—– Original Message —–
From: PaxQ@
To:
Sent: Friday, March 08, 2002 8:31 PM
Subject: Letter to NYTimes

The following letter was sent to the NY Times regarding an article on women and guns that was written in today’s paper.
Best wishes, Paxton Quigley

To The Editor:
As a woman and concerned citizen, I was appalled to read Nicholas Kristof ‘s “Chicks With Guns” (March 8, 2002), convoluted criticism of the Mount Holyoke College women who want to own handguns for self-defense. It?s about time women? especially so-called “liberal” women? wised up and started taking responsibility for protecting themselves to avoid becoming defenseless victims of violent crimes. For many American boys like Mr. Kristof, who got his first gun at age 12, receiving a gun is somewhat of a “right of passage.” But rarely do women have that opportunity. While Mr. Kristof is now “comfortable with guns,” he ignores the fact that most women aren’t. Evidently disconcerted by “feminists with guns,” he also blithely ignores the fact that one of the greatest fears women have is being raped. The thinly-veiled message that because more women own guns, more people will be killed, is as illogical as it is outrageous. Far more likely, more women will actually be saved from victimization by owning a gun and knowing how to use and store it responsibly. Over the years, I have taught handgun safety to thousands of American women who also wanted to be “comfortable with guns” so they could look out for their own safety and well-being if necessary, in an increasingly dangerous world. Although there are no exact figures, it is estimated that more than 20 million American women presently own guns. Based on my experience, research and a number of academic studies, it is my strong belief that if more and more women were proficient with handguns, rape in the U.S. would drastically diminish within the next five years.
Paxton Quigley,
author, Armed & Female, St. Martin?s Press