Social Cohesion Erosion: The Covid-19 Pandemic and the Fall of Society as We Know It

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The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the world as we knew it. From millions of people who have died to inflation running out of control, we still haven’t returned to “normal.” However, these things aren’t the only changes we have seen; we are also seeing a new threat known as “social cohesion erosion.”

What is this? Well, it’s the basic crumbling of civility in society.

Take a look at the world around you and how people act and think of some of the things that have happened over the past two or three years. For example, supporters of the former President attacked the U.S. Capitol in 2020. This is a direct manifestation of the instability of society that the political climate has created.

Here is another example of what is happening right now in the world.  —

Recently, in the Bronx, a 76-year-old woman was attacked and beaten by a group of three in a robbery attempted. The leader? A 13-year-old girl. The young teen was arrested and charged with assault and robbery.

 The nature of the attack is shocking. Surveillance video shows that the older woman fought back, but she struggled to keep the door closed. Eventually, the three assailants were able to overpower her. One of them grabbed her purse, and then threw the woman to the ground, where she broke her hip. Unable to move, the suspects began going through her purse, and they took her wallet along with $50 in cash.

 Thankfully, a neighbor quickly saw the woman on the ground and ran to help. Since there were surveillance cameras, neighbors were able to identify the attackers, including the 13-year-old ringleader. They said she is known to cause issues in the neighborhood and has had trouble with the police in the past.

More Mass Shootings, Too

In addition to people simply losing civility, there has been an increase of mass shootings since people have been able to come out of Covid-19 quarantine. A mass shooting is described as any shooting event where four or more people are shot.

First, Uvalde, Buffalo, and so many many more Mass Shootings. Then we have an argument outside of a Norfolk, VA pizza place, which led to a shooting that killed two, including a 25-year-old bystander. In Dumas, Arkansas, a gunfight erupted at a car show, killing one and wounding 27. Austin, TX also recently saw a mass shooting during the final weekend of the SXSW festival.

The bad news is that there are no signs of mass shootings letting up, and there have been several more since these. On top of this, the rate of murders has also risen, and from 2019 to now, they are up 30 percent, the highest in over two decades.

What is the reason for this, though? There are, unfortunately, no convincing answers. There are a couple of ideas that experts are floating around, however. One of these is that social isolation during the pandemic has caused a lot of frustration that is coming to the surface. There is also an idea that there is a sense of lawlessness that is coming from events like the murder of George Floyd and other police violence. There were also more gun sales during the pandemic than in years before.

It’s also important to mention that gun crime isn’t the only type of violent crime that is on the rise, nor is the crime rate rising only in areas where police violence has occurred. What is interesting to mention, however, is that though the pandemic affected countries all over the world, we are only seeing this rise in crime in the US…not in Canada, not in the UK, not in Japan, not in France…nowhere else.

We may have a hint of why this is happening if we look at history. If we look at crime in the past, we can see that these crime waves occur when people begin to feel frustration with their government, society, and other people in their country. This frustration can easily cause a breakdown of society.

If we take a look at the homicide rates in both Western Europe and in the US over the past four centuries, we can see that crime rates increase when there is a lot of loss of trust in society as a whole. When we begin to lose empathy for others, crime rises. We saw the same phenomenon in the 60s and 70s in the US as well.

Most of us, of course, don’t go out and commit crimes, but the isolation that all of us have experienced over the past three years makes it so that people are more willing to commit violent acts and break rules.

Written by Robert Siciliano, CEO of Credit Parent, Head of Training & Security Awareness Expert at Protect Now, #1 Best Selling Amazon author, Media Personality & Architect of CSI Protection Certification.

How are Guns Affecting Americans? The Stats Give Us Some Insight

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Whether you are a gun enthusiast or hate guns, guns are here to stay. And while the Second Amendment pretty much guarantees guns will remain in America in perpetuity, it is unlikely the founding fathers would agree with the mayhem that is going on today.

All of this violence is happening at a time when many states are loosening gun restrictions with something called constitutional carry also known as a permit-less carry of a firearm. For those of us who are responsible, that’s great. This of course is a double edge sword for those who have significant mental health issues and the potential victims at the end of their barrel.

