The Carter County Republican Women met at Doe River Baptist Church Saturday to learn self-defense techniques from retired law enforcement officer Ken Potter.

CCRW President Juanita McKinney said the world is changing, making sessions like this necessary for many women.

“If they are out shopping, they do not have to worry about someone accosting them,” McKinney said.

Potter taught the women present on a variety of different self-defense tactics, including retractable batons, pepper spray and tasers, along with discussing why this kind of training is important.

“It takes three seconds to take out a gun and fire the first shot,” Potter said.

He said that gives an attacker more than enough time to attack with a knife, meaning a gun alone is not enough for self-defense.

McKinney said this need for more detailed facts helped prompt the training session, as women who know more about what to expect can be better able to defend themselves.

“We are empowering them to feel more secure,” McKinney said.

This kind of protection is crucial, she said, because everyone deserves to feel safe while out in public, regardless of the circumstances.

“You want them to live life to the fullest,” she said. “You do not want them to be afraid to live.”

Saturday was the first time the CCRW hosted this self-defense training, and already she said they are planning to host another session in early 2020.

The women who attended, she said, left that afternoon with a stronger ability to defend themselves should a situation occur.

“You leave with a lot more knowledge,” McKinney said. “Each time, you learn something more.”

Potter educated participants on the mindset of an attacker and things to consider when attacked, including how to remove weapons from an attacker’s grasp first and foremost, as well as how to avoid being cornered.

McKinney said the session is part of a larger effort to be more active in the community as a whole in a variety of different ways.

“[CCRW] are trying to get more of our community involved,” she said. “You cannot voice your opinion if you are not involved.”