Many countries today still have laws which allow the systematic abuse of women, denying them basic human rights. Even so-called 'civilised' and 'westernised' countries still have discrimination by stealth - underhanded practices which continue to suppress and subvert women.

As women grow stronger and refuse to be dominated by men in power and highlight those countries who abuse women in the name of their 'God', it appears that as women shake off one type of dictator, it is being replaced by another - women.

Your website is full of helpful advice for rape victims and potential victims and I'm sure it has made a difference in many women's lives, but it appears that you support the implementation of the Firearms Control Act 2000 and the designation of so-called 'gun free zones'.

If I refuse to be dictated to by a man as to how I should live, then I'm also going to refuse to be dictated to by another woman! Forgive me for being brusque, but men in power are bamboozling you - again.

Your response right now is probably "ah, but the FCA is just one of the measures we are promoting to reduce violence", as though it is an integral ingredient in the recipe for curing society's ills. Unfortunately, it isn't. In fact, the FCA will have the opposite effect (see Prof J Lott "More Guns, Less Crime"), because it disempowers women (and men) in their choice of options for self-defence and it presents the criminal with a safer 'workplace'.

If 60% of rapes are committed at knifepoint (source : POWA), then surely if we remove knives from society that would be the end of the problem or at least begin to be part of the solution? You know deep down that it wouldn't make one iota of a difference, and why? Because a man doesn't need any weapon at all to commit rape. But a woman needs a weapon to defend her.

Why do men rape? And what is society doing to stop it? Wallpapering the hallowed halls of government with unconstitutional pieces of paper called legislation will not make any difference whatsoever.

The cycle of poverty, unrealistic expectations, a culture of entitlement, relative deprivation and hopelessness - all contribute towards depression (low-serotonin), suicide, inter-personal violence, child abuse and women abuse (source : "Britain on the Couch" Oliver James - reasons why people are more depressed today than in 1950 - a low serotonin society). Until our society breaks the cycle we will continue to experience high incidences of violent crime. Which NGO's are striving to improve economic growth, reduce population growth, and educate families on personal responsibility?

Instead what we see is an archipelago of meddlesome and hypocritical organisations incessantly telling people how they should live and trying to control them through support of abusive legislation. Haven't you ever wondered how ironic it is that liberal groups support legal abortion but reject the death penalty? Why do NGO's also refuse to allow people to take responsibility for themselves and their own safety?

Why should a woman not be entitled to own a firearm if she so desires? Don't tell me "it could be used against her" - that is government speak for "we don't want people to have firearms". Even if this was the case, it is my choice, not yours or the governments. I will decide on how to protect myself, not you or anyone else. I will look at all the facts and make a decision, not you. The police are not there for my personal protection, nor is the private security service - not unless they stand outside my front door 24 hours a day.

But why is there something so outrageous about a woman having the upper hand if an intruder should decide to try and help himself to her? Are we saying, deep down, that we have had enough of violence and that we should not perpetuate it by arming ourselves? Are we so gatvol of TV violence and reports of war on CNN and Sky that we are simply backing off from being defensive?

Firearms are not the cause of crime, violence or war. The human race is. Most of the general public actually realise this, although if one only takes what the media and the government say, one would have a different opinion. But the media and the government don't tell you that there is not one example of success of reducing crime by removing civilian firearms. The media/government don't tell you that the REVERSE is actually true. Take Britain as an example - over 100 years of anti-gun legislation and they are experiencing the worst crime wave in history. Only shotguns and small calibre rifles are allowed to be owned in England (by sportspeople, farmers and hunters) and yet handgun crime and violent crime is spiraling out of control. The poverty trap is worsening in England - the gap between rich and poor is widening as it is in South Africa.

If high ownership of civilian firearms is a major cause of crime then why does Switzerland and Finland have so little crime when both of these societies have over 50% civilian firearm ownership? Approximately 30% of households in Canada have firearms, yet their homicide rate is approximately 2 per 100,000 - as opposed to 7% ownership in South Africa and 56 per 100,000 (1999 - source : United Nations).

Why has murder come DOWN in South Africa since 1994 (65 per 100,000) to 56 per 100,000 in 1999, despite an INCREASE of civilian firearms of 64% (source : CIAC/SAPS)? Why didn't the government or the media report on these figures instead of allowing them to wallow in a report somewhere? One gets the impression that the government simply doesn't want anyone to have a firearm. And that impression is right. It's not about crime, because it can't be. And this was confirmed twice - in the ANC's report to the Goldstone commission in 1992 and in February 2000 when the late Safety & Security Minister, Steve Tshwete, reported on their goal of a 'gun free South Africa'.

The Firearms Control Act 2000 removes YOUR rights to property, privacy and innocence. Were you aware of that? Were you aware that warrantless searches can be made of your home and that under certain circumstances you will be presumed guilty unless you can prove your innocence? Did you know that DNA samples can be FORCIBLY taken from you? This legislation doesn't just apply to firearms owners - it applies to everyone - and it heavily contravenes the South African Constitution. But because the media and the government continue to demonise firearms owners without proof or evidence (because there is none), we are becoming a politically incorrect part of society. It's very fashionable to blame firearms for society's ills because it's a cop out - it's an easy 'answer' to a very difficult problem. People are so busy trying to earn a living, raise a family and cope with the stresses and strains of modern society that to devote any meaningful amount of time to researching what the government says is just too much for them.

As a woman and a firearms owner, I don't advocate that everyone should arm themselves. What I DO advocate is that people are allowed to make informed decisions. Let people have the truth and allow them to choose for themselves