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Stranger Danger!!!!
12/27/09 | Andy DeStephano

Posted on 12/27/2009 6:19:14 PM PST by d3b1976

STRANGER DANGER……. WE MUSN’T ALLOW THE FEAR OF OFFENDING OTHER’S TO PROHIBIT US FROM PROTECTING OURSELVES.

By: Andy DeStephano

I have come to the sad conclusion we no longer live in a world I was raised in during my childhood years. We now live in a Post 9/11 World and yet there are many whom refuse to acknowledge the existence of evil. Evil comes in all forms, shapes and sizes; most likely scary music or costume like attire on our assailants will not announce a potential threat to our personal safety. I am not suggesting living in a state of paranoia or fearing what lurks in the shadows; however the best defense is prevention.

It seems as if every other week a child or young woman is abducted and after countless hours of searching the inevitable result is a dead body and apprehension of a possible suspect. Victims no matter how careless they may be should never be faulted for the nefarious intentions of their assailants. I believe most people need to be pro-active and prepared to participate in their responsibility for personal protection.

Natalie Flores was one of the fortunate children whom escaped the horrible fate that many others have not in similar circumstances. For those unfamiliar with Natalie Flores, she is the 5 year old Phoenix girl abducted Christmas Morning and rescued several hours later. Natalie Flores’ story ended with her safe return unlike Sarah Foxwell whose life has now become another tragic crime statistic.

I have an issue with the fact Natalie and her siblings, the eldest 9 years of age, were left playing unsupervised in their apartment complex’s courtyard. Although I am not here to voice my opinion regarding proper parenting skills, it would be irresponsible not to point out this situation could have been avoided had an adult been present.

I believe that each of us has a responsibility for our own safety and the safety of those we love. We cannot be passive or expect others to ensure our protection. Law Enforcement was created to enforce laws; investigate laws that have been violated; and bring those who have violated the law to justice. If you adhere to this line of thinking you will agree with me when I say it is our basic right to protect ourselves from harm.

I know there are people that will cringe because I support the right for allowing individuals to legally carry devices for self-protection. Prior to anyone owning or carrying a self-protection device you need to be willing to use one and understand the consequences for your actions. When I use the term devices for self-protection I am not solely referring to firearms. There are many possible devices and before purchasing or carrying one I recommend researching Federal, State and Local Statutes. I would also suggest formal training to learn how to use the device properly.

In conclusion we are the first line of defense in personal protection. Law Enforcement has a role but cannot solely be responsible for individual protection. I have the following suggestions for individual protection:

1. AWARENESS. You must be constantly aware of where you are and who is around you. Being aware does not mean being paranoid -there is no shame in being cautious. 2. PREVENTION. You can control many situations before they become an issue. Although there are places that cannot be avoided or occurrences that cannot be stopped; if at all possible assess potential threats and choose to remove yourself and loved ones from harm’s way immediately. 3. TRAINING AND EDUCATION. Personal self-defense, firearms training and crime prevention courses are all pro-active ways to prevent becoming a victim. 4. PRIVACY. Keep your doors and windows locked. Close curtains or shades when alone. Keep personal information such as passports, identification cards and passwords secure. Dispose of paper information by shredding or burning. Use caution when using the Internet or On-line websites. 5. TRUST YOUR GUT! If something seems strange or just not right most likely there is a problem. Don’t allow political correctness to interfere with your personal safety. Trust your basic instincts even if you may unintentionally offend another person.

Andy DeStephano is currently a Professor of Management at Berkeley College, New Jersey and Consultant. Prior to his entry into Political Commentary and Academics he has spent over a decade involved with Intercollegiate Athletics.


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Local News; Miscellaneous; Politics
KEYWORDS:

1 posted on 12/27/2009 6:19:15 PM PST by d3b1976
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To: d3b1976

Is it OK if I make strangers afraid of me?


2 posted on 12/27/2009 6:21:38 PM PST by cripplecreek (Seniors, the new shovel ready project under socialized medicine.)
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To: cripplecreek

Absolutely!


