Do You Live in a Crime Free Zone?
How do you deal with the problem of crime?
Some people persuade themselves that they live, work and travel only in special “crime free zones.” These people are shocked and often traumatized when they discover that criminals don’t believe in “crime free zones.”
Criminals don’t live by the same rules that you and I do. In fact, some of them have absolutely no rules at all. That means that wherever you live, work or travel, a criminal may try to attack, rob, or rape you at any time.
That is just the world we live in.
The Rose-Colored Glasses of Denial
People who believe that they live in “crime free zones” are living in denial.
While statistics do show that some areas have more or less crime than others, I have never seen any study where there is no crime.
If you have educated yourself about crime, you know that you might be forced to defend yourself against a violent attack at anytime or in any place. That’s not being paranoid. That’s being realistic.
Once you come to that realization, you will leave denial and become determined to deal with the problem of crime (to not become a victim).
Related Post: Violent Attacks only Happen to Other People
The First Step in Fixing any Problem is Admitting That There is One.
Likewise, the first step in defending against crime is admitting that you do not live (nor will you ever live) in a “crime free zone.”
Related Post: Grit and Empowerment -Developing a Defensive Mindset
The Second Step in Fixing the Problem is to Decide Who is Actually Responsible for Handling it.
Some believe that the way to fix the problem is to give more money to the Law Enforcement Agencies so they can hire more officers and equipment. After all, it’s their responsibility to protect you, right?
While the police are committed to keeping people safe, they aren’t omnipresent. They simply cannot be everywhere. As the saying goes, “When seconds count, the police are only minutes away.”
[This post was originally posted in 2012. Today, due to the current atmosphere of police defunding and intense public scrutiny and some governments choosing to have less law enforcement, the presence of LEOs is limited and they are hesitant to act. So counting on the police is even less viable.]
Others believe that it is their own responsibility to protect themselves and their family. They believe that the police are there to help; but that they do not have the sole responsibility.
In fact, in 2005, in the case of Town of Castle Rock, Colorado v Gonzales, the Supreme Court affirmed that citizens do not have a constitutional right to police protection. That means that the responsibility to protect yourself and your loved ones falls on you.
The Third Step in Fixing a Problem is to Decide How to Handle the Problem
When it comes to crime prevention, you must first learn how to not be chosen as a victim.
Learn how to be safer when you’re in your home, your car, at work or when you’re just out and about.
Related Post: Awareness: The Cornerstone of Self Defense
Next, learn what you can do to avoid danger as best as you can.
And lastly, if all else fails, take the time now to learn how to defend yourself by using your mind, body and skills. In other words, take some self defense classes and learn how to use some kind of defensive weapon.
Related Post: Self Defense Tips, Tactics and Techniques
We all live in potential crime zones. But we can reduce the chance of becoming a victim by educating and training ourselves to safely live in today’s world.
~Dave
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