times, like legitimately followed out of places with people chasing me in cars it's actually been terrifying at times), and I just wanted to see what it felt like to hold a gun and shoot it.

The target was about halfway down the shooting range (not crazy far or super close), and I felt like a modern day badass robin hood.

I wouldn't purchase one unless I took special courses (not just concealed carry), because I think the responsibility to carry one is so extreme.

Its like any other dangerous tool, respect it, learn how to use it safely, and then decide if you need to or not.

True! It's just a dangerous tool that is the easiest to misuse. I have no small kids in my house but I would need to be really well versed in it's use and feel competent enough to use it lest it be taken

and used against me like it is in so many other cases when women brandish weapons against would be attackers.