William Helms: “the Department of Justice confirms that in the United States there was a rape for every 270 women, a robbery for every…”

“the Department of Justice confirms that in the United States there was a rape for every 270 women, a robbery for every 240 women and an assault for every 29 women in 1994. (In the three year period from 1992-94, the number of violent crimes committed against our wives, sisters, mothers, and daughters totaled nearly 14 million.) In response to statistics like these, the women of the National Rifle Association created the ``Refuse to be a Victim'' program five years ago. The basic premise of the program can be summed up by an old saying--an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. The course teaches women not to live in fear of threats, but rather, to respect likely threats and prepare to avoid or effectively respond to them. The centerpiece of the ``Refuse to be a Victim'' program is a three- hour public service safety seminar designed by, taught by, and presented to women in order to help them protect themselves. Since its inception, this common sense safety and self-defense program has been presented in 35 states and the District of Columbia. More than 600 instructors, including 9 in North Carolina, have trained and empowered thousands of women to protect themselves and their families. Mr. President, the course equips women with the tools they need to design their own personal safety strategy.…”