As a parent, your top priority is to protect your children until they are old enough to fend for themselves. Protecting your children requires good health, being alive, having resources, self-defense skills, and using common sense. If you’re missing one of these, the chances of your children and partner being harmed go up.
After a recent potential carjacking incident with my 4-year-old daughter in the car, I’ve been thinking more about safety. Before having kids, I didn’t worry as much. I’ve been in fights and I’m comfortable using a knife in self-defense. But when you have a family, it’s different. You must do everything to protect them.
Just like how you shouldn’t expect the government to save you financially, you shouldn’t expect it to protect you from criminals either. The responsibility is all on you.
Why The Government Won't Protect Your Family Like You Will
When I was doing my research on why there is so much government graft, I learned that NYC Mayor Eric Adams also grew up in poverty and was surrounded by criminal activity, just like SF Mayor London Breed. Here's Eric Adam's early life from Wikipedia:
Adams was born in Brownsville, Brooklyn on September 1, 1960. His mother, Dorothy Mae Adams-Streeter (1938–2021), worked double shifts as a housecleaner and had received only a third-grade education. His father, Leroy Adams, was a butcher who struggled with alcohol abuse. Both of his parents moved to New York City from Alabama in the 1950s. Adams was raised in a rat-infested tenement in Bushwick, Brooklyn. His family was so poor that he often brought a bag of clothes to school with him in case of a sudden eviction from his home.
At age 14, Adams joined a gang, the 7-Crowns, and became known as “a tough little guy”. He would hold money for local hustlers. He also ran errands, including purchasing groceries, for a dancer and part-time prostitute named Micki after she became injured. After Micki refused to pay for the groceries he purchased or his work, Adams and his brother stole her TV and a money order. The two were later arrested for criminal trespassing.
While in police custody, they were allegedly beaten by NYPD officers until a black cop intervened. Adams was sent to a juvenile detention center for a few days before being sentenced to probation. Adams had post-traumatic stress disorder after the incident and has said that the violent encounter motivated him to enter law enforcement.
Here is SF Mayor London Breed's early life from Wikipedia:
Born in San Francisco, Breed was raised by her grandmother in Plaza East public housing in the Western Addition neighborhood of the city. As a youth, Breed lived with three siblings (two brothers and a sister), along with an aunt who was facing mental health challenges.
Breed later wrote of her childhood in San Francisco, “five of us living on $900 per month. ‘Recycling' meant drinking out of old mayonnaise jars. Violence was never far away. And once a week, we took Grandma's pushcart to the community room to collect government-issued groceries.”
Her younger sister died of a drug overdose in 2006. Her brother, Napoleon Brown, is in prison serving a 44-year sentence for a 2000 conviction on charges of manslaughter and armed robbery, for which Breed has repeatedly asked for clemency from the governor's office. Breed has stated that her brother's early release from prison would be “what's best for both Napoleon and society overall”.
Your Upbringing Influences How You View Crime and Punishment
I’m struck by the extreme backgrounds of these two mayors. Whatever happened to electing leaders with boring upbringings and minimal childhood trauma?
If you haven’t already, research your city's mayor to better understand their ideology and thoughts on crime. If you or your loved ones have a history with crime, you might not be as alarmed by crime today. Instead, you might empathize more with criminals, recognizing that poverty often drives people to desperate acts. While criminals engage in illegal activities, they’re still human, and much of what they do in their personal lives is lawful. They can still be your sibling, parent, or child.
When asked about corruption under her leadership, London Breed remarked on a KQED Forum Apple podcast that grift was inevitable in a government organization of 34,000 people. Essentially, she normalized corruption. I suspect crime is similarly normalized in her mind. And when you don’t have young children to protect, it’s easier to understand why someone might not push for tougher crime measures.
