AP: 11418506-7c65-475a-b07a-6204df289a3a
A sheriff's vehicle passes in front of the home of a Georgia mother of two, who authorities say on Friday shot an intruder multiple times before escaping with her 9-year-old son and daughter, Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013, in Loganville, Ga. The case of Melinda Herman has inspired support from some gun enthusiasts who say they are wary of efforts to crackdown on guns in the wake of the Connecticut school shooting. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Gun advocate: As a woman I'm passionate about protecting myself, family

BY Alyssa Kleven  on January 10, 2013 @ 1:54 pm (Updated: 2:27 pm - 1/10/13 )

Advocates have been making their voices heard with the threat of new gun control measures limiting their freedom to own and use firearms. For women, the issue strikes a slightly different chord. As Vice President Joe Biden said he would deliver new policy proposals to President Barack Obama by Tuesday the Independent Woman's Forum spoke out.

Anna Rittgers, a woman with the forum is no stranger to conceal and carry laws. She told Seattle's Morning News on Thursday she believes it's a slippery slope to restrict any firearms.

"As a woman, it's my responsibility to do whatever it takes to protect my family from danger," said Rittgers.

Rittgers is passionate about the second amendment, because she's passionate about protecting her family.

But Dave Ross wanted to know how she protects her family from her weapon when it's not in use.

While some people use trigger locks and keep ammo separate, she said that doesn't make sense to her.

"Personally, that defeats the purpose of having an accessible weapon."

She keeps hers in a small safe, but said there are so many options available.

For others, it may seem reasonable to limit how many rounds a person could carry in their weapon, or limiting different types of automatic weapons, but Rittger warned that won't work for everyone.

Her magazine clip holds 15 rounds, but she said the fire power behind it isn't as strong as other weapons, giving her more reason to carry more ammunition.

She cited an incident just outside of Atlanta, where a man broke into a house and was shot five times in the neck and face by a protective mother.

The mom's gunfire didn't take out intruder, he made it to his car and started driving. Police found him after he crashed in a nearby wooded area and collapsed in a neighbor's driveway.

White House officials recognize it is unlikely groups like the NRA or the Independent Women's Forum will fully support the measures Obama is pushing.

Alyssa Kleven, MyNorthwest.com Editor
Alyssa Kleven is an editor and content producer at MyNorthwest.com. She enjoys doting over her adorable dachshund Winnie - named for Arcade Fire front-man Win Butler.
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Comments (11)


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  • FormerMarineSgt wrote...
    I have no problem with owning guns...
    January 10, 2013 1:53 pm
    BUT I do have a problem with NOT dealing with gun violence because of tired old lies about slippery slope and tin foil hat tales of 'jack booted government thugs wanting to take away your guns so that they can come take you away'... Only the extreme fringe wants 'to take away all your guns' - just like only the extreme fringe demands that all gun laws be removed so that they can have and do whatever they want, regardless of the consequences. The VAST majority of Americans aren't either extreme. They want common sense solutions that encompass ALL aspects of the causes of gun violence. NOT rhetoric and paranoid tin foil hat extremism.
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  • imanegro wrote...
    formermarineturd
    January 10, 2013 2:17 pm
    So, you want to do something about gun violence? You do a nice job of calling names and making fun of us 2nd amendment fans, but offer no solutions. Hammers typically cause more deaths than guns. What is your solution? Or do we have to live with all these hammer deaths? Is this just the price of living in a society full of hammers?
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  • DesertRez wrote...
    I will
    January 10, 2013 3:02 pm
    give you one method to reduce gun violence; legalize drugs. A large part of gun crime (not including suicide - which is first) is gang bangers wacking themselves, which I fully endorce.

    How to reduce gun violence against innocents? Armed guards, police, or teachers at every school. We already guard our airplanes, you think school children deserve less protection than vacationers and businessmen? I promise if we held a bond measure to vote it would pass in this state for protection of schools.

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  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    Poser Sgt.
    January 10, 2013 7:52 pm
    Problem with what you post is that the Dear Leader WANTS all guns confiscated from law abiding American citizens. Liberals have wanted to abolish the Second Amendment for as far back as I can remember.

    The only sensible laws would be to increase penalties for people who use guns illegally. Not punish the law abiding citizens.

    That being said, There is no desire on the part of the regime to find a solution. Never let a crisis go to waist. This regime is using the deaths of those children and anyone else for their perverted political agenda. The only thing this regime wants is for mindless Left wing Parrots to look to Obama the Messiah for answers and for revenge upon us Americans who oppose their Dear Leader and their dependency way of life.

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  • Drool wrote...
    If She Needs 15 Rounds
    January 10, 2013 8:12 pm
    to defend herself then she needs a better weapon and/or marksmanship training.

    The woman that popped the intruder was using a .38 (so I read). No mention of whether it was a .38 Special or .38 S&W (kinda rare these days) and no mention of the kind of ammunition (JHPs like she should have?). I do know there are good reasons police do not use .38s any more and she demonstrated one of them.

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  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    Ohhh! I don't want to see ch go away.
    January 10, 2013 8:26 pm
    Free speech aside, ch gives me a reason to cheer up on gloomy days. She gives me a good laugh or gives me a headache trying to figure out the nonsensical Lobotomized brain rants, done on purpose, just to get a rise out of the rest of us normal folk.
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