Given the Terrorist Attacks in France Over the Past Year, Should I Feel Safe? (in NYC, DC)

Newsweek ^ | 12/27/15 | Quora Contributor

[presidio9]

This question reflects understandable anxiety following a major terrorist attack, not just in New York and Washington. Americans are apprehensive, so it’s worth examining this detail. The short answer is that New York and Washington are more likely to be attacked by terrorists than other American cities. But before you head for the hills, let’s try to calibrate the actual risk. First the history:

Terrorist attacks have occurred across the country. From the late 1960s to the 1980s, six metropolitan areas accounted for about two-thirds of the incidents reflecting the areas of operation of various extremist groups: Miami (due to the bombing campaign of anti-Castro extremists), New York, Washington D.C., Chicago, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Los Angeles.

New York historically took first place, owing to its large, diverse population and the abundance of foreign diplomatic targets connected with the United Nations. Whatever quarrel motivated the terrorists, a suitable target could be found. New York is also the center of global capitalism while Washington is the nation’s capital and symbolizes American policies.

Terrorists love to mention New York in their threats. New York was the scene of the first World Trade Center bombing in 1993 and later the 9/11 attacks. Many of the al Qaeda-inspired terrorist plots uncovered since 9/11 were based in New York — more than any other urban area. However,

-SNIP- Domestic intelligence efforts have achieved a remarkable record since 9/11. (The New York Police Department has the largest and probably the best counterterrorist unit in the country.) Of more that fifty jihadist plots nationwide, the FBI and local police have uncovered and thwarted all but a handful—they are batting 900.

So yes, New York and Washington are more likely terrorist targets than other U.S. cities, but

-SNIP-

[presidio9]

I am posting this article because I find it strange that Newsweek never seems to include the "thousands" of future deaths it and other predict due to 9/11 related illnesses in its numbers every time I see one of these articles about how fears of terrorism are irrational.

[MeganC]

Why would you ever feel safe in NYC or Washington, D.C.?

[presidio9]

Since 9/11 was an extraordinary event, it might make more sense to look at the total fatalities it caused over a longer period, say the 15 years from 2000 to 2014. This would add 174 deaths to the annual number of homicides each year. That would give New York a total of 507 homicides in 2014, pushing its annual rate to 6 per 100,000. That still makes New York safer than a lot of other big cities.

See? Only 174 death per year, if you extrapolate and ignore the Zedroga act. No biggie.

[Rio]

Only if you can be safely mugged.

[Paladin2]

What Liberal-Run, Urban Utopia is safe?

[lightman]

Why would you ever feel safe in NYC or Washington, D.C.?

Because they are basically one big "gun free zone". /sarc

[Vermont Lt]

There are a million or so people in Manhattan most of the time. THE worst attack killed roughly 3,000. That makes your chance of being killed in a terrorist attack as (3,000/1,000,000)^(days since 9/11)

I am not going to do the math, but it is probably in the trillions to one range.

There are a lot of other things that are going to kill you before ISIL.

[Jane Long]

LOL ;^)

[grumpygresh]

Probably the two most evil cities on the planet. Globalist elites, corrupt politicians (I know that’s a redundancy).

True. They were both attacked on 9/11, but I think that the elites would prefer to attack somewhere in flyover country. That being said, You probably have more to fear from being in a victim disarmament zone within a police/surveillance state.

[Reno89519]

Since both locations do not respect the 2nd Amendment, thus leaving you disarmed, No.

[seawolf101]

I do not feel safe as long as Hussein Obama is President.

[chatham]

With Obama ,Biden and Kerry in charge Plus all the other appointments by Obama No one in this country is truly safe.
Not withstanding Obama’s dismissal of many fine Officers from our Military Forces, Obama forcasts more doom and gloom.
Our Republican congress does Nothing .

[chatham]

With Obama ,Biden and Kerry in charge Plus all the other appointments by Obama No one in this country is truly safe.
Not withstanding Obama’s dismissal of many fine Officers from our Military Forces, Obama forcasts more doom and gloom.
Our Republican congress does Nothing .

[oh8eleven]

Normally I’d feel very safe in NYC, but would stay away from Times Square on NY’s Eve.

[presidio9]

Normally I’d feel very safe in NYC, but would stay away from Times Square on NY’s Eve.

Traditionally, the only NYers in Times Square on New Year's Eve are police officers.

[Mollypitcher1]

Live in fear if you want to. I’ve news for you, you’re going to die somewhere, sometime, anyway, so why worry? Live your life!

[PGR88]

You should ask the question:

Given our President is flooding America with young Muslim men, and has deemed CAIR as his “go to” group for all issues Muslim with support from the highest levels of DOJ - should I feel safe?

[Gritty]

New York and Washington are more likely terrorist targets than other U.S. cities

Frankly, I'm having a hard time seeing a downside to that. In 2012, NYC voted over 80% for Obama and DC voted 91%. Somewhere in there, there may be some karma at work, I suppose.

Even being the bulls-eye for 9-11 didn't seem to phase NYC for very long. They've gone back to their old ways or worse, if possible. Electing DiBlowsio is another indicator of how far Left they are.

Nobody would wish an attack on anybody. But if ISIS is going to pick somebody over here, those two are as good as any.

[MeganC]

I live about 40 miles outside of Cody, Wyoming and I’ve never BEEN safer in my life! I can’t imagine living with at least 100,000 known felons living within shooting distance from and still feeling ‘safe’.

If anything anyone who lives in one of those cities and who ‘feels’ safe should have their head examined because they are absolutely in denial!

[presidio9]

Frankly, I'm having a hard time seeing a downside to that. In 2012, NYC voted over 80% for Obama and DC voted 91%. Somewhere in there, there may be some karma at work, I suppose.

I worked at the top of 1 WTC until the summer of 2001. I can assure you, because I knew many of them personally that the vast majority of those killed on 9/11 voted for George Bush.

Something to keep in mind next time you are in the mood to say something stupid: New York is a big place. There are about three times as many people in the NYC Metro area as there are in all of North Carolina. The places the terrorists favor for attack tend to be disproportionately visited by Republicans. Not that it matters. Get it through your head: An attack on one of us is an attack on all of us.