On one hand, learning to protect yourself is genuinely empowering. Situational awareness, de-escalation techniques, and basic physical self-defense are life skills that everyone should have regardless of where they live. We're all for individuals taking their safety into their own hands. That's about as liberty-minded as it gets.

On the other hand, let's not gloss over the subtext here. When a city starts advertising self-defense classes to its residents, it's essentially admitting that the existing public safety infrastructure isn't getting the job done. You don't see these programs pop up in cities where people feel safe walking to their cars at night.

San Francisco spent roughly $725 million on its police department budget last year — and yet here we are, encouraging residents to learn how to throw an elbow. The city has simultaneously made it harder for law-abiding citizens to carry legal means of self-defense while also failing to keep repeat offenders off the streets through a revolving-door justice system. The result? A self-defense class flyer that reads less like community enrichment and more like a white flag.

To be clear: take the class. Seriously. Personal responsibility is the first line of defense, and no one should outsource their safety entirely to a government agency that can't even keep its staffing levels up. But let's not pretend this is a solution. It's a symptom.

The real question San Franciscans should be asking isn't "where do I sign up for self-defense?" It's "why do I need to?" Until City Hall gets serious about prosecution, police staffing, and holding repeat offenders accountable, expect more classes like this — and fewer people willing to stick around for them.