Why do I love posting these stories? Well, I always get a thrill out of seeing a gunpowder n’ lead woman empowered enough to defend herself, and the whole point of my website is to encourage other women to consider what it takes to do the same for themselves. We don’t have to be shrinking violets when we are threatened.
But just as important as being properly equipped — that’s the easy part — is being mentally prepared. If I can find a news clip that advances psychological protection then I can’t wait to share it. So, we owe a giant thanks to Martha Lewis of Alabama, our latest hero who, just this week, not only protected her cubs but also shared her state of mind in a high-stress survival situation.
About 3am on 8/14 Martha was in bed when she heard a noise downstairs in her house. It turns out the noise was caused by a scumbag named Michael Jacobs breaking the door jamb and entering. She called police and awoke her two daughters, telling them to find something to protect themselves. She’d already grabbed her handgun.
When she spotted Jacobs at the bottom of the stairs she says she knew she’d have to pull the trigger. She warned him several times that she’d shoot. (I’m not sure I would have bothered with a warning. Friendlies don’t break down doors.) When he began to climb the stairs anyway, she fired. Jacobs then exited the house, and cops eventually found him bleeding in the yard. Follow-up information indicated he was at a nearby hospital, sedated because every time he woke up he became combative and had to be sedated again. His mother must be so proud of her darling boy.
In interviews Martha said she knew she couldn’t fight Jacobs off. Frankly, I think it’s stupid to try, unless that’s the only option you have. If you can stop an attack from 15 feet away then you darned well ought to do it; 30 feet would be even better.
She also said she never pondered whether she could pull the trigger, but in that scary situation she only contemplated when to shoot, worrying if he wasn’t close enough that she might miss. This is an excellent example to the rest of us. If you don’t have the guts to shoot then you’re only bluffing, and Jacobs gambled on calling her bluff. He actually advanced on her, knowing she was armed, and said, “Would you shoot me?” If you ever wonder if you could pull the trigger yourself, I suggest you decide the answer right now. If Martha hadn’t then this story wouldn’t have a happy ending. I also suggest if you’re not confident about hitting your target than you should get to the shooting range and practice until you are. If you need help envisioning a realistic self-defense situation, just imagine an arrogant criminal creep climbing your stairs and thinking to himself, “She’s just a woman. She doesn’t have the guts to shoot. When I get close enough I’ll snatch that gun and then Blondie will have to do anything I want her to!” Judge for yourself how good it feels to pull the trigger.
And finally, kudos to Martha for teaching her daughters to defend themselves as well. When she told them to find a weapon one grabbed an ax, one grabbed a knife. It’s absolutely marvelous that they got to witness her standing up for herself, especially when you consider what they may have had to witness if she hadn’t. Hopefully she’s also discussed firearms safety with them and even let them practice as well, if that’s appropriate. (The story doesn’t say how old they are.) One mama bear spawning two more sounds like just one more way to make this a happy ending.