As reported in the Washington Post and elsewhere, “of course, semiautomatic firearms technology didn’t exist in any meaningful sense in the era of the founding fathers. They had something much different in mind when they drafted the Second Amendment. The typical firearms of the day were muskets and flintlock pistols. They could hold a single round at a time, and a skilled shooter could hope to get off three or possibly four rounds in a minute of firing. By all accounts, they were not particularly accurate either.”

Let’s take a look at some basic gun statistics in America:

  • There are 393 million guns out there
  • In 2020, 40 million guns were purchased – the highest number ever
  • 45,222 people died in the US from gun injuries in 2020
  • Between 2000 and 2020, there was a 40% increase in active shooter incidents
  • From 1998-2019 the USA had 109 Mass Shootings. Second in place for “wealthy nations” was France with 8 Mass Shootings.
  • Guns are now the leading cause of death for American children. 4,368 children and adolescents up to the age of 19 died from firearms in 2020, there were 4,036 deaths linked to motor vehicles.
  • From the New York Times “Where there are more guns, there are more gun deaths. Studies have found this to be true at the state and national level. It is true for homicides, suicides, mass shootings and even police shootings.
  • And: Stricter gun laws appear to help. They are associated with fewer gun deaths, in both a domestic and global context, while looser gun laws are linked with more gun deaths.
  • And: Over the past decade, the Anti-Defamation League has counted about 450 U.S. murders committed by political extremists.
  • And: As this data shows, the American political right has a violence problem that has no equivalent on the left. And the 10 victims in Buffalo this past weekend are now part of this toll. “Right-wing extremist violence is our biggest threat,” Jonathan Greenblatt, the head of the ADL, has written. “The numbers don’t lie.””

Many believe that people are becoming numb to the instances of gun violence, and it’s interesting to consider if there is a mass shooting in small town, would it affect a person in a high-rise in a big city. A group of researchers at Evolv and Equation Research surveyed over 2000 Americans to find out the answers.

 Gun Violence is Everywhere

 One of the most shocking things the researchers found…or perhaps not so shocking…is the fact that guns and shootings are truly everywhere.

According to the researchers and Security Magazine, 29% of people who responded said that they were in a location where a person unexpectedly shot off a gun. About 38% of those who replied also reported that they knew someone else who had experienced gunfire unexpectedly.

In both of these scenarios, the gunfire occurred either at a large gathering of people or in a nightclub/bar.

Why is this type of violence on the rise? There could be a few explanations. First, we have the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdowns, which disrupted all of our lives. This includes the social services that people have access to that can lower violence and crime. The next could be the high-profile police killings in 2020, which spurred protests and put a damper on police-community relationship. Finally, of course, we have the rise in gun purchases.

However, there is also a growing feeling of distrust and discord, and Americans have greatly lost faith in the American institution. The country is deeply divided politically, and it is believed that all of this has led to an increased murder rate, more mental health issues, and even problems with more confrontations between strangers.

Americans are Nervous 

The American Psychological Association has reported that Americans, overall, have a lot of anxiety and stress since March of 2020. Research shows that people are anxious about things like terrorism, shootings, and other forms of gun violence. In fact, about 81% of the people who replied to the study are anxious specifically about guns and 62% feel anxiety about going to a public place, especially a movie theater, nightclub/bar, or large gatherings.

For those who have plans to go to a live event in the next six months, around 46.2% of people reported that they were feelings anxiety about COVID-19, but 31% of them also say they have anxiety about shootings and 21% have concerns about terrorism.

The Threat of Gun Violence is Also Impacting Business

 In addition to general anxiety about gun violence, this research has shown that businesses are also impacted by gun violence.

 Almost 40% of people who were studied report that they have not gone somewhere because they had a fear or anxiety about guns. A lot of people also report that they have a plan in place or look for a way out when they go to a place where a mass shooting could occur. For instance, almost 63% of people report that they have a mental escape plan and check exits when they go to a movie theater. Almost 50% report that they do the same thing in a grocery store. More than 60% report that they have anxiety about going to a public place.