I'm Used To Altercations As Well
Having grown up experiencing physical fights in public school, I’m not afraid to stand my ground when threatened—as long as the other person doesn’t have a gun. I’ve endured physical pain and would do whatever it takes to protect my family. If you’ve never fought back against a bully or been in a fight, this mindset might seem foreign or even frightening.
However, growing up in developing countries in Asia, then moving to Virginia to become part of a 6% minority and attending public schools, I had to adopt a fight-or-flight mentality to survive. I chose to fight, and that mentality still applies, even in online disputes with rude or worse individuals.
You’d be surprised by how much hate exists online. If you choose to create content, you must prepare yourself to handle negativity. Even if only 0.1% of your 10 million annual readers dislike you, that still means 10,000 people are harboring negative feelings toward you.
Related: The Differences Between Public School And Private School Graduates
Effective Ways to Protect Your Family from Harm
If your local government is defunding the police and not prosecuting repeat offenders, the responsibility to protect your family falls on you. Even if your city is strong on law and order, bad things still happen all the time.
Here are a few practical ways to help safeguard your loved ones. Please take these suggestions seriously.
1) Experience The Pain And Adrenaline Of A Fight
Encouraging you to get into a fight might seem strange. However, I firmly believe going through a fight will teach you how to be more calm and think more strategically if you're ever attacked.
As an adult, your “opportunities” of getting into a physical altercation are much lower than when you were a child. However, confronting your oppressor by at least standing up for yourself, offers a similar amount of adrenaline that is helpful for future altercations. Even if you make the wrong decision, at least you will learn from your mistakes and get better for next time.
The people who are most hysterical about the littlest things have probably never been in a physical fight or stood up against a bully. Due to their inability to regulate their emotions, their minds will shut down as they feel even the smallest of incidents are an existential threat, e.g. Amy Cooper calling the cops saying a black man with a dog off leash in Central Park was attacking her, when it was proven to be untrue.
A Navy SEAL isn’t going to freak out about a dog off leash, even though it’s annoying. A UFC fighter isn’t going to panic if someone leaves a disagreeable comment on their public social media page after they did something. Their experience with conflict enables them to stay calm.
Experiencing An Altercation Is Even More Important For Privileged People
Adults who are well-off, living in a rich neighborhood, and brunching at their fancy private sports club, can be more prone to panic when there is conflict. Their whole lives have been mostly sheltered as they generally only associate with people in their same socioeconomic class. Whereas middle-class to lower-income families who went to public schools are generally more accustomed to confrontation and violence.
When you get in a fight, your adrenaline kicks in as you dodge your opponent’s strikes and defend yourself. By fighting back, you’ll be less fearful the next time someone tries to intimidate or bully you. A fight helps you understand how much pain you can endure, which is essential when protecting your family.
Think of it like understanding your risk tolerance after experiencing a market downturn. Once you survive one, future drops won’t seem as bad. As an adult, fighting with your mind is smarter than physical confrontation. Use your intellect to fight back, whether through work, online, or by exposing someone’s wrongdoing. While lawsuits can arise, it’s generally safer to fight with words rather than fists.
2) Take Self-Defense Classes
Encourage your family, especially older children, to take self-defense classes. Although you won't experience the same amount of adrenaline or pain from taking self-defense classes, you'll at least better prepare yourself in case a future altercation occurs.
Role-playing scenarios at home ensures even young kids know how to stay safe during emergencies.
I’ve noticed that people who have never sparred often overestimate how painful it is to get hit. By catastrophizing the pain, they become less courageous when it comes to defending themselves.
Here's a funny video highlighting perception versus reality during a potential car robbery. Talking about what to do in the event of an altercation is not as effective as being in an altercation.
3) Don’t Live in a Rich And Famous Neighborhood
For your family’s safety, consider living in a lesser-known, but still safe area. Instead of choosing neighborhoods famous for their wealth, look for areas that are secure but more discreet.
Yes, wealthy neighborhoods may have more security. Potentially, the neighborhood police will show up quicker given less overall crime. But if the neighborhood is not in a gated community, you are exposed and criminals know you will more easily give up your belongings since you have so much more. Live in a rich neighborhood, but not one that is well known.
