Even if I wrestled, I would not be a threat.

Josh has a couple of cousins who wrestle. They are 19 and 17, my height, and they could take me, hands down, even if I was in peak physical condition. This is why I disagree with this letter to the editor in the Star Tribune .

Yes, women, there are bad guys out there. And self-defense is a good thing. However, there are a variety of ways to defend oneself, and I would argue that most women should not enter into street fights with potential attackers. Why? Men are stronger.

Now, let’s say you were truly concerned about your safety (for whatever reason). I’d recommend owning and learning to operate a firearm above a self-defense class. And I’m not talking about taking one little gun safety class, either. I am talking about learning to operate a firearm under high-stress conditions, going to the range on a regular basis, practicing shooting your gun, etc.

We’re talking efficiency here. In theory, a woman who is serious about her defense can learn to operate a firearm in a productive manner in less time than she can become an elite fighter. Plus, it is more likely a woman who is serious about her defense will learn to operate a firearm in a productive manner than she will become an elite fighter.

And one way or the other, the ability to operate a firearm or pummel a bad guy means the willingness to use extreme violence. If you aren’t willing to defend yourself properly, ability doesn’t mean anything.