insights, please, on most effectual means of self protection?

Okay ... I have this conversation with MANY women. Often times it is at a shelter where I volunteer.

About me: I am licensed to carry and I am issued a sidearm by my employer (the federal government). It's a 9mm Sig Sauer. I'm also a third degree black belt in taekwondo. And I teach self defense to women both at the shelter and at my old taekwondo studio.

I've been in many situations where self defense was needed. I've never once reached for my sidearm in those situations. In fact, most of the time I don't even have it with me. My hands and my feet are always with me.

So, if you are going to invest your time and money into some kind of self-defence skill, I STRONGLY recommend martial arts over a pew pew (and I'm a strong second amendment supporter). Once you've become proficient in some hand-to-hand self defense skill, then maybe up your game and add knife skills or a sidearm to your repetoir. But starting with a firearm is asking for trouble in my not-so-humble opinion.

I do not often invite people to message me privately. I've read your About Me and, like you, I do not have time for or interest in banal useless banter. But if you want to discuss self defense or different martial arts styles, I would be happy to discuss with you. I've been studying martial arts since I was seven years old.