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 Bates' book, Safety for Stalking
Victims, is a comprehensive solution manual to the crime of stalking.
Hayes' Effective Defense is the second edition of her self-defense
book originally subtitled "The woman, the plan, the gun."
Both women are long-time contributors to Women & Guns
and both are active in defensive training circles. Bates is vice
president of AWARE (Arming Women Against Rape and Endangerment),
a Massachusetts-based non-profit which she helped found, whose
programs include, but are not limited to, firearms training.
Hayes runs the Firearms Academy of Seattle with her husband,
Marty, and is also a reserve police officer in the Pacific Northwest
whose duties include firearms training for her department.
Safety for Stalking Victims is subtitled "how to save
your sanity and your life," and the book offers a complete
description of the different forms of stalking and appropriate
responses. It is unfortunate that many people's perception of
the crime of stalking comes from turgid melodramas often seen
on television. These so-called "Women in Jep (for "jeopardy")
movies dwell on the most sensational aspects of the crime, often
focusing on erotomania, in which the stalker "loves"
the victim, even if victim and stalker had no previous romantic
relationship. Bates points out that this is in fact one of the
rarer forms of stalking, with the most common forms more likely
to involve those with prior relationships, such as marriage,
or even casually acquainted through living proximity or work.
Written in Bates' thorough style, the book begins with a preface
that sums up her intent. "Your safety has to rest primarily
in your own hands," she writes, and then proceeds to explain
how to accomplish that goal. Unlike the hapless victims in the
movies, Bates recognizes that the victim of a continuing crime
such as stalking must be prepared to take responsibility for
her own safety and defense (as well as the safety of others,
such as children, in her care).
After explaining the different types of stalking, Bates launches
into the meat of the book that provides a clear how-to manual
for anyone faced with this problem. It begins with a review of
"essentials," which allow the victim to "take
responsibility," appraise the situation and take control.
Following chapters provide exhaustive detail to accomplish
this, divided into sections on personal information, home, work
and car. Also fielded are concerns and responses about public
places, "cyberspace," and telephones.
Anyone reading Safety for Stalking Victims will find the book
very easy to use, with bulleted lists and boxed information highlighting
and reviewing strategies discussed.
Bates also devotes a chapter, titled, "What Nobody Else
Will Tell You About Self-Defense," to a variety of responses
including empty-handed fighting, chemical sprays, knives, stun
guns, defensive driving, improvised weapons-and yes, firearms.
The introduction to this chapter stresses Bates' belief that
avoidance of danger is the primary goal, but that tools that
can be mastered are an essential part of the equation. Noisemakers,
such as personal alarms are among Bates' least recommended options
and she offers important caveats about other tools such as stun
guns.
"Guns are a sensitive topic for many people," Bates
writes, adding, "but one that we have to address in this
book. Not to do so would leave you without a very important option."
She continues with a well-reasoned and dispassionate argument
for the inclusion of firearms in a self-defense plan, likening
the gun to a fire extinguisher-a tool one hopes never to have
to use, but whose mastery is a sensible precaution.
Readers of Bates' Defensive Strategies column in W&G will
recognize the form of several chapters, called "Interludes,"
which set out problems in the form of anecdotal scenarios for
the reader's fuller understanding of possible stalking situations.
While the book, which also contains a chapter on interacting
with the system and one dealing with stress as well as two appendices
and a bibliography for further reading, is primarily aimed at
stalking victims, it has other applications as well.
I would recommend the book to anyone involved in any type
of self-defense training for women as it sets out a number of
concerns and responses which would be applicable even to those
not being stalked. Topics such as basic awareness of surroundings
and common sense approaches that are (or should be) easily integrated
into daily life are well represented here.
One need not be stalked to recognize the wisdom of guarding
personal information, reviewing household and workplace situations
and learning to put oneself in a state of "relaxed awareness"
at all times-as well as rehearsing responses to conditions that
turn more perilous.
Safety for Stalking Victims (ISBN #0595181500 from I-Universe
Books, 209 pages, paperback) is $17.95 and available through
booksellers or from the AWARE website-www.aware.org.
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 Gila Hayes' book, Effective Defense
is a second edition to her previous book of the same title. The
newer edition contains additional information, as well as updating
and expansion of the first book, resulting in a trade-sized paperback
that is about 50 pages longer than the original.
While Hayes' modestly disclaims credit for developing techniques
and tactics explored in the book-listing a host of mentors and
teachers in her introduction-her sensibilities and sensitivities
to other women's sensibilities are unique among writers of practical
self-defense books.
If I had a quarter for every time someone told me that Hayes'
was one of his or her favorite firearms writers, praising her
no-nonsense, practical and ego-free approach, I could spend a
few hours on the nearest slot machine.
That attitude is well reflected in the pages of Effective
Defense which begins with a discussion of the will to survive.
Hayes also spends time on a theme in Bates' book, calling a chapter
"Victory is a Fight Avoided." Hayes stresses the importance
of recognizing and assessing threats and finding appropriate
responses. Some time, as undramatic as it may seem, the response
is as simple as walking away. Another chapter deals with unarmed
defense or self-defense with non-firearms tools, such as the
Persuader or Kubuton.
The bulk of Effective Defense, however, concerns itself with
firearms, primarily handguns, but with strong chapters on rifles
and shotguns, both with a clear eye on home defense.
Readers who are new to firearms or still in the Hamlet phase
of their decision process, will find much valuable information
in a chapter entitled "Annie Get Your Gun." This takes
the reader through the rudimentary decisions on configuration
and caliber after a discussion of gun vocabulary. Here again,
the ever-sensible Hayes understands that not everyone is going
to be in a position to initially purchase a gun safe's worth
of arms. She is equally sensible about recommending the value
of a gun that fits the owner and will therefore be more easily
practiced with. While she addresses the revolver v. semi-auto
debate, it is in the most practical terms, absent the hyperventilating
that discussion usually excites.
The rest of the book is devoted to a review of the necessary
skills for gun competence. No book can teach these things the
way a hands-on instructor can, However, it is the wise woman
who knows what skills are expected-recipes that leave out key
ingredients are more likely to result in the inedible rather
than delicious.
A chapter on concealed carry is also full of practical advice,
again from a woman's point of view. "Individual build governs
holster choice," writes Hayes, as she provides a myriad
of options as well as a very complete manufacturers' list at
the end of the chapter.
In addition to photographs, the book contains many well-executed
graphics of firearm schematics and useful diagrams which may
take the mystery out of sight pictures, trigger squeeze sequence
and the like.
Effective Defensive (ISBN #1885036027, 247 pages, paperback)
is $16.95 from The Firearms Academy of Seattle, PO Box 400, Onalaska,
WA 98570, www.firearmsacademy.com or from the Second Amendment
Foundation (www.saf.org).
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