Every two minutes, an American woman is violated and, in Maine, nearly one in five will be a victim. Shocking to chauvinistic views of some Maine mayors, police chiefs, legislators and a retired sheriff should be the Congressional finding for the "Citizens Self-Defense Act of 2011" that 192,000 women defended themselves against sexual abuse using a firearm.

Some people cannot comprehend why a woman would consider using a firearm to prevent rape and do not find that working to ban the weapon of choice by such women is illogical. Every legislator supporting such a ban should be required to explain their reasons to Maine rape survivor groups.

In police, military and rural homes, women brought up with a familiarity and capability with firearms have means of defense with the standard police weapon of choice against violent crime: the semi-automatic pistol using a double stack magazine of 14 rounds, chosen because it is considered to be the most effective against criminals who may not be stopped by fewer bullets. The magazine limitation being proposed by many legislators would ban this weapon from women.

Not every woman may be interested or capable of using a firearm in self-defense, but it is an egregious double standard to deny such protective means.

That rape is not a capital offense allows condescending gun haters to consider the rape of a woman more acceptable than to allow rapists to be threatened, shot or killed, apparently.

Taking my wife's 14-round Smith & Wesson is not an option, and 192,000 women would agree.

Robert L. Martin, New Sharon