Dispatches from gun country: 'Call on me, and I shall equalize'
Tana Leggo, model, photographed in Louisville, Kentucky, sporting her Romanian-made WASR-10 AK-47 rifle with a 50-round magazine. (Photo: Ben Philippi)
Professional model and actress Tana Leggo didn’t grow up with guns, but learned to shoot and love them with the help of some gun-loving friends. In her words:
There is nothing more satisfying than the feel of cold, hard steel in my hands! Guns are dangerous, exciting and even seductive…much like me!
Interestingly, I grew up in a family that didn’t care for guns. They weren’t anti-gun per se, but guns were foreign to my parents due to their being uneducated about the subject. After I became an adult, I started hanging around gun guys and gals. As a female, I’ve always been concerned about personal safety. The ex-military guys, who are my friends, talked to me about firearms. These were really educated, law-abiding, freedom loving folks, who were protective and concerned about my safety, so I took their advice.
The first time I held a gun, I loved it! It was sexy! It was empowering! After learning to shoot, I was hooked. I’m an independent woman, and guns reinforce that independence! I’m all about freedom. I’m actually quite liberal in the classical sense. Truly being liberal means loving freedom, and guns make us all equal and truly free. I’m a 115-pound fashion model. A gun makes me equal to any potential threat. Like the old adage says, ‘fear no man, no matter his size. Call on me, and I shall equalize.’
My philosophy toward self-defense was to choose one firearm and become an expert with it. My choice was the Smith and Wesson 60LS in .357 magnum. It fits my needs perfectly and being stainless steel, it always goes well with my wardrobe and accessories. When it comes to fun, I like to shoot just about everything, as my picture with my AK-47 shows. The modeling and entertainment world in which I work, generally is not a ‘gun friendly’ environment. Hopefully my enthusiasm, and showing other women how they can keep from falling prey to predators, will have a positive impact!
Read more perspectives on America’s gun culture in Ben Philippi’s book “We The People.”
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