 People are Willing to Change Their Habits 

Just as it is important for people to understand how Americans feel about the rates of gun violence rising, it is also so important to understand what steps they may take in order to feel safe. Around 78% of people said that they would be okay to take extra steps at places where there is potential for gun violence. For instance, 57% of people said they would comply with weapons detection screening. Around 46% of people say they would be willing to have their bags checked, and 44% would be fine to check their guns at the door. It’s also important to note that 22% of respondents say they would not be willing to do anything.

 Businesses across the board have to keep all of this in mind and take some steps to create a plan to keep their patrons safe. This is a unique time in history, and as people around the world start to come back from the pandemic and enjoy life again, there is a lot of anxiety around what will happen as we go “back to normal.” The best thing to do is to make some new plans and protocols in order to keep up with any threats.

There are many solutions on the table geared toward preventing gun violence. Is it more rules and regulations? Stricter access to firearms? Will background checks solve the problem or only just a small part of it? Is the solution for every single person to have a gun? Smaller magazine capacities? The list goes on and on. At this point, the worst thing we can do, is nothing.

Peter Warmka, my cohost and retired CIA Spy and I discuss all of this in our podcast The Security Guy and CIA Spy.

What do you think? And whatever you put in the comment section, please be respectful.

Written by Robert Siciliano, CEO of Credit Parent, Head of Training & Security Awareness Expert at Protect Now, #1 Best Selling Amazon author, Media Personality & Architect of CSI Protection Certification.

Survival Tips When You are Lost in the Woods

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It’s that time of the year again. And getting lost in the woods is NOT fun and sometimes deadly. But you have a chance if you are lucky and have a clue. A hiker from Hawaii, was found alive after being lost in the wilderness for 17 days. Though it might not seem likely that it could happen to you, it could really happen to anyone. So, it’s important that you know what you should do if you get lost in the woods. The Hawaii did a lot right, according to sources, and it saved her life. She was able to find fruit, like berries and guava, and only drank water when she could see that it was absolutely clear. On top of that, though she got a terrible sunburn and hurt her knee, she was able to nurse herself back to relative health.

If you are injured or lost, it is imperative that you know how to survive in the woods. Most people don’t understand that even though you should be waiting to be rescued, you have to keep yourself alive, too.

Here are some tips to help you survive if something has you lost in the wilderness:

First, Stop and Breathe

As soon as you realize that you are lost, remember to stop…and to STOP. This is a mnemonic term meaning:

  • Stop – stay where you are, sit down, and don’t panic.
  • Think – what the right thing to do might be depends on your situation and location. According to the US Forest Service, it is best to stay where you are until you absolutely need to move.
  • Observe – Look around and try to get some information about where you are. Think about supplies you might have like a map or a compass. Are there any signs that you are near a trail or an intersection?
  • Plan – Finally, make a plan about what your next course of action will be. You may want to move forward, you might want to backtrack, or you might think it’s best to stay right where you are.

Think Ahead

Now that your realize you are lost, it’s too late to make a plan on how not to get lost. However, since it’s very likely that you are not currently lost, (and if you are, and reading this, stop and call 911) take some time to consider the following:

  • Always tell people where you are going. If you are going on a hike, for instance, tell a friend or family member where you are planning on going.
  • Bring essential survival gear like sunscreen, bug spray, first-aid supplies, a flashlight, and even an emergency shelter.
  • Do everything you can to make sure you can communicate if you have an emergency. Go out with a fully charged cell phone, and if you can, bring a backup battery. If you go deep out into the wilderness, consider an emergency GPS beacon, too.

Understand How the Rescue Process Works

If you do need to be rescued, you should understand how the process works. Most people think it’s like the movies. Your loved ones call the police, and they immediately start to search. However, that’s not really the case.

Most often, the cops get a call from the person who is reporting you missing. They will then start gathering information as a lot of people simply run off.

If they do believe that you might be lost, only then will they start looking. If you have used your cell phone, they can try to use cell towers to pick up a signal. They can do that even if your phone is turned off. Authorities will also get a description of you, including where you might be and what you wore.

