Random Acts of Violence
It really amazes me sometimes when I hear how oblivious some people are to the possible threat of crime. I’m not talking about full fledged paranoia all the time, but some people take the “It won’t happen to me” syndrome to the opposite extreme. There are even self-proclaimed self-defense experts that will lead you to believe that avoiding the dangerous neighborhoods and dark places will sufficiently keep you 100% safe. While avoiding potential trouble spots is not bad advice, by and large trouble may randomly seek you out, no matter what neighborhood or time of day you venture out.
I’m not sure where the false sense of security comes from when living in “good” or affluent neighborhoods come from. I mean, where do you think the criminals want to go to steal stuff, the run down projects or the “good” neighborhood where people have money and better stuff to steal?
And what about being safe in public during the day when there are crowds of people around to “deter” crime? What about that lunatic in Japan who decided to drive his car down the street in Akihabara, Tokyo’s biggest electronics shopping district? This disturbed individual intentually crashes his car into a crowd, then proceeds to get out and rampage through the street with a knife. He ended up killing seven random people.
This attack in early June followed the killing of a person in a random stabbing during the day outside a train station north of Tokyo in March. Five random people were hurt in a similar attack in January. Also in March, a teenager pushed a random stranger under a train in western Japan, simply saying he felt like killing someone. All of these particular incidents out of a country typically proud of its low crime rate.
While these random acts of violence are comparatively rare occurrences, they are not as improbable as some would make them out to be. And they don’t always happen in the bad neighborhoods or dark alleys late at night.
Some members of the public pointed to an economic downturn and government policy as reasons for rising frustration. “Politicians don’t think about the people, they raise taxes and change the healthcare system,” is the opinion of one Japanese citizen. “I think that’s what breeds this violent behavior. People begin to hate society when they can’t succeed.”
One of Japan’s top government spokesperson said it is hard to pin down reasons for attacks like these but thinks tighter controls should be considered on weapons, like the survival knife the attacker used. Again with the misguided weapon controls as the answer to end crime. Come on now. What about his car that he started his rampage with when he crashed into a crowd of people? Should the now try to ban automobiles, or only automobiles when used as weapons?
So what is the answer? Stricter laws and harsher penalties would likely not be helpful. Statistically this has not really seemed to work. “If they have the urge to commit suicide, people will do these things in countries that have the death penalty,” says a criminal psychologist at Tokyo Institute of Technology. “But when these people fail to fulfill themselves in socially acceptable ways, they are treated as losers and their frustration builds up,” he added. “A series of disappointments can lead them to try to regain their sense of self through crime.”
Not feeling too warm and fuzzy at the moment. So while the “experts” and government officials debate the issues, apply more misguided legislation and continue to depress the economy further causing desperate people to take desperate measures… You might want to take some proactive protective measures for your home, family and self.
Again, not the holy grail answer to keep you 100% safe against the randomness of violence and crime, but I’d rather have a security alarm, some pepper spray, Taser or stun gun on hand and ready… just in case.
http://www.worthprotectionsecurity.com
It would be nice to believe that nothing will happen to you, but the reality of it is that an ounce of protection could be worth more than a pound of cure. What is Worth Protection to you? Your belongings? Your family? Your personal well-being?
Yours in safety,
Rob
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