4) Avoid Living Near Polarizing Figures
Living near politicians or controversial CEOs increases your risk of collateral damage. Instead, try living near firefighters, police officers, nurses, or teachers—people who tend to foster safer communities.
A frightening example is the attack on Paul Pelosi, Nancy Pelosi's husband, who was assaulted with a hammer at their home in Pacific Heights. If you insist on living in such a high-profile area, avoid living on the same block as a famous politician, especially in times of deep political division.
5) Install Home Security Systems & Smart Technology
Set up a reliable security system with cameras, alarms, and motion sensors. Smart home tech, like video doorbells and smart locks, lets you monitor your home remotely and receive alerts in real-time on your phone.
The name of the game is deterrence. All things being equal, a robber would rather try and rob a home with zero cameras than a home with every home security setup possible.
If you love dogs, they also serve as an added deterrent. And if you're not a dog person, you can still put up warning signs outside your house indicating you have dogs and weapons inside.
Related: A Beijing Abduction Adventure: Never Trade Your Life For Money
6) Get to Know Your Neighbors
A close-knit community is a strong deterrent against crime. Neighbors who watch out for each other create a safer environment for everyone. At the very least, get to know your neighbors to your left, to your right, and across the street. Exchange phone numbers so you can create a mini-watch group.
You might also develop a support system for watering plants, taking in trash, and holding package deliveries while you're gone.
7) Live Near a Police Station, or Know Where the Nearest One Is
Proximity to a police station can deter criminals, as they’re less likely to target homes near law enforcement. It’s always useful to know where your nearest station is as smart criminals certainly will know.
The quicker the cops can get to your house, the less likely serious harm may come to you. For your next home, you might want to buy one within a half a mile of a police station.
8) Be Armed in Your Car and Home
If guns are illegal in your area, consider keeping other self-defense tools like a bat, folding knife, pepper spray, or a powerful flashlight. These should be hidden from your children but easily accessible in case you need to protect yourself.
Ideally, keep a self-defense tool in every room you frequently use, such as the kitchen, office, bedroom, living room, and even bathrooms. Ensure you have weapons on each floor of your home.
Imagine a robber breaks down your front door while you're upstairs with your children, but your knives are downstairs. Or, a break-in occurs while you're working in your office, but your bat is in the bedroom across the hall. The time it takes to reach your weapon could put you at greater risk.
Your family is also vulnerable when driving. From staged car collisions to carjackings, it's essential to have defensive tools in your vehicle as well. Be sure to check local laws to ensure you're complying with regulations.
9) Avoid Driving a New, Expensive Car
Driving exposes you to the public more than any other activity. To minimize your risk of being carjacked, your car should blend in rather than stand out. Flashy cars like a red Ferrari or Tesla Cybertruck will attract attention, while a black Honda Civic will go unnoticed.
Criminals may also target your car and follow you home when you don't expect it. They might then case your house for a bit before deciding to break and enter. Drive an older, cheaper car as your daily driver.
My staged car collision incident was a wake-up call. Next time, I’ll remain in the car, assess the situation, and exercise more caution before getting out.
10) Have a Pre-Mortem Plan for Worst-Case Scenarios
Create a plan for the following emergencies:
- Car accident
- Carjacking
- Home robbery
- House fire, flooding, or other natural disasters
- Heart attack
- Physical injury, such as when your child is knocked unconscious or breaks a bone
Your plan should outline what to do, who to call, and where to go. A pre-mortem plan is crucial because in moments of panic or terror, your mind can and will freeze. Since these incidents are rare, you may not know how to react in the heat of the moment. Every second of hesitation or a wrong move could escalate the situation.
Conduct family emergency drills for natural disasters like earthquakes, fires, or floods. Where is your safe zone? A clear evacuation plan and meeting point can make all the difference when time is critical. Also, stock up on emergency supplies like first aid kits, food, water, and protective gear, and ensure everyone knows where they are stored.