The good news is this: approximately 97 percent of those who get lost are eventually recovered within 24 hours of going missing. However, the odds of a better outcome go down the longer you are out there. So, make sure you are well-prepared.

Written by Robert Siciliano, CEO of Credit Parent, Head of Training & Security Awareness Expert at Protect Now, #1 Best Selling Amazon author, Media Personality & Architect of CSI Protection Certification.

Woman Murdered after Man Tricks Her with Lost Puppy Ruse

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This entire post is brutal and for some, hard to read. But if there is a woman or girl in your life that might benefit from being freaked out, read it, forward and share it.

We’ve all heard about the man approaching a child, showing her a picture of his “lost” puppy, asking the child to help him look for “Truman” or “Roxie.” The child goes off with the predator – never again seen alive.

You’d think that no ADULT could ever fall for this scheme. But at least one woman, 36, did. Now maybe Kimra Riley, mother of a toddler, had never heard of the lost puppy ruse.

But according to ID Channel’s “Swamp Murders: A Dark Place to Die,” there were several blaring red flags that Rodney O’Neal Hocker was a predator.

  • Take note of these red flags.
  • Teach them to your kids.
  • Teach them to YOURSELF!

In March 1996, Kimra’s decomposed body was discovered near the shore of the Tennessee River after being reported missing two months prior. Tied to the body were bricks. An autopsy revealed that she had been alive when forced into the water; she had drowned.

Lost Puppy Trick

The docudrama depicts Kimra telling her boyfriend she was headed to the Bama Club to meet a female friend. There, she ran into Rodney, who recognized her as his server at a diner several days prior.

After small-talk, he asked if she wanted to see his puppy which was in his truck outside.

  • RED FLAG: What adult asks a stranger in a building to come outside to see his puppy?
  • When in doubt: Ask yourself if it’s easy to imagine the man asking another man if he’d like to see this puppy!
  • What to do: Tell the stranger to bring the puppy inside “so everyone can see it.”

Kimra went to the parking lot with Rodney. Rodney, 27, said the puppy had escaped the back of his pickup truck. He asked if she’d like to get in his vehicle to help look for the alleged yellow lab.

  • RED FLAG: The man immediately wants to drive around to search for the puppy. If a puppy jumps out of a parked vehicle, the first place to look is the parking lot, on foot! A puppy won’t get far!
  • What to do: Run back inside the building. Never mind hurting the stranger’s feelings.

Once Kimra was in the truck, her fate was sealed. He stopped the vehicle, came onto her; she resisted. The investigation determined he had rammed her head into the windshield, incapacitating her. Sexual assault was suspected because her body had on only a shirt, but was too decomposed for a rape kit.

If You Love Puppies…

  • Don’t ever go off with ANYONE to see an unseen
  • Tell the suspicious individual that you get enough puppy fixes with your neighbors’ dogs.

Robert Siciliano personal security and identity theft expert and speaker is the author of Identity Theft Privacy: Security Protection and Fraud Prevention: Your Guide to Protecting Yourself from Identity Theft and Computer Fraud. See him knock’em dead in this Security Awareness Training video.

Humans are Natural Predators

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According to a new study, genetics and evolution have made an impact on the murderous behavior of the human species. However, becoming civilized has tamed some of these instincts.

7HScientists have looked at the homicide rate of more than 1,000 species that kill their own, and noticed that there are similar rates of lethal acts. Essentially, this means that the evolution of these species can tell us a lot about how violent the species is.

This study, which was published in Nature, says that humans lie in the middle of a quite violent group of mammals that have all evolved together…and these mammals have a very violent and murderous past. What does this mean for us? It means that humans have likely inherited violent tendencies from our ancestors.

Let’s look at the numbers. When looked at as a group, the rate of all mammals murdering their own is about three in 1,000. However, when we look at our ancestors, and many primates, for that matter, this number is closer to about 20 in 1,000. In certain periods of time, this number even rose to about 120 in 1,000, such as during the medieval era, which ran from around 700 to 1500 A.D. Fortunately, we have seen these numbers fall, and when you take humans, alone, the current rate is about 13 in 1,000. So, we are now much less violent than we were just 1,000 years ago.

