In 2002, when I lived in Be’er Sheva, in Southern Israel, a man I was dating, Amir, took me to the remote outskirts of the city, to show me a cool view from the hills. As we came back down the hill, a car started honking – as it stalled right near where we were parked. I sped up and called out to the passengers, to see what they needed, thinking maybe they wanted directions or maybe our car was blocking theirs.

Suddenly two young men came flying out of the car and charging uphill at Amir and me, each man blocking one of us, both violently screaming at us in Arabic. As I confronted the assailant in my face, I heard Amir, further up the hill from me, calmly speaking to his own personal assailant in Arabic. Amir, you see, was also an Arab.

I’m far from fluent in Arabic. I do, however, know enough Arabic to understand that the assailant up the hill shouted this out to the guy still in my face: “It’s OK, it’s OK, he’s an Arab. He’s an Arab.” With that, the assault was called off. As in, oops, my bad, sorry bro. As Amir and I neared our car and were close enough to that of our assailants, I discovered that there was a young German woman driving the getaway vehicle.

What. The fuck. I could not stop shaking all night long.

While I was walking, I was not only enjoying the rain, but also thinking about how, as a woman, I have to be vigilantly aware of my surroundings and prepared to defend myself. And thinking how that sucks. And reflecting on how it is illegal for me to carry a gun, despite the staggering levels of assault against women, but legal for a store owner selling jewelry to carry a gun.

Because as we all know, rubies are more precious than women.

I am pissed. I am also denied my constitutional rights to bear arms. Which leaves me thinking that I just might join the National Rifle Association. Because them Republicans got it right on one thing. And proper hot-headed feminist that I am, I’m standing shoulder to shoulder with them on this matter, Green Party and all.

I have the right to walk down any street at any time and be safe. Anyone who threatens to compromise that safety deserves to get it right between the eyes. And I have the right to be the one delivering that magic bullet. End of issue.