The reasons women should possess and apply their right to personal protection is simple and obvious. Please do not think the author chauvinistic, but other than children simply put women are easier prey than men. Yes I know there are extenuating and clarifying circumstances to all situations on an individual basis however as a general parameter the above statement is true.

Colonel Samuel Colt, following the invention of the Colt revolver reportedly once remarked "God created men. My revolver made all men equal." This perceived quote was then turned into an ad campaign, and this sales pitch still holds true today. In that but one truth is evident. While God (if you believe) created all men equal in his love, our Government guarantees that all men are equally protected and granted inalienable rights under the law, but the truth is physically we are all quite different, simply some are just more powerful than others. Sam Colt’s invention leveled the playing field.

Now I am not advising that every woman run right out and buy a gun, but you may be considering it. Ladies you may also be considering obtaining a right to carry permit or a concealed weapons license, what it’s called depends on your particular state, if you are read on.

I have owned guns and held a concealed weapons license for quite a few years, in all that time I have never been forced to fire my weapon. I am six feet tall and from many years of competitive athletics and heavy construction work roughly two hundred pounds of screamin’ steel and sex appeal. Okay a little conceited, but I was going for laughs, but I’m not exactly what you might consider an easy target. Although on two different occasions, I have been a "Victim", and I have been forced to pull my gun. In the first case a Ruger 45 Automatic, drawn from a concealed waist holster, the second an AMT (DOA) .45 from a wallet holster.

One was an attempted robbery at a McDonald’s in Apopka, Florida, the other was either attempted robbery or car jacking at a rest stop along the Florida Turnpike. In both situations the perpetrator brought a knife to a gunfight. Just allowing them the view down the maw of a 45-caliber handgun pointed directly at their foreheads was enough to have them crying and running away in terror. I shall say that had these offenders possessed a firearm one of us would not be alive today, and I can say with utmost certainty, the dead guy would not have been me.

The reason I can say this with certainty is that I completely know and understand the laws and the nuances of the laws of my state. I know my rights as a citizen and I am fully prepared to accept the consequences of my actions. In my state, had the two perpetrators I faced been armed with a gun, I am well within my rights to have shot them immediately and I would have, upon drawing my weapon. I would not have provided them the time to react and shoot me.

They, in all probability would have been using a gun as a threat of violence. Being under that threat I would have pulled the trigger as soon as the gun cleared the holster and came in line with the offender. The first shot would have more than likely stuck the leg or the foot, the following shots would rake the body upward to the head. The number of shots fired would depend on the level of incapacitation. In the end there would be one story, mine.

I can say this with conviction because I have trained to do this, practiced to do this and I know three other things. I will be arrested and I will face some sort of civil litigation, and dead men tell no tales. All three of these things I accept as part of the responsibility for owning and using a gun.

I know these things because I have thoroughly read the laws of my state, and I know the application of each. For example before the use of deadly force could be applied the law here in Florida used to require me to retreat until I could retreat no longer, by either the perpetrator entering what is considered as safe distance, typically (and Judicially accepted) around 7 yards, the distance it takes an average human being to travel compared to the time it takes the average human being to react to that motion, that time is 2 seconds. Or backing into a barrier that prevents my retreat allowing the perpetrator to enter that 7-yard distance. Even in my own home there were certain requirements of retreat, castle doctrine excluded. I could also apply the use of deadly force in the protection of another from death or bodily injury, whether that person was known to me or not. Provided the perception at the time of incident is as described above. The presence of a gun in an attackers possession negates the above and engagement can be immediate.

Now since the State of Florida has changed this portion of the law, I no longer have to retreat, I can stand my ground anywhere I deem it necessary. And I carry my weapon, in compliance with state laws, for that exact reason.

If you are considering this do the same, know the laws of your state inside and out. Prepare yourself mentally and emotionally for such an eventuality, which pray may never come. If you are not prepared to do this, stop reading.

If you pursue a license or permit to carry, depending upon your state, you will be required to perform and comply with certain criteria to obtain that certificate. Some will require extensive training, finger printing and background checks. Some states are what are termed “shall issue” states meaning the requirements allow anyone to obtain a license as long as basic requirements are met a license shall be issued. Other states (11 of them) are may issue, in which even if you meet the standards you could be denied or have discretionary or very limited issuance, and two, Wisconsin and Illinois will not issue at all. Were it me in any of those 13 states, I’d move. See the map to determine whether or not you should move.

Once you comply with the standards of your state to receive your license or permit, while not written in the law, know that you will be held to a higher standard in a court of law, especially in a civil suit. Which take my word for it, if you use your gun, while you may not face criminal charges, you will have to contend with a civil suit for damages filed by a perpetrator's family.

However in either type case the opposing attorney will attempt to use your training and expertise with a firearm to his advantage with a jury. Know that your training and your application of the law in that circumstance is also your best defense. Don’t let this scare you, in all likelihood such a civil suit will be thrown out, but the potential is there. Remember you didn’t commit a crime; you stopped one from happening and you saved a live, yours or someone else’s.

One final piece of advice if you choose to carry or own a firearm become a member of the NRA (National Rifle Association). In addition to continued access to constantly attacked and ever changing gun laws and having a powerful lobby in Washington to protect your civil rights, if you are ever involved in a gun related incident or litigation, the NRA will be there to assist and defend you.