It’s true that we, as humans, are killing each other less than we used to, but we are still not as peaceful as some of our mammalian cousins. For example, killer whales, which are one animal that has a high level of intelligence, has a rate of violence against its own of around zero. In fact, most whale species are quite peaceful to their own kind.

So, we are more violent than whales, but when compared to mammals such as baboons, cougars, and lemurs, we are far less violent, as these animals have murder rates closer to 100 per 1,000.

Since this study examined violence in a way that compared closely related species, it’s not a surprise that these species had similar levels when looking at violence. Furthermore, the more closely related a species is to another, the more similar their levels of violence.

It is difficult to calculate rates for lethal violence for our ancestors, but we can get a rough idea based on looking at archaeological findings. What was found after looking at thousands of these sites is that things such as culture and government lower the rates of lethal violence. This also suggests that the level of murder among species is reversible, and that it might increase or decrease based on social, ecological, or cultural factors. These findings are similar to a previous study from Harvard that looked at the history of violent crimes, such as rape, as well as war, murder, and bigotry.

When we look at all of these facts, humans are social, territorial, and naturally violent. But, as modern society has become developed and we have engaged in more civilized activities, the rates of violence have fallen. What’s really interesting is that this study shows that most mammals are not murderous towards their own kind, but others, such as wolves, lions, and primates, including humans, actually do engage in this behavior. What it could come down to is that mammals that are murderous towards their own kind are both territorial and social.

Robert Siciliano personal security and identity theft expert and speaker is the author of 99 Things You Wish You Knew Before Your Identity Was Stolen. See him knock’em dead in this identity theft prevention video.

Survive Falling Through Ice

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It can be truly terrifying to fall through ice on a frozen lake, but if you remain calm, it can save your life. Most people don’t realize that you have more time than you think, according to experts. This is due to the concept of thermoregulation and how your body deals with the shocking cold that immediately encompasses the body.

1MAs you first hit the freezing water, you will almost immediately gasp and start hyperventilating. It is important that you remember to get control of your breath and do not thrash around. It can help to remember something called the “1-10-1 principle.” This means that it takes about one minute to gain control of your breathing, and then you have 10 minutes to move before you get too cold. The final one is to remind you that it will take one hour before you become unconscious. Again:

  • 1 minute to control your breath
  • 10 minutes of meaningful movement
  • 1 hour before unconsciousness sets in

Take that initial minute and fully focus on your breathing. Slow it down, and then look around to see if you can locate the thickest area of ice. Typically, this is in the direction of the way you were coming from, as the ice was thick enough, at least for a time, to hold your body weight. When you locate the ice, stretch your arms over the surface, and then begin to flutter-kick until your body becomes horizontal with the surface. Kick hard and use your arms and hands to pull yourself onto the ice. As soon as you are able, begin to roll away from the hole, and then crawl upon the ice until you can safely stand up. To learn more about this, and to see it in action, there are videos online that demonstrate this technique.

Keep in mind that once your body temperature falls below 95 degrees Fahrenheit, officially you are hypothermic. When it falls below 86 degrees, it is likely that you will be unconscious, but not actually lifeless. In fact, people have been revived from body temperatures as low as 56.7 degrees, which is when the body will show the clinical signs of death, such as not breathing and not having a pulse.

It is possible that you can live for several hours after passing out if you can get out of the frigid water. This, however, does require some planning. You only have about 10 minutes after falling in before your muscles and nerves become too cold to work. If you feel too weak to go on and you cannot get out, place your arms over the surface of the ice and just remain still. The point is to encourage your coat to freeze to the ice, so that if you lose consciousness, you will keep your head above water. Additionally, you will remain visible for rescue, even if you pass out.

Robert Siciliano personal security and identity theft expert and speaker is the author of 99 Things You Wish You Knew Before Your Identity Was Stolen. See him knock’em dead in this identity theft prevention video.

