Stacey Dash, once Clueless actress turned FOXy political pundit, spoke out in PEOPLE magazine on her abusive past, and how it drove her to become the avid Second Amendment defender she is today.

Detailing an abusive relationship she endured in her 20’s, she recalled:

“He would punch me in my body, my legs, my chest, anything that could be covered. But part of me felt like I deserved it because what I was coming from was no better. I didn’t have an identity. That’s why I fight for women and people in the inner cities today. I want them to know it will get better.”

“I didn’t feel like I was a person,” Dash continued. “I was so starving for love, that I held on. Some of the time he took care of me, and I got [beaten up] in order to have those moments.”

Even after they broke up, Dash said he continued to stalk her, eventually raping her.

“He had a gun to my head and I thought, ‘My son is in that crib right there,’ ” said Dash. “[I thought], ‘No you are not going to do this. My son’s life was more important to me than my own.'”

“A gun saved my life. That’s why my Second Amendment right will not be taken away from me.”

Back in October, Dash posted a photo and wrote “I’m officially a licensed gun owner. ?” on her Facebook page.

Predictably, liberals were quick to express outrage:

One said, “Of course you are (a gun owner). Fox make you go do that?” More comments labeled her an “idiot” and a “traitor” to her race.

Another wrote, “Clueless and strapped. Lookout now.”

But with over 90K likes and 5200 shares, the bulk of the 7,000 comments went on to welcome Ms. Dash to the gun owning community and support her decision to exercise her Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms.

In her new book, “There Goes My Social Life: From Clueless to Conservative“, Dash dishes on her relationships, her politics, even her faith. She goes on to discuss how she has witnessed both conservative and liberal policies play out in the real world, ultimately making her an outspoken conservative.

In addition to becoming an author, Dash recently dove into a new role combining her love of acting and politics, playing the Mayor of Chicago in Sharknado 4 premiering Sunday, July 31 at 8PM ET.

These days, whether she’s writing or filming, Stacey Dash is anything but Clueless.

“The best way to protect my children is to be honest with them,” concluded Dash. “I let them know that I survived. I’m not a victim. And there is nothing they can’t overcome.”