Patriettes Will Fight
Coming Terrorist Crime Wave
Leah Heisig
It's only a matter of time. Sooner or later the terrorists on our
soil will use up the money that has been supplied to them by their
"headquarters" and they'll turn to old-fashioned ways to
keep their war chest filled they'll rob us!
Self-professed September 11 organizer Ramzi Binalshibh has
recently indicated that al-Qaeda is decentralizing its leadership
structure and giving terrorist cells more independence regarding
terrorist attacks. We can presume that they were already given a
green light on securing funds to pay for housing, transportation,
food, bombs, arms and other material they'll need to continue their
"war on America."
How soon will we read about a bank robbery or a Brink's truck robbery
perpetrated by young Middle Eastern-appearing men? Given what we
know, we can only conclude that these robbers will show no mercy
to the victims and witnesses.
We don't know what other kinds of violent crime these terrorist
cells will try next in an attempt to continue to terrorize our country
suicide bombings, robberies, hostage situations?
It's logical to assume these violent crimes are coming, but will
America be caught off guard once again, unable to quickly respond
to a new kind of crime wave?
Some women in northern Virginia are not waiting around to be victims.
When firearms training classes were announced that would take an
average woman with no prior knowledge of guns to the point where
she could file forms in a county office for a "concealed carry"
permit, women came in droves.
These "must-issue" permits will allow them to secretly
arm themselves against terrorists or any other thugs who may come
their way. It's an easy and safe way for citizens to contribute
to homeland security.
After three short sessions, 40 women of all ages and from all walks
of life grandmothers, stay-at-home moms, business women, heads
of organizations, congressional staff members and even interns
have completed the training, each earning certificates of competency
in the use and concealment of handguns.
Grinning from ear to ear and waving bulls-eye targets as compelling
evidence of their newfound skills, these women have decided that
they will no longer live in fear of domestic or foreign terrorist
threats.
The Patrick Henry
Center, in alliance with several other organizations and
in cooperation with the National
Rifle Association, which supplies the formal classroom instruction
as well as the firing range has been working hard to get 100 women
trained and certified before the end of the year.
Foundation president Gary Aldrich, a retired FBI agent,
even calls upon his wife in some of the training sessions. "Nina
was an FBI agent for 10 years and is still very accurate in her
use of handguns or rifles. Once trained, it's like riding a bicycle
you never forget," Gary says.
Nina, a mother of three teenagers, is a demure woman who weighs
no more than 105 pounds soaking wet, but she can hit the bulls-eye
of a target with a 9mm Glock over and over again. Ten-, 25-
or 50-yard distances are not intimidating to either Nina, or the
women who attend her lectures.
The Patrick Henry Center training classes, held about every other
month, are inspirational to the women, many who have come out of
curiosity, and most never having touched a gun before in their lives.
They think, "If Nina can do this, then so can I!" Soon
they're sporting their own bullet-riddled targets to show to co-workers,
boyfriends or husbands.
Those who have attended are quick to tell others about how incredibly
empowering this program is.
"The Patrick Henry Center is one of the few organizations
out there concentrating on empowering women. Being a Patriette has
changed the way I think about gun ownership and my own personal
safety. My comfort level around handguns has risen tremendously,"
says Jacqueline Fournier, a graduate from the April class.
There has been widespread media attention to this new initiative,
including the entire film crew from Fox News Channel's New
York studio. Co-host E.D. Hill of Fox's morning show, "Fox
and Friends," attended some mock classes and interviewed
Mr. Aldrich, as well as graduates of the course and professional
NRA training staff members. She was very impressed and walked away
with an impressive target of her own.
The segment, filmed at the headquarters of the Patrick Henry Center
and the National Rifle Association, is set to air on Fox News Channel
in the near future.
Mr. Aldrich hopes to take the program nationwide as soon as funding
is available. "Right now, thugs and terrorists can assume that
most women make easy targets because it appears they can't fight
back," he explained, "but once we take the Patriettes
program nationwide, the violent who live among us including terrorists
won't know if the next woman they intend to threaten is armed
with a nice, new 9mm semi-automatic handgun. Our Patriettes program
will really 'take a bite out of crime'!"
Leah Heisig is the Director of Communications
and Programs at The Patrick Henry Center for Individual Liberty
and a Patriette graduate.
