Jackson (TN) Police Chief Rick Staples says that women are too stupid to learn to use guns. Instead of trying to protect themselves, they should travel in groups or rely on rape whistles to scare bad guys away. Oh he doesn't say that explicitly. Instead he portrays guns as complex technical devices that women are just too simple minded to learn how to use. He claims that protecting women is a (police) man's job.

"There are many ways for people to learn how to defend themselves, and you don't want to see anyone live in fear," he said. "We all have a right to protect ourselves ... but our jails are full of women who've killed a spouse, and they were unable to prove it was self-defense."

I had thought the burden of proof was on the prosecution. If I were on the jury, a history of domestic violence would be more than enough reasonable doubt.

Staples said that "deadly force, in any situation, should always be the absolute last resort."

To women who are living in an abusive relationship, or a relationship where they constantly fear the potential for abuse, Staples offers this advice: "The first thing they should do is flee ... separate from the other party, and use those instruments the justice system (orders of protection and restraining orders) and support organizations that have been set up ... use those organizations, such as WRAP, that are there to help you, advise you and shelter you. There's no shame in seeking that kind of help."

Ahh, paper protection. The cemetaries are full of women who had restraining orders "protecting" them from an abusive spouse. I hate to sound callous, but men who beat women are a pet peeve of mine. Any cowardly man who beats up a woman deserves to be shot.

[Madison County Sheriff David Woolfork] said it's the same as walking by yourself in public.

"You exercise good judgment," he said. "If the potential for violence is there, even if it's a minor encounter, make sure you report it to law enforcement and let them handle the matter."

Huh? I thought they only arrested people for actual or attempted crimes, not "potential" ones.

That said, "if a person has a history of being victimized by an abusive spouse or significant other, and who's taken the steps of separating themselves from that relationship, yet still lives in fear based on direct or indirect threats, then I can see how they would want to learn how to defend themselves."

So you should only arm yourself if your husband beats you repeatedly and then violates his restraining order.

The State Department of Safety requires an eight-hour course (four hours in the classroom, four hours on the firing range) to qualify for a handgun permit. But Woolfork said that, after that class, you can't put the training in the drawer with the gun and be able to draw it out at a moment's notice.

"All our officers have to go through training once a year - and our tactical officers train monthly," he said.

Staples adds, "you must also know and understand your equipment and treat it with respect. A high percentage of police officers have been killed (accidentally) by their own weapons, and these are individuals who are highly trained."

I don't want to tell the Chief of Police how to do his job, but if I had a high percentage of my officers kill themselves with their own firearms, I might consider having them train more than once a year.

Of course the problem with this kind of attitude is that it gets women killed. The police are only able to prevent crime about 5% of the time. The rest of the time they are investigating after the fact. This article by the Independent Women's Forum should be required reading off all women.