As a young woman, I’m often faced with a sad, and yet very true reality: we live in a dangerous world.

We live in a time where people are continually trying to harm our nation – and each other. Turn on the news and there’s some sort of terrorist attack or massacre, personal attack or random assault taking place. Every. Single. Day.

Our police officers and first responders are absolutely amazing, but at the end of the day, it’s up to each and every one of us to defend ourselves. When it takes first responders around 10 minutes to respond to a call, people need to remember; even seconds can be the difference between life or death.

As the saying goes, “I’d rather be judged by 12 than carried by six.” I would rather have to defend my actions in court than there even be a slight possibility that someone could harm me.

Millennials, like myself, are coming to the realization that our safety is in our hands and our hands alone.

It’s up to each one of us to protect ourselves. That’s why a concealed carry permit is a vital asset. I don’t know about you, but I would rather have my gun and not need it than to need it and not have it.

What’s even scarier?

Sexual assault is prevalent. 

According to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN), 54 percent of sexual assaults happen to people between the ages of 18 and 34.

Like so many young women, I, myself, am a survivor of rape. When I was 18 years old, I was raped in my dorm room by a guy I had just met and gone on a date with. He didn’t listen to my pleas or cries for him to stop. He didn’t heed my pleas as I yelled, “NO!” and pushed him away.

If I would have had the ability to obtain a concealed carry permit, I would have had one. But because I was under 21, I wasn’t allowed to carry a firearm on me, despite my extensive experience with my pistol.

Why wait to be a victim?

As a society, we need to declare that self-defense is a right and a right worth defending. And that starts at the polls.

As for self defense? That starts with you.