Learn To Regulate Your Emotions To Protect Your Family
Learning to regulate your emotions during chaos is key to protecting your family. People who have never faced conflict may struggle with fear, but by preparing for the worst, you’ll be better equipped to handle difficult situations calmly. When you can control your emotions, you’re less likely to panic and more likely to act decisively in a crisis.
Staying calm also prevents you from reacting impulsively in anger and doing something you may regret. However, if your family is under threat, you must be prepared to put your life on the line to protect them.
As a parent, your primary responsibility is to safeguard your children. Plan for the worst, and don’t rely on the government to come to your rescue. Your family is counting on you.
Questions And Suggestions
What other steps can you take to better protect your family? Do you think those who are the most fearful, easily angered, or hysterical are often the ones who’ve been the most sheltered? Have you ever been in a fight or experienced a robbery? How many of my suggested ways to protect your family have you done?
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Carrying a knife for self-defense is generally a very bad idea. Most assaults (over 80%) are “simple” assaults, which do not justify using deadly force, such as guns or knives.
In most cases, your best bet to to avoid the situation if possible. If an altercation is unavoidable, your second best bet is a quality OC spray (two great brands in the US that are batch tested are POM and Sabre) and know what type to get, how to properly use it, etc. Using OC will often prevent things from escalating to a physical fight or having to use deadly force. OC is “something between a harsh word and a gun”.
Chuck Haggard has some great videos on YouTube on the topic. Another great resource is Active Self Protection (also on YouTube).
If you have to use deadly force, you’re better off carrying a gun than a knife.
Can you elaborate why using a knife as a deterrent or for self-defense is a very bad idea? Once you can’t avoid the situation, are you saying it’s better to fight with your fists? Perhaps if you were trained with using a knife, you would feel more secure using it?
If you have had a physical altercation with or without a knife, what happened and how did that work out for you?
thx
A knife forces you to be close to your attacker, which doesn’t give you much room for maneuver. And in most states, you can only carry fairly small knives on your person (e.g. less than 4″). So someone with a baseball bat has more reach than your knife, for example.
In comparison, a good OC spray will give you 10 to 15 feet, depending on the model and if you get one with at least 1% of M.C. the effect starts in half a second.
In addition, there’s a problem with “tool fixation” in self-defense. If you talk to any pro-second amendment person, most of them only carry a gun and it becomes their go-to tool for almost any altercation, even though the vast majority of assaults wouldn’t legally justify someone pulling out a gun or a knife, much less using it.
In addition, legally you might be better off pulling out a gun than a knife on someone. Juries have biases regarding certain types of weapons that can you look more like the attacker than a victim, regardless of the reality of the situation.
I highly recommend you check the resources I mentioned in my earlier comment. Active Self Protection has hundreds of videos of people finding themselves in all kinds of dangerous situations and they analyze different ways it could have been handled better. You might be surprised by how effective OC often is in those situations.
I do think that self-defense is a skill we all need, however, I think you skipped over the most important part…voting for government officials who uphold our safety.
“The oldest and simplest justification for government is as protector: protecting citizens from violence.”
“Thomas Hobbes’ Leviathan describes a world of unrelenting insecurity without a government to provide the safety of law and order, protecting citizens from each other and from foreign foes.”
Sure, but if that’s the case, why do you think some city mayors are so soft on crime? There are examples of people who have been caught and charged 5 or more times and repeatedly let go.
Social Security is also underfunded by about 25%, so that’s another failure by the government.