Now I know a lot of the above was pretty much directed at everyone in this segment I am going to recommend what I consider the very best self defense handgun for a woman to carry. This particular handgun will work well for men too; in fact from time to time I carry one, depending upon my concealment issues. But for my money and for my wife’s life, for she also goes out well heeled, and I’m not talking about shoes, the most functional handgun is a snub nosed .38 caliber revolver.

My selection for my wife, is a Smith and Wesson Model 60, in .38 special, this is a “J” frame, 5 shot revolver, with a 2 1/8 inch barrel made of stainless steel with thin walnut grips fitted to my wife’s hand. I also bought her the same style weapon in S & W Airweight version, which is made from lighter material but performs the same. One other difference her Airweight has although it can be purchased in many models is a bobbed hammer tang, which depending upon the type of concealment will not snag on the draw.

This particular gun in a practiced hand will put up very tight groups at 25 yards, which is more than adequate for self-defense. It is also a very loud gun, so if you are forced to use it, the report will garner someone’s attention and help more than likely be on the way. This gun in the stainless version also has very little recoil, certainly a consideration for women, especially in my wife’s case in which she has very slender wrists. The Airweight model, while lighter to carry does have sharper recoil, therefore my wife’s chooses the stainless as her weapon of preference. The S&W model 60 comes available in .38 caliber or the 3” 357 magnum version and either will stop any attacker.

I chose this particular gun for the all of the reasons above, but more significantly my wife shot this gun in testing many and this was the one she was most comfortable with, carrying and more importantly using. As a side note, interestingly for you ladies that might be fans of Bruce Willis, this is the gun that was taped to Willis’s back during the sandwich board scene in the movie "Die Hard with A Vengeance" not that this has anything to do with the gun or its performance.

Of the many gun manufacturers out there and the multitude of weapons produced the options available abound, but this type a of weapon in my opinion is the easiest for a woman to use as a concealed weapon. I don’t recommend the use of any type of automatic, and not that women can’t handle one. But in an attack scenario, especially a personal attack, the revolver is just faster to release a first shot. Once your hand reaches the gun you can shoot.

I mostly carry automatics but I am very familiar with the actions, slides and safety off procedures with each the guns I carry. I can draw that weapon without conscious thought. I have practiced thousands of times drawing the weapon while simultaneously releasing the safety which is key when carrying an auto and firing on a target. I do this because when I do carry an automatic I have a round “in the Pipe” not an advisable practice for any but the accomplished shooter. Each of my guns fits my hand, thumb or forefinger reach exactly. None of this is necessary with a revolver. For ease of use and reliability there just is no better choice for the purpose.

This recommendation is for a concealed carry weapon, home defense is a completely different issue and while this weapon will serve both purposes, other weapons may be of higher value for home defensive purposes.

Ladies here is where it gets easy for you. Concealment for men is a bit more difficult. Especially here in Florida where temperatures typically preclude jackets to cover waist or shoulder holsters or pant legs to cover an ankle holster. To the trained eye it’s actually pretty easy here in sunny Florida to spot a guy carrying. Women on the other hand carry their lives in their purses, and they go just about everywhere. Even wearing a bikini you can be armed, because we all know your gonna have that beach bag with the lip gloss and the tanning lotion.

There are a few companies that manufacture gun concealment purses, Galco is but just one, but my wife says they are the best, pricey, but according to her the best. A simple google search can show you hundreds of examples and styles. If you decide to purchase one of these, which I recommend, one thing you want for the fastest access to your gun is rear entry. For simple gun safety and security purchase the style purse which does not reveal the weapon from the top or when you purse is opened while your rummaging around for that thing you know is in there……somewhere. (Pictured above & below)

In an alarm situation, if you are prepared and practiced, the drawing motion will most likely not even be noticed by an attacker, or interpreted as just clutching your purse, giving you an advantage and very well could save your life. The method is simple to learn and easily practiced anywhere, the trick is to always carry the purse slung over the shoulder of your gun hand, and be sure that the opening is to the rear. If you carry a purse slung over your neck be sure to wear the purse to your gun hand side. When purchasing your concealment purse be aware some manufacturers make rights and lefts others do not, be sure the one you buy will work to your gun hand and shoulder.

If you find yourself in a situation that requires you go for your gun, just turn slightly aligning your opposite shoulder (none gun hand) towards your attacker, in what will appear to be a defensive posture, at the same time move your gun hand to your weapon in the purse. In the movement of turning, your shoulder and the front of your purse should be positioned towards the attacker. Once in this position you can, depending upon time and distance from your attacker, draw your weapon or just fire through the purse.

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Most of the time I find myself in agreement with Ann Coulter, once and a while she is a bit off track but for the most part, at least politically, I agree with her. In her book when discussing the left's penchant for gun control and the panacea of the elimination of violence and her opposition to their methods she made a joking yet interesting comment that while not absolute, holds a touch of validity for our purposes here. She wrote “because the world is half male and testosterone causes homicide. A world with violence -- that is to say, with men -- but without weapons is the worst of all possible worlds for women.”

What she is saying is that women have the same right as men to protect themselves from violence and given that men and women are not exactly made equal, Sam Colt was indeed correct, the revolver makes us all equal, if it comes to it.

In this world as it is, I hope you will never be in a situation where you feel the need to use a weapon, but I also hope what you have read here will aid in a saving a life………...Yours.