5 Improvised Secret Self-Defense Weapons

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1SDCane

  • If you use a cane, take “cane-fu” classes if possible. Yes, it’s a thing.
  • A sturdy cane with a strong handle works best.
  • Do not assume you can fight with a cane just because you need one to walk.
  • Avoid a cane with a hidden knife or sword unless you specifically train to fight with a blade.
  • A person’s first instinct with a cane-like device for self-defense is to wield it in a horizontal path as though swinging a baseball bat. This is wrong, as it can easily be seen in progress by the person you’re trying to ward off; that person could dodge it, deflect it or grab the cane from you. This is why a cane self-defense class is crucial.

Magazine

  • Swatting someone with an unrolled magazine is worthless, even the most tightly rolled magazine won’t stop an assailant—because swatting is the wrong way to use a rolled-up magazine as a weapon.
  • The proper way to strike is with a hammer motion, your arm as the handle and the magazine as the head, so that the end of the roll is struck into the assailant; the roll, ideally, is perpendicular to the surface it strikes, concentrating as much impact as possible into a small area. But if this small area is his neck, nose, temple or groin, it will stop him long enough for you to either follow up with another blow or to escape.
  • A pre-rolled magazine, fastened tightly with several thick rubber bands, is something you should have on hand, just in case. Otherwise, pray you don’t let panic make you fumble as you’re trying to roll up a magazine when an assailant approaches.

Flashlight

  • A flashlight, being shaped like a rolled-up magazine, is used in the same way as a magazine roll.
  • But because it’s more solid, it will be more effective.

Pen

  • You’re probably already picturing a pen sticking out of the assailant’s eye.
  • A pen jabbed into the temple, nose and neck hard enough will disable the attacker; the more perpendicular the pen to the strike surface, the better.
  • A pen jammed hard enough into the collarbone will also stop the assailant.
  • Other body parts worth mentioning: ear, cheek, top of hand, groin.

Belt

  • The key is being able to quickly pull the belt off your pants.
  • And that’s it: whip at him with the buckle as the striking end. Don’t try to strangle him; that only works in the movies, then run!

Robert Siciliano CEO of IDTheftSecurity.com, personal security and identity theft expert and speaker is the author of 99 Things You Wish You Knew Before Your Identity Was Stolen. See him knock’em dead in this identity theft prevention video.

1 in 4 Female Undergrads sexually assaulted

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One in four (25 percent) of college women reported they received unsolicited sexual contact while in college, says the recent Association of American Universities Campus Climate Survey of 150,000 students.

1SDHow can on-campus safety be heightened?

  • Students should have a hardcopy and smartphone-stored list of contact information for all kinds of help. The school’s emergency and security numbers should be on speed dial.
  • Memorize key numbers in case your phone is stolen or the juice dries up.
  • Ditch the headphones when walking outside.
  • See if the campus has a security escort service.
  • Take self defense classes often. Many college campuses have martial arts clubs; join and learn.
  • Don’t always walk the same paths to and from classes so that predators don’t learn your patterns.
  • Review the privacy settings of all your social media accounts, as some accounts have geolocation features that can reveal your location via photos.
  • Keep your windows locked! Always keep the door locked as much as possible and always overnight.

What about social settings?

  • Out late at a bar? Never leave alone; always have someone with you. And make sure you know precisely how to get to your next destination.
  • Never get drunk. Yep, I’m serious. Though many victims are sober at the time of assault, getting drunk can open many opportunities for being victimized, such as being unaware that someone just slipped the “date rape” drug in your fifth drink.
  • In fact, never let your drink out of sight. If you don’t want to take it with you to the restroom, then either finish it or trash it first.
  • Never accept a drink that you didn’t see poured, and never accept an opened can of soda.
  • If you feel it’s time to leave, it probably is. You don’t owe any explanations. In fact, if you say, “I have to go,” pushy people will ask why and urge you to stay. So instead, silently and nonchalantly make your exit. If someone nabs you along the way, tell them you need to 1) get some air outside, 2) make a phone call or answer a text, 3) get something from your car.
  • If it’s more obvious you’re leaving for the night (e.g., putting on coat and boots), say you 1) just received an urgent text, 2) have an early exam tomorrow, 3) look ‘em hard in the eye and say, “I’m leaving. DEAL.” Then leave.

Robert Siciliano personal and home security specialist to BestHomeSecurityCompanys.com discussing burglar proofing your home on Fox Boston. Disclosures.

