Safety Tips

The Sad Truth

Every 15 seconds, an American is the victim of violence. No one ever thinks THEY will be a victim of crime. But the way to cope is not denial, or paranoia. A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences. --- Proverbs 22:3. Self defense is a basic human right and personal responsibility.

The Predator

The criminal mind is not like yours and mine, but is strangely predictable. FBI profilers and criminal psychologists offer us patterns that we can watch for. Among other things, predators look for victims who are unaware of or ignore the assailant's presence. They target passive people who show obvious signs of fear, such as avoiding eye contact or speaking with uncertainty. Because of the criminal's exaggerated need for 'respect' and poor impulse control, disrespectful and demeaning words are probably unwise! Most predators will not target someone who seems better armed, capable, or stronger than themselves.

The Street

Be alert of your environment and the people therein, whether you're driving or walking. Always carry a cell phone!

Stay in shape so that you can run if need be, preferably to high traffic public areas.

Glance in your car before you enter, and immediately lock your doors when you get in. Drive off ASAP.

If you suspect someone is following you drive to a police station or high traffic public area and call the Police.

Ladies, if a suspicious man is sitting in the car next to yours, have someone accompany or observe you.

If a suspicious (sliding door) van is parked to close to your car, do as above, or enter through the door away from the van.

Women should consider carrying pepper spray or a mace pepper gun. Children would do well to carry a loud whistle to attract attention. While a Concealed Carry weapon permit might be obtained with good cause, we teach skills (mental and physical) that require no special tools and are always accessible.

Never let a criminal take you to another location (a secondary crime scene)! Better to risk running and being shot where help and medical attention is available than taken to a remote and isolated location. This advice stands whether he threatens to shoot you, or promises not to hurt you. Evil men are simply NOT trustworthy.

If you're ever thrown into a trunk, kick out the taillights, stick your arm through the hole, and wave wildly.

In extreme situations look for impromptu weapons such as full water bottles, pencils, car keys, or purses.

The Home

If you haven't noticed, home invasions are on the rise in America, and they're more brutal than ever. The days of being frightened out-of-your-wits, tied up, and robbed ONLY, are mostly gone. These days criminals are beating, raping, and murdering entire families for money and televisions!

Consider locking your doors, even in the daytime. If your children are playing in the back yard, keep the window(s) open so you can hear them in case of an emergency (medical or criminal).

Plant some low thorny hedges outside your windows or in lieu of a wall (hawthorne, holly, berberis, pyrocanthus, bealii, etc.). Wind chimes, cow bells, and other noisy ornaments wouldn't hurt either.

Install motion sensitive lights outside you home.

If you own a home that displays your wealth, consider a comprehensive alarm system. I think a loud alarm in a residence is better than a silent alarm. I'm less concerned with catching him in the act than keeping him out of the house in the first place. Simple, stick-on magnetic strip alarms are better than nothing.

About one-third of rapes occur when a burglar discovers a woman alone in the home. Have a dog or two, as an early warning system and deterrent. Medium and large dogs are loyal and capable defenders of the family.

If you're a woman living alone, consider having a brother or man friend leave the welcoming message on your answering machine.

Don't open the door when you're alone in the house if you have any suspicions. Home invasions are almost always perpetrated by two or more individuals, so this advice is doubly true if there is more than one person at the door.

Keep the adult and children's bedrooms close (within hearing distance). Upstairs is probably better than downstairs if you have two stories. Folding escape ladders are a very good idea.

Put plug-in motion sensing night lights around your inside entrances. They are also good for bathrooms and bedrooms, when you have to get up in the night.

Keep your cell phone charged and next to your bed. Remember the 911 dispatcher can not track your location via a cell, so have your address written down if you think you'll forget in a sleepy panic.

If you own a firearm and live in an apartment or townhouse, and/or have family members scattered throughout the home, consider loading some safety slugs to avoid penetrating a wall and killing a family member or innocent neighbor. Most experts say that it's safer to gather your family in a locked 'safe room' (usually the master bed room) than try to 'clear' your own house room by room. Call the Police and make sure you tell them exactly where you are hold up.

Be aware that some actions can be indicators of violent escalation including being separated, tied-up, gagged, blind folded, forced to kneel, and being forced to the floor.

Human rights trump property rights. Do not risk lives over things that rot and rust away.

The Law

Here's a simplification of California self defense law ...

Deadly force may only be used by a faultless victim to prevent grievous bodily harm or death.

Proportionate, non-deadly force may be used to resist injury by another. The right of self-defense ends once an attacker ceases (e.g. surrenders, retreats) or is incapable of inflicting further injury (e.g. restrained). The use of excessive force is likely to result in fines or imprisonment.

In California, one is not legally bound to retreat from one's home, and is presumed to have a reasonable fear of imminent peril of death or great bodily injury to self or family member.

Be safe, fulfill your purpose, love your family, Stephen Steger