Patriettes Will Fight Coming Terrorist Crime Wave

Leah Heisig

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'!"