LGBT Gun Rights Group Sees Membership Spike After Orlando Shooting (NBC News)
"I got involved because I like to shoot and I like to share what I know with others. I found out about them from an article online, visited their website and saw that San José had an inactive chapter," Stallard said. "I thought, why not open it back up? And I just jumped in!"
"The sad reality is that members of the LGBT community are targeted for violent assaults by sadistic predators," Stallard said. "Firearms give you a fighting chance. Mace, pepper spray, stun guns and other non-injury devices are inadequate tools. To stop a violent encounter you need to seriously injure your attackers so they're incapable of attacking you."
"The intent isn't to kill. The intent is to stop," she said. "I don't shoot to kill, I shoot to stop."
"Stallard says that those who are against people of the LGBT community have an "us" and "them" mindset. She equates the violent hate to that of Nazi Germany, when Jewish people were killed based on religious discrimination. The Orlando attacks were an example of this and were no surprise to Stallard. She says after the attacks, her mission to teach self-defense to those targeted is the same.
"In the back of my mind I knew something like this could happen, but when it does happen, it's like wow," Stallard said. "Reality is that in large groups we're a target for these animals."
Yes, this is a solution! I plan on finally getting my concealed carry permit some time next week (which I have been putting off for a while.) My state (Pennsylvania) already has permit-less open carry, but I think carrying concealed would probably be safer in a mass-shooting event.
