Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Meredith Emerson, an accomplished martial arts student, went missing New Year's Day while hiking with her dog.

Her decapitated body was found last Sunday. Authorities believe that she was held for three days before being bludgeoned to death.

Her alleged murderer has been officially charged.

Stephanie Cavin, who lives in the same town as the victim says, "It's sickening that somebody that demented was among us." Describing herself as a friendly person who talks to just about anybody, she says she is now forced to analyze her actions.

I, for one, hope that she, and other women like her, consider a visit to the shooting range instead of heading to the local community center for a quickie course in self-defense because while this: might be able to save you, this:
would probably do a better job.

11 comments:

InFerroVeritas said...

A point that I keep trying to get thru my wife's head, but she just doesn't get it. I don't care how many martial arts moves you know, the average guy can overpower the average girl with very little effort.

I have a friend who is a martial artists and also owns a handgun for self-defense. When my wife asked him what to do if someone grabs you in a chokehold from the front he replied "Shoot them from the number two position" I laughed pretty hard about that one....hopefully one day she will get it without having to learn the hard way.

Earl said...

In most critical life and death moments the well trained person hesitates, because they can't face the reality (this is why folks back from combat are different - they are in their reality of the war zone). The paranoid and crazy and just all the way sure they are going to die will attack then flee if free. I don't carry concealed although I could because I don't see anyone I think I need to kill, now I could get into such a situation - then I will die or kill them another way (seems I am all three of the above). Women are not the primary fighters of the human race - they can fight but they are designed to have babies and nurture and make life worth living, so most men can take most women out, especially by sneak attack no matter how well trained.

breda said...

Brent Greer has left a new comment:

Thanks for the update on this horrid story Breda. You hit the nail on the head with your recommendations for some time at the range. A firearm is the only equalizer there is. And you are not trying to kill someone in self defense, just stop the threat. BTW, you made my day with the pic of Ann Coulter at the range! Sigh... lol

Separately, I think a huge mistake is this Taser deal with MP3 player attached. So now women can take another of their senses out of play but still have the confidence of the taser on their hip? Come on!

(sorry Brent, this comment moderation takes some getting used to. I rejected your comment by mistake!)

Carteach said...

Breda,

You are exactly right.
Think back to all the most horrible things done by human, to human, you can think. The very worst, the most sickening....

Who did them? Some ancient version of pre-human? Martians?
Nope... just plain folks, like the ones walking around us every day.

That's important... and when good people forget it (or never learn it) they sometimes pay with their lives.

Humans are funny critters, and quite a number are feral, and not to be trusted.

Especially when they wear ties....

Sparrow said...

I've always heard about the things women can do to defend themselves, like gouging out your attacker's eyes, but I think I would have a much easier time blowing a hole in them than poking my fingers into their juicy eyeballs. Besides, you can practice shooting a gun, it's kind of hard to practice gouging out eyeballs.

chris horton said...

Breda,
Is the second pic Ann Coulter?

breda said...

yes, indeed - that is Ann Coulter.

BobG said...

I like the bottom picture better; the top one looks like a couple of hillbillies making out...

JD said...

As a gun owner and a martial artist I have to say you need to train in both . . . you may need to fend the attacker off long enough to draw the gun. . . knowing both is best, the martial arts build balance and confidence and also teaches awareness just like a carry course, they complement each other well to produce the best ability to defend oneself I think. That being said you have to study the art, not a sport version of martial arts. Make sure the school is defense oriented and not a sport school. You are not there to learn to score points and where you can or can't hit someone, you are there to learn to defend yourself.

Less said...

I'll add a twist here...

Real fights with guns aren't always as clear as "shoot 'em from the #2 position."

Most civilian defensive handgun shootings are from a distance of 1-6 feet. 1-6 feet is awfully close!!

I don't care how good of a shot you are, drawing and attempting to fire reactively is not very viable - man or woman - at that distance...

The guy, southnarc, of shivworks is a very popular teacher since his courses go into all that bad shit while using simmunitions and helmets. Let's face it, how many work on moving and firing, let alone empty hand to pistol transitions?

Southnarc on youtube...

Fighting in a car at a seminar... Can YOU draw your gun while in the car? Is your holster even accesible?

Notice most of the stances aren't quite like standing in the stall at the range! A lot of real fights end up in a messed up tangle. (F.U.T.)

I guess what I'm saying is that layering your knowledge and your skills might give you the opportunity to survive a fight - whoever you are!

Anonymous said...

Martial arts are ok as far as exercise, but they are false confidence builders. Most martial arts are taught with rules, life or death fights don't have rules.