What is the motivation for the surge in firearms purchases in recent years? Some of it is motivated by fear, mostly due to politicians threatening to restrict civil rights like the Second Amendment. Another aspect though is the realization that an armed representative of The State will not be around to protect you. After all, bad things happen…especially when guys like this show up.
A while back I wrote about the importance of hardening door jambs and hinges against break-in attempts. Since we’re on the topic of holiday gift ideas, why not give EZ Armor to homeowners on your list?
Armor Concepts EZ Armor
Why give EZ Armor?
I have these installed on both my front door and garage door. Its a quality product that I believe in and recommend to everybody who has a house with wood door frames. EZ Armor provides a robust layer of security that you can add to your home protection plan. For less than $80 per door its affordable too.
You can learn more about the full range of Armor Concepts products by going here. Once you have determined the right products, click here to order them. Give the gift of better security this holiday season, you will be glad you did.
What do burglaries, assaults, murders, rapes, kidnappings, armed robberies, road rage, domestic disputes, angry confrontation, harassment, stalking, and other crimes have in common? It can be summed up with three words:
Somebody Else’s Problem (SEP)
Let’s face it, that’s what most of us think. Bad things happen to other people because “it couldn’t happen here” or “we live in a safe neighborhood” or some other rationalization. That is, until it happens to us or somebody we know, then the problem quickly becomes real.
If you’re not prepared, when SEP suddenly becomes YOUR problem, it could end badly.
The first step in dealing with this mindset is to change it. Don’t think that somebody else isn’t going to help you, prepare to help yourself instead. This can take many forms but the most important action is to become more observant and develop situational awareness. More than any other tool, the human mind is the most valuable one for dealing with a wide range of scenarios. Train your mind and you will go a long way towards becoming your own first responder.
Many of us work for companies where firearms are prohibited on-premises. That means carrying a pistol on your person is not an option at the office, which eliminates one effective self-defense tool. However, there are some non firearm weapons that can be used in an emergency situation. A few weeks ago there was a good post on this subject over at Team Gun Blogger that discusses this subject. However, I disagree with one of the items on the because of legal ramifications…wasp spray. Federal Law prohibits the use of pesticides “in a manner inconsistent with its labeling” and proscribes penalties, including imprisonment, for violating those laws. My suggestion is that you omit wasp spray as a self-defense tool.
So what should a prepared person have in the office? Here are a few worth considering but before bringing any of them into the office, read all of the security rules for your workplace:
The most important item though is the one you already have, your brain. As Kevin writes:
…the most powerful weapon you have (and the only one you really need) is what’s in-between your ears. Situational awareness, or paying attention to what you’re paying attention to, will help you avoid the trouble in the first place.
So pay attention and equip yourself with the appropriate self-defense tools that are allowed at your workplace.
Despite what some people say, appearances matter. When it comes to hardening your home, looks say a lot about whether a house is occupied or not.
Credit: WAVY TV
In this picture, one house appears unkempt while the one next door appears well-maintained. If a thief was scouting the area, he would conclude that the house with the un-mowed grass was unoccupied, meaning it would be an easier target. If a house had several days worth of newspapers sitting in the driveway or a trashcan sitting on the curb on a non-trash day, the same conclusion could be drawn. Consider another possibility; a house with a clean, well-maintained yard, no newspapers or flyers laying around, a security system sign along with decals on the windows, a “Beware of Dog” sign by the back yard, and working exterior lights. If there is an automobile parked in the driveway, high-quality locks, and door reinforcement so much the better. In other words, a house that appears to be occupied. Which one do you think is more likely to get broken into? Appearances matter folks.
Who’s at the door? There’s one easy and fairly inexpensive way to find out, its also a great way of hardening your home. Here’s a clue…
Peep Hole
Having a peep-hole in an external door will allow you to see who is at the door. This is crucial because only Superman can see through solid objects. Knowing who is outside is critical information because the easiest way for a bad guy to gain entry into a home is for somebody to let him in.
I’ll admit that this was one of the last items I installed in my house, years after I put in my security system and exterior lights. Looking back, it should have been the first item I installed, along with better locks. Thankfully, my lack of a peep-hole never resulted in any problems but I don’t recommend putting this off. If you don’t have one installed already, get one installed ASAP because the money you spend on this item (circa $20) can make your home much safer.
I was ten minutes late getting into work today, here is the reason why.
Credit: KTVK
Violence can happen at any time, any where. In this case, a road rage incident that turned into a shooting took place during rush hour about two blocks from where I work. More details on this particular case will emerge as the investigation progresses but the takeaway from today’s event is you need to be ready no matter where you are.
