It’s basic biology for men to be physically stronger than women. Studies show that muscle mass in men is generally 40 percent more than the amount of muscle mass in women. Even well-trained female fighters fall defeated to untrained men solely due to larger muscle mass and larger size. Although female self-defense training is offered at many locations, it is still not as effective as female firearm empowerment.

Last February, five feminists met and discussed the issue of protection at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). Together, they discussed the outstanding virtues of concealed carry permits for women and the effects of safeguarding through armament.

Between 1966 and 1967, the media highly publicized a safety course that taught Orlando women how to use guns. The study of crime control through the private use of armed force found that Orlando’s rape rate dropped 88 percent in 1967, whereas the rape rate remained constant in the rest of Florida and the nation. Although it is an old study, it still holds up to modern standards. Gun training for small firearms is relatively the same as it was 50 years ago. Guns give those on the defensive empowerment, and criminals know that.

David Kepler, a constitutional law professor at the University of Denver, conducted a study relating the lack of guns to rape in the US and the UK. He concluded that in the UK, where it is virtually impossible to own a gun, women are three times more likely to get raped than in the US. With properly reformed background checks, guns could be in the hands of the defendant and out of the hands of the perpetrator.

According to a study conducted by the Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology, around 200,000 women have used handguns to prevent against sexual assault. Extreme gun control and the countrywide removal of guns could result in a greater number of women sexually assaulted annually.

There is always the possibility for the rapist to seize the weapon, turning rape into murder. However, that scenario is very unlikely. With the use of concealed carry weapons, only three percent of rapes were successful. Such a low rate was achieved simply by brandishing the weapon to the sexual offenders.  

One might think studies such as these would have feminists racing to get carry permits, but the gun market is generally a male driven industry. Although 62 percent of gun owners are male, the 263 percent industry in the number of concealed carry permits during the obama administration is believed by experts to be spearheaded by women.

Yet it’s been proven the increase in guns and concealed carry permits that have been responsible for lower crime. A study conducted by the University of Chicago found that states which allowed concealed carry laws had their rape rates drop by 5 percent and assault rates by 7 percent. In those states alone, it’s estimated that around 4,177 rapes and 60,000 assaults were prevented by concealed carry permits.

I believe in the same issue as feminists. Rape and sexual assault should end entirely. Female gun ownership shouldn’t be a Republican policy alone. Once we as a society understand that women are much more protected when armed, gun ownership would be bipartisan.