Common sense defense
After seeing about a half a dozen young women out jogging yesterday evening, I was anxious to get to my keyboard. This article is sort of aimed at women, but, MEN, you to need to be concerned and prepared! If not for yourself, the ones you love.
I was out yesterday evening, with my wife, looking for a place to walk. I had read about a linear park in town that wound thru a "green" area just east of downtown. According to the map, it ran about 2 miles, starting just north of the High School and ran behind the school along side a creek, thru a wooded area, ending just south of town. We found the parking area, and started out. It was a quite evening, surprisingly cool for Sept 2nd. I was surprised also by how few people were enjoying the evening in such a nice setting. After crossing an open field, the walking path went over a quaint little covered bridge that spanned a creek, then the woods became very dense on each side.
A young women in her early twenties, was the first to cause me concern. She jogged on past us, wearing sweats. She was not carrying anything in her hands. There were no bulges in her pockets. It was about 30 minutes before sundown. Long shadows fell across the path. Dense woods were on each side. A few minutes later another young women passed us from behind. She had a head set on, I assume listening to music. As we came behind the high school, there were some teens playing tennis, some others getting in some batting practice. Then the path led back through some more heavily wooded areas.
We could see the sun setting so we headed back. At least four more young women, six in all, passed us either coming or going into the wooded area. There was least one middle aged gentleman in sweats, who seemed to be resting on a bench near where we turned around. He looked harmless, but he aroused my suspicions. This area was perfect for an attack!
a) Plenty of good hiding places.
b) Parking lot and roads nearby, for the bad guy to get away fast.
c) A target rich environment. (potential victims)
d) Few enough people to be witnesses.
I remarked to my wife "even though this is a beautiful area, even near the high school, I would NEVER want you going here by yourself." As far as I could tell, none of these young women seemed to be carrying anything with which they could defend themselves. Rape is not a "sexy" crime. Some of these potential victims wore sweats, some wore gym shorts. It makes no difference. THIS IS CRAZY! Are they asking for trouble? No of course not.
This is one of those very conservative small southern towns, nothing ever happens here right? Oh yes it does! Crime just does not happen every day or week like say in New York or some big city, but it does happen! Just last week we had an armed robbery of a Video rental store, not a 1/4 mile from the high school! The guy escaped town, but was caught a few states away in Kansas! He was charged with multiple robberies throughout Alabama. He was just passing through.
The perpetrator was not from the small town! Every one of those young women should have been with somebody else. at least they should have had a Common Sense Self Defense security mindset. It would have been so easy for them to have been carrying some type of self defense item. This is the important part. Carry it! Be prepared! I still would not advise women to be out in remote areas by themselves, but if you must do so, then BE PREPARED! MEN, get a stun gun for your loved one. Teach them to use it and be prepared because you love them! Because you care! Get a survival mindset!
NO, I am not saying you must "live in Fear". You will not live in fear if you are prepared, and practice being prepared! Oh it may seem kind of different, kind odd at first, you know, looking for a mugger behind every bush. No, it doesn't need to be like that. It is just like anything else you practice for, sports, anything. If you practice for it and you are prepared, IF it should ever happen, your defense will be automatic. You will survive. I know because I survived numerous attacks as a Law Enforcement Officer in Southwest Florida. I did so and trained others to do, by being prepared.
Practicing, training with roll playing, thinking and planning what you will do if confronted by a dangerous situation. We used to take our rookies to an old abandoned ware house. We would have them act out as if they had a call, an armed burglar was inside. It was great training! And about a year later when the building was remodeled and occupied, you guessed it, a burglar was caught, inside by the officer I had trained! Train yourself, be prepared, GET A SURVIVAL MINDSET! ?
