The story that an Australian grandmother has recently wrestled a crocodile has rightfully received enormous international press coverage. Yet here in Australia our antigun media has given almost no coverage to how the killer croc was eventually dispatched -- by the woman's grandson using a high calibre pistol. This would seem to reinforce the old gunowner's proverb, "I'd rather have one and not need it, than need it and not have one"


Arizona: Firearms course popular with women (From Prescott Daily Courier -- Story now offline): "Tired of living in fear and of being harassed, more women are taking firearms classes so that they can learn how to defend themselves. Women also have become more conscious of the need to protect themselves following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, according to Jane Anne Hulen, director of marketing at Gunsite here. 'We don't want to be victims,' said Gina Peacock, an administrative assistant at Gunsite. She was among 14 women who took a Women Only Pistol Training Class that Hulen conducted this past weekend at Gunsite. Gunsite, a private academy that provides firearms training for law enforcement agencies, members of the military and civilians, began offering the class for women in 2001. Since then, more than 200 women have completed the course."


Florida: Gun-toting woman scares off robber: "Pembroke Pines police said a would-be robber tangled with the wrong woman Monday. Investigators said Felecia Moss, 34, was followed when she drove her Lexus into her gated community. When she arrived at her home, a man who was driving a blue Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera pulled up and approached Moss as she got out of her car. Moss said the man, who had a gun, demanded money from her. But when she showed him her empty wallet, he grabbed a cellular phone from her purse. Moss then pulled out a 9mm Heckler and Koch semi-automatic handgun. The man scuffled with Moss, trying to get the gun. Without being able to get the gun, the man took off running. Moss fired three shots at the man, and fearing he would return for his getaway car, she shot the tire out on the vehicle. Police said the man ran into Rainbow Lakes Development where he carjacked Shirley Michaan's silver 2004 Toyota Sienna Van."