Woman, 26, who was raped TWICE urges women to carry weapons for their own safety – and shares her harrowing life story
A WOMAN who was raped TWICE urges women to carry weapons for their own safety after “falling in love with tactical training”.
Orin Julie, 26 – dubbed ‘Queen of Guns’ – has opened up about her distressing experiences to raise awareness in Israel.
The Israeli government has very strict rules regarding gun ownership.
But that hasn’t stopped Julie from regularly promoting female empowerment while wielding giant weapons.
She runs an online gun accessories store, and wants the government to loosen rules, to allow more women in her country to legally carry a gun to protect themselves.
Julie said she was inspired to help others after her devastating experiences.
She explained: “I’ve been a rape victim twice in my life, the first time was at the age of eight; I was sexually abused by an older man.
“It affected me so much that I lost all my confidence and became scared of everything.
“I turned into a really quiet child with few friends and I was always suspicious of adults, I had no trust in them.”
Years later when she was 15 years old, Julie became the victim of rape again – this time allegedly at the hands of a boyfriend, who was 18.
She said: “After that happened, I did everything I could to avoid him.
“I became depressed and stayed at home, I struggled with school, it affected every part of my life.”
The then-teen was so traumatised that she felt unable to report the alleged crime to cops at the time.
It wasn’t until years later that Julie started talking to family and friends about the assaults – but she was upset that some did not support her.
She has since undergone therapy, which she says has helped massively in coming to terms with the sexual abuse.
Julie joined the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) at 18, where she eventually served for three years as a combat soldier in the Search and Rescue unit.
She learnt how to shoot a gun, and protect herself, undergoing Krav Maga training – a tough military self-defence and fighting regime.
Julie said: “I fell in love with tactical training, weapons and self-defence, and I felt empowered for the first time.
“I became my own defender, protector, I stood up for myself, I found my voice and I’m now more outspoken.”
After leaving the IDF, Julie continued to take self defence classes and used her social media platforms to raise awareness of how women can learn to defend themselves.
HOW YOU CAN GET HELP:
Women's Aid has this advice for victims and their families:
- Always keep your phone nearby.
- Get in touch with charities for help, including the Women’s Aid live chat helpline and services such as SupportLine.
- If you are in danger, call 999.
- Familiarise yourself with the Silent Solution, reporting abuse without speaking down the phone, instead dialing “55”.
- Always keep some money on you, including change for a pay phone or bus fare.
- If you suspect your partner is about to attack you, try to go to a lower-risk area of the house – for example, where there is a way out and access to a telephone.
- Avoid the kitchen and garage, where there are likely to be knives or other weapons. Avoid rooms where you might become trapped, such as the bathroom, or where you might be shut into a cupboard or other small space.
If you are a victim of domestic abuse, SupportLine is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6pm to 8pm on 01708 765200. The charity’s email support service is open weekdays and weekends during the crisis – messageinfo@supportline.org.uk.
Women’s Aid provides a live chat service available. from 10am to noon.
You can also call the freephone 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.
But she’s worried that it’s harder for females to protect themselves because of Israel’s strict gun rules.
Currently, veterans of the IDF’s infantry units are eligible for gun permits, along with cops who have received the equivalent training.
Julie claims that getting a gun is much easier for men who have served as combat soldiers and did basic training.
Yet women who have almost the same combat experience have to go further to prove their capabilities.
She said: “I was able to get one because I served three years as a combat soldier and then became a shooting instructor, but it was a long and difficult process.
“First we have to go through a range of officers courses, then wait for one year and just then we can do a shooting instructors course but only if we work in a shooting range.”
Julie wants more women in Israel – and throughout the world – to be able to protect themselves amid increasing rates of violence in Israel, particularly amid the coronavirus lockdown.
She said: “My country is also facing many terror attacks and women should be able to defend themselves.
“When I walk out of my home with a gun, I feel safe and protected and I want other women to feel the same way, to feel empowered and confident and to be able to stand up for themselves.”
Contact the Samaritans
If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article contact The Samaritans on 116 123. They are available for free at anytime.
Or email https://www.samaritans.org/