This is a response essay to Linda M. Hasselstrom' essay, "Why One Peaceful Woman Carries a Pistol."

Linda M. Hasselstrom made a very convincing argument in her essay, "Why One Peaceful Woman Carries a Pistol". She says that criminal activity has become a growing concern for most people. According to the Department of Justice, several hundreds of people will be robbed, assaulted, kidnapped or murdered this year alone. While handgun possession is a highly controversial issue in today's society, it should not be quickly dismissed as a means to self-defense. Because of …

…a personal decision, it should be thoroughly researched, analyzed, and risk assessed before a decision is determined. Works Cited Clifford, Mary. Identifying and Exploring Security Essentials, Prentice Hall, September 2003. Goldenstern, Joyce. American Women Against Violence, Enslow Publishers, Incorporated, January 1998. Hasselstrom, Linda. Why One Peaceful Woman Carries a Pistol, Fulcrum Publishing, Inc. 1991 Lock, Joan. Protecting Yourself Against Criminals, Mason Crest Publishers, October 2002 National Institute of Justice, Guns in America: Private Ownership and Use of Firearms, May 1999.