I think I know why they are soft on crime, but that’s another article for another day! We can’t lose sight of the fact that government officials don’t produce anything like you and I do. They live off our money and they are there because of our votes. Their first duty is to protect us and provide a safe environment, among other things. It’s a sad day when you have to write an article about protecting ourselves (because our government is not) and where you are trying to find excuses for why our government officials aren’t doing their job. The bottom line is they aren’t doing it and they need to be replaced. The only real power we have is at the local level and we need to exercise that power.
i appreciate this article as this topic is something my family and i are very passionate about. about weapons- situational awareness and understanding your surroundings paramount. anything can be a weapon- table edges, pens, car door hinges, your car. if you’re into blasters, do drills in your house and know areas you should take cover and engage, where are the fatal funnels? know what’s down range if you miss. guns in house should generally be used in a defensive posture ie don’t go running into your driveway. both for your safety and legal. at least from an urban and suburban perspective.
can your car jump a curb or ram something out of the way if needed to get out of sticky situation. leave enough space in front of your car so you can easily maneuver around car in front if they try to block you.
install driveway alarms that don’t rely on wifi or grid power. power outages or internet can’t take your ring cameras off line and you won’t always have your phone with your.
get in good physical shape as well.
side note- i just crossed 1mm net worth, not including my house equity.
Another strategy is to self-segregate and stay away from the most violent people according to data. If you decrease your chances of being around the most violent people, then you decrease your chances of your family getting harmed.
This is one of the main reasons why people send their kids to private school, live in gated communities, and stay away from dangerous areas.
Safety is largely a numbers game.
I used to read financial samurai pretty regularly. But stopped over time as the blog became less about how to get rich and more about the psychology of having a ton of money. I think this is natural since the author has enjoyed success and making money is no longer is prime objective. So good for him, just not right up my alley anymore.
But this article is so elitist it’s comical.
No problem Max if your main goal is to read to get rich. There are plenty of other sites that just focus on making more money. I feel there’s more to life than just getting rich, which is why I write about a variety of things.
I don’t think it’s elitist to learn self-defense and learn how to protect yourself from other people. Planning ahead is crucial, which is why there are fire drills in skill. If you rely on the government to protect you or take care of your finances, I’m afraid you will be disappointed if something happens.
Why not contribute and provide a positive contribution instead of complaining about reading something for free?
I think Max has some type of financial insecurities he is dealing with. Maybe he failed to protect his family or can’t afford to live in a nicer place and is now angry and projecting.
I don’t see anything elitist about the various ways you’ve shared to protect your family and yourself. The flashlight suggestion is a great idea and I just bought one.
People like Max who just criticize and offer nothing always have some type of issue they are dealing with.
Thanks for your article! The subject is so pertinent now as I am a mother of three children, and I don’t trust the government to protect us either.
Let me first say that I am genuinely sorry that you went through a car jacking. That must have been scary and going through traumatic things is difficult. And I’m glad you’re finding ways to deal with it constructively.
However, I do think that this article contains many elitist things. Including an implication, that people that grew up in high crime areas are soft on crime and that people should t vote for mayors that grew up poor. That’s pretty elitist.
As is the proposed solutions “don’t live near celebrities and don’t live near politicians” as if that’s a choice for most people.
I think the article is elitist. I’m sorry if my critique offended you. I was not aware that you were looking only for positive comments in you comments section.
I am also pleased that you returned my comment to its original form rather than posting an edited version with your words and attributing it to me. I will not be responding anymore. Please take me off of your distribution list.
No problem, and I’m sorry that you are offended by this article. If you cannot live in a rich and famous neighborhood, don’t worry about it. That’s actually a good thing based on my suggestion of not doing so.
If you have some thoughts on why these mayors are soft on crime, feel free to elaborate instead of just saying that I’m an elitist.
Everybody’s free to disagree, but I’m hoping those who criticize can provide suggestions and solutions to better ways to protect their family. Otherwise, what’s the point? You don’t help anybody and I’m not sure your criticism will make you feel better about yourself and your situation.
Learn to unsubscribe yourself. Do away with entitlement mentality by asking people to do things for you when you can do it yourself. It just takes a click of a link.
