By Maria Heil,
Contributing Editor

In mid-May Second Amendment Sisters (SAS) hosted the S.A.F.E.R. Event in Washington, DC. While the turnout was not what SAS had hoped for, neither was the turnout for the so-called "Million" Mom March! They retained only .3% of their original crowd, while SAS retained 10% of their original crowd from the march in 2000.

Among the S.A.F.E.R speakers were Shemane Nugent, John Lott, Rev. Joyce Smith (aka Re-Joyce) and Niger Innis. One high point was when all the SAS State and Local Coordinators in attendance introduced themselves and posed on stage for a photo-op. It was an awesome sight to see so many dedicated women from across the USA standing up for the Second Amendment.

As many of you may know, SAS and the MMM were both headquartered in the same hotel. It was an interesting weekend. Saturday morning started off with two MMM people refusing to get on an elevator with a SAS person; maybe they should have stuck to that strategy.

A little later in the morning an MMM person did get on an elevator with a SAS person. After the doors closed, the MMM'r looked at our SAS gal and flatly stated, "If I had a gun, I would shoot you."

Of course, in most liberal mindsets, when someone states that they want to shoot someone simply because they have a different life view, that is nothing less than "hate speech" and should be dealt with severely. However, if the "victim" is a pro-gun person, then it's perfectly a-okay. It's just this twisted way of thinking that makes the gun-grabbers so very dangerous.

Donna Dees-Thomases (DDT), the reported founder of the MMM, recognized me and introduced herself. When I told her of the threat made in the elevator she sincerely apologized and said, "That's not what we're all about."

Of course, in her own mind, that's not what they are about, but that is what the reality of the gun-grabbing movement is. DDT may have had the purest of intentions when she supposedly founded the MMM, but she is being used by those who would prefer that we have a totally victimized populace.

The incident gave me something extra to use in my numerous interviews that weekend. I especially enjoyed using it to make my point in a BBC World radio interview!

The S.A.F.E.R. event not only showed that the gun-grabbers, foreign or domestic, do not speak for all women, but the entire weekend brought about a renewal of commitment for the SAS Coordinators. It was a very empowering weekend for SAS!

SAS has launched a new program entitled, "Can the Ban." It is an effort to keep up the pressure to let the so-called Assault Weapons Ban sunset on September 13th of this year.

The MMM launched their pepto-pink recreational vehicle in which they will be traveling the country to "save the nation." SAS will be countering the MMM RV in some cities. However, as of press time, the MMM had changed their schedule at least twice. You will have to check on the SAS website for more details: www.2asisters.org

In Rapid City, South Dakota, SAS is sponsoring three separate Ladies Handgun Shoots. The dates are July 25, August 28th, and September 26th. SAS is also planning on hosting a Ladies Shoot near Waco, Texas on September 25th. For more information on these and other events that SAS is planning, please check the calendar on the SAS website.

I came on board with SAS five weeks before their first rally in 2000. I thought I was signing on for only five weeks, but 4 years and 5 weeks later I was still working at it.

Four years is a long time in the life of children. When I started, my youngest was only 7 years old; she is now 11 years old. My oldest is now 16 years old and learning to drive!

My family has shared me with SAS without much complaining. In fact, my family has been my biggest supporter!

Now, it's time for me to return to my family and enjoy them while they are still under one roof. This will be my last column under the Second Amendment Sisters department heading, as I recently resigned from all my SAS duties. A current SAS Spokesperson will be keeping you updated in the future.

I hope to continue writing, and Peggy Tartaro has dangled the prospect of "special projects" in front of me, so this probably will not be the last you hear from me!

As far as the battle to preserve the Second Amendment, yes, I'll still be involved to a limited extent. I just have to figure out the "how and where" of what I will be doing.

Thank you!

Maria Heil