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Shanghaid -> RE: Turning every thread into a political debate (5/12/2007 6:32:44 PM)
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quote:
ORIGINAL: caitlyn
You are 6'4", 230 pounds and an ex-Marine. Respectfully, that makes is very easy for you to decide I don't need a gun. I suppose if I was 6'4", 230 pounds, and an ex-Marine, I might feel the same way.
Understood. There's a reason I gave my 'pedigree'.
Again I'd politely suggest pepper-spray and taking judo. A gun can be taken away and used against you. I don't think that happens to spray as much as guns. I think - I'll repeat that 'cuz the grammar is important here - I think guns give people a false sense of security.
What is your second line of defense if the gun isn't available or taken away?
Take some judo - you could probably get 6 months of classes for the cost of your gun - and you will take that new skillset with you wherever you go and no one can take it from you. If you're attacked while taking a shower, you have judo.
Stun guns seem good as well. Not tasers, stun guns. You have to be close to your attacker but they seem more effective. My opinion here should be suspect because I'm not researched on the topic. I think a heavy leather coat could stop a taser. But there must be a reason cops carry tasers v stun guns. I'll ask my brother about this - he's in law enforcement.
My class was usually about 1/3 guys, 1/3 women, and 1/3 kids. There was no macho bullshit in judo. Those guys like TKD. The instructor liked to demonstrate techniques on us big guys. He was average build. It made it more impressive when he threw us about. You can learn judo at any age.
I know the first martial art I'd have any kid of mine take would be judo. It's completely non-aggressive and wonderful for self-defense. It's healthy and you learn how to fall (your first week of class). It may sound silly but falling is an important skillset as well.
quote:
Perhaps society should work a little harder to provide for the protection of it's citizens, and then some of us that weigh 105 pounds soaking wet, won't feel the need to make the thoughtful decision to travel armed.
Now this is a good topic of conversation. Making the citizenry safer - what can be done?
I live in Shanghai, China. Population ~17 million people. That's twice that of New York City. We watch crime shows on TV. New York is a dangerous place, yes? In Shanghai, my mother - with her oxygen tank in tow - could theoretically walk from one side to the other of this city at anytime (if she were physically capable) and be perfectly safe. ANYTIME, day or night.
Hell, in my 'safe' midwestern hometown of ~250,000 people, there were areas I wouldn't go after dark. They wouldn't be great in the daylight. That's a pity.
Shanghai does have crime - pickpockets mostly - but extremely little violent crime. The police force isn't omnipresent and they're not stormtroopers. It's just a different mindset.
I believe a large part of this is the unavailability of guns. The violent crimes committed are NOT gun-related. They are the typical 'crimes-of-passion' that happen everywhere. Domestic disputes & such. Knives & blunt objects used as weapons.
http://www.nationmaster.com/red/graph/cri_mur_percap-crime-murders-per-capita&int=-1 - has some good info on countries and murder. China doesn't make the list because it's numbers are too small (murders, not population).
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0921299.html - for safest and most dangerous cities in the US.
A good use of our tax dollars (I pay US taxes) might be to examine the differences between Brick, NJ (listed safest) and St. Louis (most dangerous).
If you don't feel safe where you live - MOVE. Predators love scared people. Staying there, scared, empowers them more. I didn't move to Shanghai 'cuz it was so safe. I quite happily noticed it after I moved.
I realize moving isn't an option for everyone. Again, it's about situational awareness. If you don't feel safe someplace - be it an alley, a bar, or a city - you're probably right. You stay there at your own peril.
SH'd
BTW, it's "former"-Marine, not "ex".
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