Finally, if you are struggling to provide for your family or protect your family, then you must focus on the problem and increase your effort. Complaining about my article will not help you. Focus on helping yourself and focusing on the root of the problem instead.
I spent 8 years in Israel with the Foreign Service (2 assignments, 8 years apart). Living there, we had to be aware of potential terror attacks and had to know where the nearest public bomb shelter was at all times. Rocket attacks are part of living there, unfortunately. October 7th, 2023, is still my reality every day; there are still 7 US citizens held in Gaza from that day. My kids have experienced red alerts since before they could speak. All of the above advice is good, solid advice.
Helping think through pre-mortem planning, learning self-defense, and getting a power flashlight is elitist? How do you get that?
The power flashlight is actually a brilliant idea I hadn’t thought of before. Are you just focusing on the suggestion to not live in a rich and famous neighborhood? It’s consistent with the stealth wealth concept.
What happened to your site? Why so bent out of shape on a helpful article?
quite the contrary. I think it’s elitist to NOT think about being responsible for your own safety and security. I dont have a personal security detail following me around so I am my own first responder. you save money for a rainy day, you get insurance for car, home, business. why not take safety precautions as a form of insurance as well?
The background of those two mayors is eye-opening, indeed. That is kind of weird that we are electing the most impoverished people with criminal activity or criminal closeness to become mayors.
For safer cities, we need to elect mayors, who represent a greater percentage of the cities population, not the smallest.
Do you think there are more affluent people than impoverished people?
There are more normal, regular, middle-class people than affirm people or impoverished people. I would rather have a middle-class person who grew up with good values and not surrounded by criminals leading my city.
So you believe that people that grow up in middle class neighborhoods have better values than people that grew up in high crime areas and you would not vote for someone who grew up in a high crime area?
Absolutely. I would much rather have a middle-class person who believes in the law and has a good family upbringing run my city, manage a company, take care of my children, teach my children, and more.
Why would you choose a poor person who has committed crimes and is OK with crime to do those things? Seriously curious why you would choose that person if you could choose another person that is middle class and has better values if you have the option?
Perhaps you are biased because you said you’re at kids to public school and cannot afford a better education for them? If so, how are your children doing or what are they doing for a living? I wouldn’t want to let my children develop relationship with people with poor values.
You’re right in that we need to make our vote count. I’m thinking we should vote for the people that uphold our values and our safety, no matter their background. If not protecting its citizens, what good is government?
I don’t know and I used to think like that. One can prepare forever and still not feel safe. Things always come up. I used to have firearms at home and those give me a false sense of safety. No matter how much you practice, are you truly ready to neutralize your targets? Chances are higher that you hurt somebody you know than the robbers. It is good to try to find the safety bubble and know your Neighborhood well, maybe a security camera, a fence, plants with thorns and a big dog and no fancy stuff to draw attention.
Regarding mass shootings in the US, there is not much you could do. Watch out for mental meltdown and get involve in the schools. The society is so sick and beyond repair. In our little safe town, there are cases of south American gang robbers targeting small business owners with lot of cash. Luckily nobody was hurt. Avoid unknown crowds with high emotions (election rally and professional sports events and pop concerts i.e.). Be polite and courteous in public. I assume everybody has a gun or hides some type of mental breakdown, and I don’t want to be the last straw to be aggressive towards any strangers or even familiar people. Deescalate and go out to nature.
Thank you for this article, an important topic. My recommendations:
Thank you for recommending “The Gift of Fear.” I will check it out. I don’t feel like the fear I’ve developed since last October 7th was in any way a gift, so I’d love to turn it into something positive, somehow, in some way.
Actually, I’m not going to buy the book. I’m reading a preview and it states, “Actual challenges to safety arise only in person – and thus, all that’s really changed is the medium used for persuading someone to have an in-person meeting.” While that applies to Daniel Pearl’s horrific murder, it in no way applies to the 12 Druze children murdered while playing soccer at the end of July by a Hezbollah rocket attack.