Self-Defense and Sexual Assault Prevention

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If you reach your hand to a strange dog loose on the street to pet it on top of the head, and it mauls your hand, whose fault is this? One camp would put most of the blame on the dog owner. But most people would blame the victim.

1SDBut everyone with half an ounce of sense would agree on one thing: Whose fault it is has NOTHING to do with the importance of doing whatever it takes to prevent a dog attack.

This same principle applies to sexual assault against women. An article on vice.com says that feminist Julie Lalonde isn’t too comfortable with the idea of pushing self-defense lessons on women to help prevent rape. Lalonde believes that promoting self-defense skills encourages the idea that rape is a woman’s fault.

The vice.com article quotes her talking of how society is constructed such that”…if a woman is sexually assaulted and she hasn’t taken a self-defense class, then it was her fault because she could have prevented her rape and didn’t.”

This mindset is one sandwich and the entire blanket short of a picnic. Again, fault has nothing to do with taking whatever measures are necessary to protect oneself! If it can be accomplished with self-defense lessons, then go for it!

Here’s a question for Lalonde and likeminded folks: Which is easier, teaching a woman self-defense or eliminating the urge to rape in a sociopath? Perhaps Lalonde can explain what sort of tactics have been proven to kill a sociopath’s or psychopath’s desire to violate a woman? Last time I checked, none exist (don’t say “chopping it off”; I’m talking about realistically, in our society).

What’s realistic and ethical is self-defense lessons. A study headed by Charlene Senn compared women (900 total) who were assigned self-defense training (which included psychological aspects such as assessing a situation) to women who were given only brochures on sexual crimes.

Rape was reduced among the first group of women (self defense) 5.2 percent, vs. the brochure group (9.8 percent), 12 months out from the study’s interventions.

Do not people such as Lalonde realize how easy it is to disable a man? Has she never seen a man become immobilized with pain upon accidentally hitting his knee into the edge of a cocktail table?

Or perhaps she’s seen too many movies and TV shows in which a man is shown being slammed over the head with a two-by-four, then taking half a dozen punches by another man, kicked in the ribs, knocked off a ledge and falling 10 feet, and despite all that, he ends up beating the tar out of his attacker. In real life, one good sock to the temple will knock a man’s lights out.

Self-defense doesn’t just involve punches and kicks, but depending on the style, focuses on using the laws of physics to put an attacker in a joint lock.

Predators look for prey. High quality self-defense schools teach women NOT to behave like prey, but to behave defensively when needed.

Robert Siciliano personal and home security specialist to BestHomeSecurityCompanys.com discussing burglar proofing your home on Fox Boston. Disclosures.

Could Your Neighbor be a Grim Sleeper?

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Serial killer “Grim Sleeper” was captured in LA. Lonnie David Franklin Jr. was at one time was an employee for the LAPD. The Los Angeles Police Department had been hunting a man who had stalked South Los Angeles since 1985, killing at least 10 women. “Franklin allegedly killed seven women between 1985 and 1988, when his crimes seemed to abruptly stop, authorities say. The slayings resumed with three more between 2002 and 2007, police said. The Grim Sleeper serial killer had a lengthy criminal history stretching over four decades but was never sent to prison despite calls by law enforcement officials for tough sentences, according to Los Angeles County court records” It’s always very disappointing when criminals are let out only to commit another crime. It’s even more disappointing when the system enables these same criminals by giving them lean sentences or letting before their sentence is up. According to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics “In 2008, over 7.3 million people were on probation, in jail or prison, or on parole at year-end — 3.2% of all U.S. adult residents or 1 in every 31 adults.”  2,304,115 were incarcerated in U.S. prisons and jails in 2008 There is an old saying born of motorcycle gangs called “one percenters”.  The theory is 1% of all people come out of their momma just bad. According to these stats, it may actually be 3.2 percent.

Robert Siciliano is a Personal Security Expert and Adviser to Intelius.com. For more information see Intelius at Criminal Check to reduce your chances of encountering a bad guy. See him discussing self defense on Youtube.  (Disclosures)