fighting techniques too. But I’m realistic enough to know that isn’t enough to guarantee my safety.

Oh wow

That’s badass!

That’s a good idea, I’m glad you brought that to my attention. I didn’t know how expensive ammo is!! So I’ll be looking out for sales.

Thank you. I wish the same for us and for the rest of the world. I’m so ashamed of my country, but I am not The USA. I want better for us and for every future generation.

Fuck yeah. Legislation be damned- they cannot have me.

Do you have thoughts on how often maintenance practice should be done? I plan to go at least every other week until I feel confident to take higher training, and after that I figure once quarterly (ish) could suffice?

It was cathartic for sure. And I am interested in a shotgun eventually as well, for all the points you make.

I’ll look into jiu-jitsu because I’ve been interested in something along those lines.

Fortunately, I got my tubes tied after I saw Greg Abbott announce the heartbeat bill.

Oh and I was being hyperbolic then, to everyone else.

The ability to use lethal force if someone is coming for my life, without the fragile dependency on my upper body strength vs theirs, nor their speed vs mine.

Yay! That will be a good thing for you all to do together and help one another through. Strength in numbers ❤️

Men will always be able to overpower women, from innate strength alone. Stop.