[jsalcedo]

http://entertainment.msn.com/news/article.aspx?news=129777&artp=ah

Gabrielle Union's Survival Story

Gabrielle Union co-stars with Will Smith and Martin Lawrence in "Bad Boys II," which has already grossed over $91 million at the box office. But before she hit Hollywood, Gabrielle lived a story movies are made of -- a story of fear, of tragedy, and ultimately, one of survival.

"Back in 1992 you had something very horrible happen," said Access Hollywood's Shaun Robinson. "Yeah. During a robbery at a store where I worked at my summer job, I was raped and beaten and actually had a real gunfight for my life. Fortunately, I survived and the man was convicted and is in prison now," Gabrielle revealed.

Gabrielle was just 19 years old when she fought back and shot at her attacker. Now 29, Union talked openly about the terrifying experience that changed her life forever. "From that experience and therapy and a lot of family and friend support, I came out stronger and wiser," she said.

Gabrielle's attacker was sentenced to 33 years in a California prison. Now 10 years later, Union has gone on with her life, counting herself as a "survivor" not a "victim."

"Do you think that made you tougher just all around in how you handle people and situations?" asked Shaun. "Oh yes, definitely how I handle people. I respect people's space and how I handle weapons. When one is pointed at you it's not entertainment."

Union plays a tough DEA agent in "Bad Boys II," surrounded by an abundance of action and violence -- action which Gabrielle defends was necessary for the storyline. "What we show in the movie is an ounce of what really goes on. If people say, 'Oh my gosh, you're glorifying violence,' well, that was my experience, that is what really happens."

That is not to say Gabrielle has forgotten the past. "There's a scene at the end of the car chase where my hand is shaking, and thinking back to that night when I fired that weapon at that man I couldn't stop shaking," she remembered. "It doesn't take a lot of, 'Oh let me recall this or that.' It just becomes very real."

[Mark Tyson]

Fascinating. I would like to read more details about the defensive gun use. If I'm reading the article correctly, it seems that the poor lady was already raped before she could get to her gun.

Lesson: keep your gun close at hand . . .

[Pendragon]

my guess is that she used his gun while he was otherwise occupied...

[Bartholomew Roberts]

http://entertainment.msn.com/news/article.aspx?news=129777&artp=ah

Pretty interesting story - she was assaulted and raped during a robbery at a store where she worked; but fought her way to a gun and used it to defend herself.

She makes some interesting comments on guns during the discussion.

[spacemanspiff]

few women in the entertainment industry will admit they have an interest in weapons, either for personal defense or just for fun at the range. this looks like one of those few.
another is that actress who was briefly on 'the sopranos', i cant remember her name, but in ever interview she gives, she brings up firearms and that she shoots in competitions. think her first name is leslie or something.

[George Hill]

She's a cutie. Would make a good ProRKBA advocate if she doesn't pick on on the hollywood elitism that runs rampant there.

[Travis McGee]

I intentionally created a strong female protagonist for my novel for many reasons, among them to drive home the point that for the smaller, weaker, older or infirm, firearms can indeed be "the equalizer."

http://matthewbracken.web.aplus.net/snakelogo.jpg

[jwmoore]

When I saw the movie, I did notice that her handling skills were better than any of the other actors in the movie.... Proper muzzle/trigger discipline, etc. I think on the poster, she's the only one not fondling the trigger.

~W

[winstonsmith]

When I saw the movie, I did notice that her handling skills were better than any of the other actors in the movie.... Proper muzzle/trigger discipline, etc. I think on the poster, she's the only one not fondling the trigger

Yep

[OF]

NRA 'Refuse to be a Victim' Spokeswoman maybe? She could be a real asset. Watch the video in the article that Bart linked to. She talks a bit about how her experience has affected her in positive ways. Someone at NRA needs to get off their arse and talk to this woman.

- Gabe

[10-Ring]

I saw that story last night flipping through the channels. She is truly a strong person being able to recover from that experience & grow from it.

