Headline: Cleveland Councilman begins movement to help hundreds of women get their concealed carry permits

WOIO (CBS Cleveland) is reporting that Cleveland Councilman Basheer Jones has issued a call to action to have 1,000 women obtain their concealed handgun licenses.

From the article:

Single mothers, career women and some who have a man at home are tired of the statistics – that have more women and children being caught in the crossfire of violence on the streets.

Violence has put women in it’s sights far too many times. A young mother and Cleveland Model Shalaymiah Moore who walked the runways in New York, and was set to model in London in February was shot and killed during a robbery as she sat in her car. Two women were shot, and one died during a dispute at an East Side gas station.

19 News met up with Kim Scott during target practice at the Parma Armory. She already has her concealed carry permit and for good reason. “I got my CCW because I was actually robbed one time and I’m a business owner. Women and babies used to be protected from crime.”

But times have changed and now hundreds of women in the Cleveland area have decided to turn the tables on gun violence -- and it’s triggered the “Secure Our Women” movement.

Cleveland Councilman Basheer Jones put out the call to action and says about 800 women have responded to get their concealed carry permit, and legally arm themselves with a gun to protect themselves and their loved ones.

CCW Instructor Isa Abdul Matin of Stephens Sporting Life in Cleveland told WOIO the effort is not about putting more guns on the street, it’s about law-abiding citizens who want to put their safety and security in their own hands. “The woman is being the husband, she’s being the mother, the babysitter, the educator. She’s got all of this stuff on her plate – who’s going to protect her.”

“We know that in the past 25 years Cleveland has been ranked one of the most dangerous cities in the nation for women,” Councilman Jones told the news outlet, adding that things have to change. “If we don’t stand up for our women, our children will continue to be doomed and we will continue to be doomed.”

According to the article, several CCW Instructors who will be training the women have cut their fee - in some cases by half - to make getting the training affordable to everyone.

Chad D. Baus served as Buckeye Firearms Association Secretary from 2013-2019. He is co-founder of BFA-PAC, and served as its Vice Chairman for 15 years. He is the editor of BuckeyeFirearms.org, which received the Outdoor Writers of Ohio 2013 Supporting Member Award for Best Website, and is also an NRA-certified firearms instructor.