FARGO — Women in the metro are feeling more confident in their ability to keep themselves safe after attending a free self-defense class on Tuesday, Feb. 18.
“I have my concealed to carry,” Brittney Staples said.
She came to Tuesday’s free self-defense class after experiencing situations that weren’t good for her mental or physical health.
“I wanted to come here to try to figure out a way to not have to be a victim anymore,” Staples said.
Staples isn’t alone.
Many of the women in the room quietly shared they’ve had similar experiences.
That’s where class instructor Travis MacLeod comes in.
“Be situationally aware, understand their surroundings, look out for signs of danger and how to combat the signs of danger by being visually aware and having vigilance and situational awareness,” said MacLeod of Code 4 Defense Training.
For the last four years, MacLeod has been teaching women safety tips, ways to defend themselves, and how to find the right self-defense tools.
It can be as simple as if someone makes you feel unsafe in a store — put your cart between them and you — to learning how to safely carry a gun, he said.
MacLeod said it’s more important than ever for women to know how to protect themselves.
“Just look at the crime rate that we have in Fargo-Moorhead right now,” he said.
By the end of the class, MacLeod says he hopes women come away feeling more confident.
“Taking away a little bit of extra knowledge and able to help themselves to become a better person for themselves because, ultimately, the only thing that will save them is themselves,” he said.
And the women in Tuesday’s class, including those who have experienced violence, are walking away with renewed strength and a message to others.
“You are a survivor and you are a warrior,” Staples said.
Tuesday’s class was sponsored by the U.S. Concealed Carry Association, which teaches responsible gun ownership and how to use guns as a means of protection.
Their next free Women’s Personal Safety Class in our region will be March 19 in Hawley, Minnesota.
