Alicia Wadas of Mothers Arms, a pro gun group of Moms, has endorsed HB2095. Her letter follows. Please go visit the Mothers Arms website at: www.mothersarms.org and thank her. Her email address is: aw@mothersarms.org
Todd Rathner, NRA Director --
February 3, 2000
Dear Senator:
I am writing to strongly encourage your support of HB 2095. The passage of this bill is of utmost importance to the protection of women and children in the State of Arizona. Our laws need to be fair to all citizens and have continuity from locale to locale. Otherwise we set up the disgraceful opportunity for women to be victimized or to be in violation of the law inadvertently or in the act of self-defense.
As founder of Mothers Arms and as a mother and grandmother, I believe that women must take action to safeguard our children's lives and ensure their secure future. We need to strengthen legislation that supports our right of self-defense at home, work and play. Allowing local governments to impose restrictions results in confusion and a loss of the right to self-protection and the right and responsibility to protect her children.
Most women and children are considered prey by criminals. A woman must have the opportunity to decide how to protect herself and her children. If she chooses to be licensed to carry she will be trained in gun safety and use. She should be able to make this decision to carry without concern that she will become a criminal if she inadvertently enters or is pulled into an area that has been declared "gun-free". And if she is aware that a local area is "gun-free", and is a law-abiding citizen, she is now unable to protect herself and her children from predators. Will the predators and criminals respect the "gun-free" zone? Who will be there to protect the woman and her children?
Mothers Arms supports the development of self-reliant women who consider it a fundamental right and responsibility to protect their children, their property and themselves from human aggression and assault. Allowing locales to pass their own "gun-control" laws will lull people into false security and not shield us from crime. In fact, these laws limit our freedoms and possibly make a woman choose between being a victim or a common criminal.
Please support HB 2095 for the protection of women and children in Arizona.
Sincerely,
Alicia Wadas
President & Founder