3 posted on 12/27/2009 6:29:13 PM PST by d3b1976
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To: d3b1976

Such fears of offending others have been inculcated by a few of the top globalist elites in efforts to instil their own perceived aristocratic attitudes on everyone through public schools, elite, free traitor sponsored media and human relations policies.


4 posted on 12/27/2009 6:30:44 PM PST by familyop (cbt. engr. (cbt), NG, '89-' 96, Duncan Hunter or no-vote)
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To: d3b1976

5 posted on 12/27/2009 6:33:37 PM PST by GSP.FAN (These are the times that try men's souls.)
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To: d3b1976

As we all know – thanks to being told so by successive administrations — Islam is the religion of peace*. Thanks to the actions of one brave passenger — who fully understood that he had nothing to lose — this incident remained a small one.

Thanks to PC and the chronic disease known as “Cranial Anal Inversion Syndrome” among most alleged American “leaders” all the way up to the White Mosque — er — House, this “small” incident — and all like it in the future — will disappear down the Orwellian memory hole.

I suspect the primary cause of the failure to put this guy – and only God knows how many more — on a no-fly list is that the folks down the food chain and on the ground who are SUPPOSED to keep these MUSLIM idiots off commercial flights are severely conflicted. On one hand, they are tasked to keep flying safe. On the other, they’ve all had multiple memos and “sensitivity sessions” stressing that they MUST NOT PROFILE but be especially alert to the feelings of Muslims. Any actions taken against them MUST be fully justified and documented. The vernacular expression dealing with that is “CYA.” And so they do — while the rest of us die or, thanks to the actions of a passenger, have a very close call on approach to Detroit.

Compounding the problem is that this particular miscreant was not only a Muslim but a black guy from Nigeria. And the American president is _________ (fill in the correct color) and, having been born to a Muslim father and raised in a Muslim country, sympathetic to the religion of _________. (fill in the appropriate term).

The response to this near-tragedy? Fatherland Security now keeps passengers in their seats for the last hour of the trip!! Great! I suspect sales of Depends will soon spike. Now these folks will die at 35,000 feet and the wreckage will be strewn over hundreds of square miles making it virtually impossible to determine if it WAS an act of mass murder by (select one) an angry Norwegian, Donald Duck, Mickey Mouse, a Muslim nutcase. A few more of these and the air travel industry will be COMPLETELY dead.

By their INACTION and persistence in their denial that we are at war with a determined and dedicated enemy, these alleged “leaders” have 100% guaranteed that the next one will NOT be “small.”
* BTW, “peace” has two definitions:
1. The absence of conflict or war.
2. The ABSENCE or SUPPRESSION OF RESISTANCE TO SOME FORCE, POLICY, IDEOLOGY or POLITICAL SYSTEM, etc. WITH WHICH ONE HAS AN ABIDING DISAGREEMENT WHICH ONE WOULD OTHERWISE ATTEMPT TO DEFEAT TO THE POINT OF TAKING UP ARMS.


6 posted on 12/27/2009 7:04:13 PM PST by Dick Bachert (THE 2010 ELECTIONS ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT IN OUR LIFETIMES! BE THERE!!!)
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To: d3b1976
I have come to the sad conclusion we no longer live in a world I was raised in during my childhood years.

You're just getting this now???

Maybe why that's why there are so many child abductions. People are still living as if it's Leave-It-To-Beaver land. Wake up, people. It's a different world. The days of the Beav are long gone.

It's not the 50s anymore. In fact, it's 50 years past that. Beaver's an old man now. The world has changed.

It's dangerous out there. Protect your kids.

7 posted on 12/27/2009 10:41:17 PM PST by my_pointy_head_is_sharp (Romney, Romney, Romney - on every thread - I'm sick of it)
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To: d3b1976

BTW, I just checked the imdb, and Barbara Billingsley (June Cleaver, Beaver’s mother) just turned 94 on Dec 22.


8 posted on 12/27/2009 10:47:08 PM PST by my_pointy_head_is_sharp (Romney, Romney, Romney - on every thread - I'm sick of it)
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