OK maybe I will buy it. Sorry for the waffling….
Howdy,
Few tips -1) if you have an alarm system, make sure it is connected to the police dispatch. In Tulsa, OK it costs $35 and has to be renewed annually. Having home security alone is not enough to notify police.
2) if you have cameras at home, make sure they are on a battery back up. Smart criminals can cut power if really determined.
3) if you have a firearm, it is not a deterrent. If you pull it out, make sure you know how to use it.
4) self defense starts with words and knowing how to deescalate. Fighting is a last resort.
5) stealth wealth is often practical
What are some deescalating words you’d say to a burglar or car jacker? My rich friends simply say, “Take everything you want and quickly. Just leave us be.” thx
Submission can be a start. Every situation is different. If someone has a gun you should let them think they are in control until the instant they are not, but only if you are trained to reverse these situations, which are taught in martial arts and self defense.
I agree that it’s important to stay out of glitzy, famous neighborhoods. Better to avoid the spotlight. But if you wanna be in the spotlight, then you need to have security detail to protect your family.
I think some rich and famous people underestimated how much danger they are truly in. You can be a CEO company that makes money extorting people. People are friends can easily find out where you live and take you out once you come out of your house.
I encourage people to mind their own business and not touch other people’s belongings or tell them what to do.
But some rich, entitled, and older people often can’t help but be nowy and bossy, like a Karen. They you wonder why they are confronted or worse.
https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/bay-area-gym-worker-killed-by-patron-19819190.php
I live in THE most dangerous city in America. A few things I’ve learned here- The most vulnerable conditions are associated with your vehicle. Getting in and out especially. I’ve had one attempted attack by a robber with a long knife in one hand and a box cutter in the other while getting out of my vehicle. Thanks to self defense classes I was able to get him on the ground until the police arrived without being harmed. This wasn’t accomplished with strength or fighting. It was resolved safely as a result of taking numerous self defense classes and out thinking the criminal. I had to think outside the box. By doing so I decided to impersonate a cop and place the guy under fake arrest. Hey, it was all I could think of at the moment and it worked:)
Driving- # 1. Do not follow close to vehicles. Leave enough distance to make an easy and speedy getaway. Do not stop close to the vehicle in front for the same reason. Try not to even stop if you don’t have to. Time the lights when driving through bad areas so that you don’t have to stop. It’s hard to get carjacked while rolling! Stay off the phone and keep the radio off when driving in bad areas. This allows for full attention to your surroundings.
Keep your phone in your pocket while driving, which is one lesson I learned the hard way. I wasn’t able to call for help after getting my attacker on the ground because the phone was left in the car. If it comes down to using a handgun while being carjacked don’t open the door or window.
Stay one step ahead by being prepared to fire right through the window if necessary. They are not expecting this to happen. Surprise is a great tactic! Have your windows tinted as much as legal. This allows you a better chance of accessing your weapon without being seen. Surprise is key. Always keep your seatbelt fastened. This makes it harder for someone to pull you from the vehicle.
Which city do you live in?
“The most vulnerable conditions are associated with your vehicle” this is very true, as I realized again in my car collision setup scam experience.
And yes, tinted windows creates for more mystery and danger for the car jacker.
City with vibrant music scene is now most dangerous place to live
Didn’t realize Memphis was that dangerous. What do you think happened? I keep hearing how Tennessee is a boom state with a lot of people migrating there.
Bail Reform. A good program on the surface but shouldn’t apply to criminals that profit from crime. Drug dealers, thieves, etc. These people make a lot but pay no taxes so it appears on paper that they can’t afford bail. It’s turned into a catch and release system that’s now on autopilot. Also it should never apply to violent crimes but it does. They keep letting them go only to commit more violent crimes. Just google “Glock Switch.” Allows thugs to turn a common stolen handgun into a fully automatic machine gun for $20. Crimes Committed with a Glock Switch should carry a mandatory 10+ years in prison but it doesn’t. Apparently the DA is spineless. Plenty of contributing factors but nothing is more to blame than our leaders not enforcing the law.