If nothing else, make sure your car has a first aid kit so you can render assistance to either yourself or others. You may not be able to prevent a road rage incident from becoming violent, but you should be ready in case that happens. After all, incidents like this can happen any where, any time.
Looks like LA may soon be following Detroit’s lead when it comes to Chapter Nine Bankruptcy protection.
Credit: News Genius
You can read about it here but the refrain is a familiar one, municipalities spend too much on generous pensions and get caught in a bind when the economy slows down. Couple that with high taxation, rising crime, crushing regulatory burdens, lousy schools, along with a poisonous political climate and you get…Los Angeles. Well, at least the weather is better in the City of Angels than in Detroit. As California Pension Reform President Dan Pellissier said last week:
I think your city of Los Angeles is probably two to three years away from being in the same position that Detroit is where there is not enough money to pay the bills…[L.A.] can’t project, going forward, a stable budget because they face the same pension problems that everyone else in the country does.
Given the current financial situation many cities find themselves in, individuals need to prepare to take care of themselves. The government won’t always be there to protect you or help you during your time of need. Independence and preparation are a better course of action than dependency on increasing stressed municipal departments. What are you going to do today in your life to become more independent?
One concept that many of us need to be more aware of is Operational Security or OPSEC. In a nutshell, OPSEC is keeping information from potential adversaries. For the military, this means keeping details of movements and future operations secret. For civilians like you and me, that means not broadcasting your whereabouts or other important details. Being careful about where and when information is divulged will help keep you safe and protect your property.
This is important in today’s world. Let’s face it, we live in a connected world where social media is ubiquitous. Many of us can instantly communicate where we are and what we are doing with our smartphones and tablets. While this can be fun and harmless, it can expose people to additional risk if the wrong people get hold of important information. And as recent events illustrate, what gets posted on social media does not stay private.
What does this all mean?
If you are at a restaurant, sporting event, or landmark and you post about it on a social media site then everybody who can read your post knows where you are. Criminals can use this information to stalk you, rob you, or break into your home. I won’t get into the whole subject of meta-data collection, but the more you post on social media sites the more information private and governmental entities have on you. Ask yourself if you really need to post your whereabouts and status to the world?
To maintain good OPSEC, consider making a couple changes in your habits. First, only let trusted people know your whereabouts before you go somewhere. Second, if you want to post pictures, review, or other observations about an outing, do so after the event. Third, when you have plans to go somewhere, don’t feel compelled to let the world know about it on social media. All of this information is not time-critical to those who aren’t going to be with you, it can wait.
The key concept is to be careful with what you divulge to others. Information is power and the more you reveal, the more data a potential adversary (ex. burglar) has on you. Both good guys and bad guys use social media so treat the information you post on it with great care. Taking a few small steps to increase your OPSEC will yield much greater safety and security in the connected world we live in.
The Detroit bankruptcy filing shows that if something cannot go on forever, it will stop. Some acted surprised but this has been years in the making given the toxic combination of corruption coupled with lavish spending the city has engaged in for over a half century. Decisions have consequences and math has finally trumped politics in Motown. Sure, some will fight it but the reality is, Detroit can’t meet its financial obligations and its debts will have to be reorganized in Bankruptcy Court. It won’t be the last city to enter Chapter 9 either, that much is a given.
Guess my predictions proved prescient.
City finances can impact crucial services like Fire and Police, which are being stretched to the breaking point by arson and crime. Old equipment and poor maintenance contribute to slow response times, which endanger both lives and property. As the Detroit Free Press reports:
The Fire Department’s average time is 7 minutes, and EMS’s response time is 15 minutes. That’s partly due to old trucks and ambulances that are poorly maintained combined with a never-ending string of incidents. Detroit has had between 11,000 to 12,000 fires every year for the past decade, and firefighters have been responding with “junk” equipment, according to an unnamed fire captain in Orr’s report.
If that wasn’t bad enough, 2/3rds(!) of the City’s ambulances are out of service.
Now Detroit may be an extreme example of municipal dysfunction but many of the same conditions exist in other communities. Falling tax revenues, higher fuel prices, increasing benefits costs, ballooning pension commitments, and economic stagnation are a fact of life for all cities, counties, and states. This results in fewer services, at a higher cost, with longer response times for citizens.
So don’t plan on government agencies quickly coming to your aid during an emergency. Having first aid kits, fire extinguishers, firearms, extra food and water, batteries, flashlights, and KNOWLEDGE will help you help yourself when things go wrong. Being prepared not only helps you, it also helps your neighbors and community become more resilient.
Take a look at this Steven Crowder video from 2009.
Big Government and Big Unions built that!