Dear Heloise: Two years ago, a friend asked me to attend a self-defense class with her because she felt uncomfortable going alone. So, I agreed, and it was the smartest thing I’ve ever done.

This past Christmas while I was out shopping one evening, I was busy placing packages in the trunk of my car. A man came up behind me, grabbed my hair, and said I’d better give him money or else. He had a small gun aimed at my neck. I said that I had no cash and usually shopped with my credit cards. I figured this would work to get rid of him. It didn’t.

He took my car keys and told me to get in the car. I refused and used three moves that my self-defense instructor taught me to use. Dangerous? Yes, but if I got into the car, he might have killed me out in the middle of nowhere. If he shot me, there

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