[Cliff]

Name: Gabrielle Union
Sex: F
Nationality: American
Date: October 29, 1973
Birth Place: Omaha, Nebraska, USA
Occupation: actress, model
Education: University of Nebraska (transferred to Cuesta College)
UCLA
Husband/Wife: Chris Howard (married on May 5, 2001)
Contact
Gabrielle Union
4570 Van Nuys Blvd. Suite 171
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
USA

[Standing Wolf]

You can't beat armed women.

No wonder the leftist extremists want to disarm every single law-abiding American citizen.

[Sean Smith]

You can't beat armed women.

Well, duh... they'll shoot you if you try! :neener:

[Dave Bean]

...
Dave Bean

[cool45auto]

Good come back story. Hope she continues to get better.

[ocabj]

another is that actress who was briefly on 'the sopranos', i cant remember her name, but in ever interview she gives, she brings up firearms and that she shoots in competitions. think her first name is leslie or something.

Leslie Bega. Appeared in a few episodes in Season 4 of The Sopranos. But her stance on firearms isn't really strong for the pro-gun side:

From article http://www.maximonline.com/entertainment/articles/article_4918.html:

And if pruning the azaleas doesn’t do the job, she heads to the nearest firing range. “When Kelly Hu and I first went there together, I got hooked. I realized everything we do in life is like a target, and you need energy and focus to hit that target. I just graduated to an M-16, and the first time they handed me one with 10 rounds in it, I hit the target dead-on with all 10.” So does she keep an arsenal at home? “Actually, owning a gun would go against what I believe in,” she explains. “Shooting targets is nothing like shooting something living, which I’d never do. Besides, guns require lots of maintenance, and I have a lot going on.”

[Bigjake]

she sounds like a class act compared to most of them jackasses. shame the goblin survived the encounter.

[six 4 sure]

I too noticed her gun handling skill in the movie. Two thumbs up in my book.

six

[Mostly Harmless]

"Do you think that made you tougher just all around in how you handle people and situations?" asked Shaun. "Oh yes, definitely how I handle people. I respect people's space and how I handle weapons. When one is pointed at you it's not entertainment."

Funny that.... I saw a movie poster where she's got her gun pointed at Will Smith's crotch.

Guess that's not entertainment.

J.

[Correia]

Cool.

And Kelly Hu gave her an M16? Kelly Hu as in Lady Deathstrike from X Men 2! :D Rock on.

[Cosmoline]

I am AMAZED that anyone on a MICHAEL BAY movie displayed good gun handling. This was the same fool who had a few injured pilots with little pistols overcome a squad of Japanese troops armed with Arisakas. Ha! Bay is such an idiot, you can just look at his pic and practically HEAR the wind blowing through his head! :D

[Ian11]

Good for her. The fact she was able to fight off her attacker helped her be more confident in herself and cope with what happened. She didn't let herself feel like a "victim" and she made sure her attacker didn't either, despite the fact she was raped.

Of course most of Hollywood will just consider her "lucky". And that she should have done nothing.:fire: :fire: :fire: :fire:

I liked her before when I first saw her in the movie "Bring It On":o :D but she's off the scale now.:D And yeah, she's the only one in Bad Boys II that didn't treat her gun like a toy.

[DVDTracker]

Some pics I found on Yahoo...

http://us.ent4.yimg.com/movies.yahoo.com/images/hv/photo/movie_pix/columbia_pictures/bad_boys_ii/_group_photos/gabrielle_union7.jpg

http://us.ent4.yimg.com/movies.yahoo.com/images/hv/photo/movie_pix/columbia_pictures/bad_boys_ii/_group_photos/gabrielle_union5.jpg

http://us.ent4.yimg.com/movies.yahoo.com/images/hv/photo/movie_pix/columbia_pictures/bad_boys_ii/gabrielle_union/bad.jpg

[jsalcedo]

Wow! no finger on trigger!

[spacemanspiff]

i think i may have to dig up some email contact for her and send her a note complimenting her gun handling. who knows? maybe i'll just have to go see this movie. wasnt planning on it before this thread.

[twoblink]

She seems like a perfect CCW spokesperson.

Of course, the Hollyweirds will say, good thing you didn't have a gun, the man might have used it against you... :fire: :cuss: :banghead: