PHOENIX -- If you've ever been a victim and had your security stolen, then you understand how it leaves many people, especially women, wondering how to fight back.
One popular option is pepper spray, but these days more Valley women are packing something much stronger.
"I knew right then and there I was robbed," recalls Patricia Fallon. "You feel like you're violated, feel like you've been assaulted."
Fallon's sense of security was shattered in September of 2007 when someone broke in and ransacked her home.
"You live in fear after that because you're afraid they're gonna come back," Fallon said.
She was overcome with fear and said it was impossible to get a good night's sleep.
"I didn't know if they found my spare keys," she said. "I was afraid to come in by myself."
Fallon began putting safety guards in her home.
"The first thing I did is I had an alarm system put in," Fallon explained.
An alarm helped but it still wasn't enough to give Fallon peace of mind.
"How long do you wait before you are the victim and it's a final victim situation where they kill you," Fallon questioned.
After waiting an entire year after the robbery, Fallon said she was tired of living in fear and was ready to purchase a gun.
"It's a SIG Sauer P229. It's a semi-automatic. It holds 12 rounds and you can chamber one and have lucky 13," Fallon explained while loading her gun.
She took a safety course and practices every month.
"I feel safer knowing I can protect myself if I have too," she said.
Buying a gun is one thing, but firearms instructors say you better know how and be willing to use it.
"You're always going to keep the gun pointed down range," explained Carol Ruh. She is a certified firearms and safety instructor who teaches women how to protect themselves at
Arizona Shooter's World, 3828 N. 28th Avenue, Phoenix.
"One of the things I explain to women when they come in my class is that women do not have the mind set. Women give birth we're not normally the ones to take life unless it's protecting our children," Ruh said.
Ruh's not surprised a growing number of women are targeting their fears and buying steel.
"This is not like buying a pair of shoes where if it doesn't fit you can take it back. The best thing you can do is get education," said Ruh.
One of Ruh's students, Susie Brinegar, spent nearly an hour firing holes handgun at a paper target. She's 75 years old and lives alone.
"I feel like I have to defend myself if necessary," Brinegar said.
Robert White, a former police officer, is now urging his wife to take a gun course after their home was broken into just the day before.
"Last night I put the pistol back in the safe and she said 'where is your gun?' It's in the car. 'Why don't you go get it and bring it in the house,'" White said.
Every Friday from 2 p.m. - 8 p.m. women hit up
Shooter's World for "Ladies Night." It gives women an opportunity to shoot and receive free instruction. The first hour of range time is free including the use of a firearm, plus eye and ear protection. The women ABC15 spoke to say owning a gun is giving them peace of mind.
"Enter to steal leave with steel," giggles Fallon.
Guns are certainly not the answer for everyone, especially if there are children in the home. Firearms safety experts can't stress enough the importance of safety training for any new gun owner. Instructors say that is where you'll learn how to properly handle, lockup and store your weapon.
Gun Owners of America (GOA), a non-profit lobbying organization formed in 1975 to preserve and defend the Second Amendment rights of gun owners, cites as many as 200,000 women use a gun every year to defend themselves against sexual abuse.
GOA claims guns are used 2.5 million times a year in self-defense. Law-abiding citizens use guns to defend themselves against criminals as many as 2.5 million times every year-or about 6,850 times a day. This means that each year, firearms are used more than 60 times more often to protect the lives of honest citizens than to take lives.
The
National Rifle Association (NRA) sponsors several women's programs including Women On Target® Instructional Shooting Clinics. They create more opportunities for women to learn all about firearms and to gain confidence in newly-acquired shooting skills.
Find an Instructional Shooting Clinic near you!
* Learn safe firearms handling
* Learn how to store your firearms safely
* Learn to shoot
* Learn a sport you'll enjoy for a lifetime
