Maisie

Don’t Be A Victim (Rules to stay safe)

There is little doubt that the world is becoming a more dangerous place and there are several factors that impact the crime rates. The revolving door justice system allows criminals, including violent ones, to walk right out of jail following their arrest because of low or even no-bail policies that have been adopted across the country. Personal responsibility and accountability are becoming a thing of the past. When there are no consequences for bad actions, there is no reason to change your behavior…this is sort of a common sense realization.

Another factor that is not considered enough is the staffing and productivity of law enforcement. Police have been vilified in recent years and that has led to a serious recruitment and retention issue nationwide. When there are not enough officers, that means that the officers who are working are forced to work too many hours. That effects their safety and yours! Combine that fact with the previously noted revolving door policies and many who serve and protect are asking themselves why they are in the profession? All of these issues are interconnected, but they also impact all of us who simply want to keep ourselves and our families safe and free from crime. Note: I put a photo of Maisie on this blog because the post itself is a bit dark, but Maisie brings light into every situation. 🙂

The “Broken window theory” of law enforcement stresses the need to prosecute those who commit minor crimes such as vandalism, public drinking, or graffiti in order to discourage the commission of future crimes…while creating an atmosphere of law and order. In other words, go after the smaller crimes to prevent the more serious ones from happening. This theory has not only been forgotten, there are now open-air drug markets consuming our cities and most crimes goes unpunished or they even fail to get investigated. This is a societal problem that few of us have the power to reverse or correct.

Police response times have been reduced considerably because more crimes are being committed, but there are fewer officers out there to respond to the calls for service. If you have had to call the police for any reason, you will agree with what I am saying. This blog is not designed to lay blame with anyone. I fully support law enforcement and always will. I believe there are some fantastic prosecutors out there who want to bring justice to the victims, but their hands are tied by evolving policies and political mandates. Change will only occur at the ballot box, but in the meantime…how can you keep yourself and your loved ones safe?

I sent my kids off to college and I sent them off with a sense of reality…not fear. They needed to know that there are really bad people in the world who care nothing about them, but would not hesitate victimizing them. I believe that following these rules greatly enhance your ability to stay safe. I encourage you to print them off, give them to your kids and others, have them study them…and most importantly have them practice them. Everybody thinks that bad things won’t happen to them, until bad things do happen to them!!! Don’t be a victim.

  • Be aware of your surroundings. Always know where the exits are.
  • Pick a seat where you can see the door in any bar or restaurant. You want to see who is coming and going.
  • Never ever leave your drink unattended or with someone else. Take it with you!
  • Alcohol inhibits and slows your thinking. Drink in moderation if you must drink.
  • Walk with your head up high. Don’t look weak and like a potential victim.
  • Eyes can’t hurt you…watch the hands of people you encounter. Those can hurt you.
  • Used properly, a pencil or pen can be used as a weapon. Always have one on you.
  • Try not to walk alone at night, regardless of where you are.
  • Trust few people, but still verify.
  • Always tell someone where you are going and when you should be back.
  • If someone wants to rob you of your money, give it to them. If they try to force you to go with them, fight to the bitter end right there. Holler, scream, kick, and claw, but do NOT go with them!
  • If your 6th sense is telling you something is wrong, it probably is. Listen to your gut.
  • Be smart, make good decisions, and get home safely. Others love you and worry about you!
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The Things We Remember

Every one of us will go through life adding memories, experiences, and events that shape us as humans. Have you ever wondered why some random, seemingly insignificant memories linger…while we forget what we had for breakfast? I was playing golf with a buddy a couple of days ago and I recognized another golfer in the group behind us. I knew that he was a retired state trooper, but I couldn’t come up with his name for the life of me. It took me a couple of holes and a deep dive into my memory bank, but I finally managed to scrounge up his name. This was a guy that I worked with often over the years, but his name was a blank slate. I didn’t think that I was losing my mind, but it did get my wheels spinning.

The longer we live, the more people we meet. That should be true of all of us, but I am convinced that the human mind can only hold and manage so many images and names. Unless there is something unique or interesting about a person, perhaps we just go through the motions without any intention of remembering the encounter or the person themselves? Faces can look familiar, but putting a name with it can be daunting and frustrating. Sometimes we simply walk the other way and ignore the person because that would make it a lot less awkward for all involved. Sometimes we just say, “Hey”, and hope that something they say will jog our memory, but that can be a long shot!

The mind is a fascinating thing and it can play tricks on us. It can remember things we’d like to forget, and forget the things that we’d like to remember. I still remember being in middle school and performing a blocking drill against Jeff Gouzie. I somehow knocked him on his backside and the coach praised me in front of the entire team. I was too skinny for football and that may have been the highlight of my brief football career…because why else would I remember such a minor event in a lifetime that has spanned almost 60 years? I clearly remember the block, but don’t ask me who the coach was, or even what position that I played!

In 2004 I had the unpleasant experience of having a man take his own life while I was standing inches from him. I will be forever grateful that he decided to take his life instead of mine, but why do I remember everything about the incident, frame by frame, except what he looked like? I remember his name, what he was wearing, and the conversation that we had, but I have no memory of what he looked like.

I encourage you to think back to some good and bad times and try to remember even the smallest of details. You may be surprised by what you’re missing and what you’re not. So many people enter our lives, some only for minutes, but the mind decides which will be memorable and which ones will fade into obscurity. You have the ability to be that person that others remember due to a kind word or gesture. Sometimes the smallest, seemingly insignificant act will be remember for a lifetime…you just never know.

It has been said that memories never fade or go away, but that simply isn’t true. Most of us know people who have spent a lifetime acquiring memories only to have them snatched away by Alzheimer’s Disease. It is debilitating and sad to witness, but I have to believe that the memories are still there…fighting to come out. Feel free to challenge your mind and keep it as sharp as possible for as long as you can. Having said that, remember that your mind just might have a mind of its own, so just go with it.