Your situation sounds similar to here in San Francisco and Oakland. But change is a foot given we have elections this November.
tn is a great state, but not Memphis.
Memphis, TN
Expensive areas have a massive police presence, and they always show up with in 2 minutes.
In wealthy neighborhoods, the police have literally nothing to do. Every single crime is their entertainment for the day. I once saw the police bring out a helicopter, over 10 patrol cars, including k-9 units just to chase down a single cat bugler at night.
They found him hiding in a tree.
The rich care greatly about their personal security. You can be rest assured, the police forces in rich areas are well funded, and fully equipped.
Yes, wealthy neighborhoods may have more security. Potentially the neighborhood police will show up quicker given less overall crime. But if the neighborhood is not in a gated community, you are exposed and criminals know you will more easily give up your belongings since you have so much more. Live in a rich neighborhood, but not one that is well known.
There are plenty of rich neighborhoods. I’d just avoid the famous ones if you’re really focused on security. The famous ones get more tourists and visitors.
apparently you don’t know much about money or having money. the rich or how the rich live
True. Just on a journey.
But I do know people who’ve committed burglaries, and they say they target wealthy neighborhoods because the residents are easier to intimidate and just have the basic security systems. What they are amazed with is that despite these homeowners being worth tens of millions, if not hundreds of millions of dollars, they still are not willing to hire a private security for the neighborhood block for $150,000 a year.
Oh, and I do appreciate you reading every article I’ve written, and commenting on occasion too. Keeps the traffic and engagement up. So please reading and sharing more your thoughts on money! Thanks
People like Bob are funny resorting to insults if people disagree.
So awesome Bob keeps on coming back and helping you generate traffic and revenue! You truly are experienced in confronting unpleasant people.
My biggest fear as a parent is school shootings. Short of homeschooling, which is too extreme for our family, I don’t know how to protect my kids from school shootings, and I feel helpless as a parent against them.
Have you seen the statistics between private and public school shootings? One of the reasons why there are fewer private school shootings than the percentage of private schools overall is because private schools can more easily identify and kick out troubled kids. It’s a more self-selecting group where parents may more focused on their kids because they are paying tuition. I’ve also noticed more security resources at some private grade schools.
Do your kids go to public or private grade school?
My kids are at public now. The only private within a 30-minute drive doesn’t perform better academically than our public school. The private school had a less secure building layout with many points of entry, but they had a canine program brought in by concerned parents that gave us peace of mind. And as you mentioned, they had zero tolerance for troubled kids. Good point that private schools are a more self-selecting group with more focus on school safety; it’s something we overlooked when weighing the pros and cons of private vs. public schools. We live in an area with low crime, and school shootings is the only safety issue that keeps me up at night.
I’m not so sure getting in a fight is the best way to prepare for a future altercation. It’s been my experience that some people are just more calm in stressful situations than others. I’m not sure why, but’s that my experience.
As far as guns for protection, please practice shooting regularly. It has taken my wife almost 3 years and many trips to the range to get her comfortable with a hand gun. Practice and repetition!
Great article Sam!
I am a grandfather with three wonderful grandchildren. My protection for them is the same as it was with my children. THEIR SAFTY FIRST, THEN MINE! Unfortunately, the world in which we live is chaotic at best. Being prepared in any given situation, many times, separate the living from the dead.
Stay the course my fellow capitalist.
It’s so unfortunate that we have to think about how to stay safe from criminals, but it’s a part of life. It’s even more complicated today because it’s not just the in-person incidents we have to prepare for, it’s also the digital ones too. There are scammers, thieves, robbers, and violent offenders everywhere. I do believe that knowledge provides power and strength. It can also make you a bit paranoid, but I’d rather be more prepared than less. Expect the worst, hope for the best as they say.