I don't know about rapes and murders but other crimes are certainly going up here in my neck of Penn's Woods.
Three weeks ago at 2:00 in the morning my dog, one of the friendliest Jack Russell's you'll meet, started a low ugly growl I'd never heard from him before. His hackles were up.
Naturally I drew my sidearm (I've been down this road before) and took a look around. I didn't see anything and calmed him down but then he ran to the back door and started again.
Sidearm still in hand I still saw nothing.
The next morning I ran into a neighbor who told me he was coming home around 2:00 in the morning with his daughter who'd just been in a car wreck (she's okay, the car not so much) when he saw someone standing at the bottom of my driveway (about 20 yards long) looking at my house and my daughter's car parked in the driveway. He was wearing a black windbreaker and carrying a black backpack. Best description he could give seeing the guy in the dark. The guy saw him and left quickly, cutting through some yards to do so.
My neighbor called the cops immediately.
They responded 10 minutes later (remember: carry a gun because when seconds count the cops are only minutes away) sending four squad cars. One of the officers told him there had been an uptick in break ins and robberies in the neighborhood/area in recent weeks.
One week later another neighbor, 2 doors up, had his car stolen from his driveway at about the same time of night while he was working in his shop. Just a pile of glass where the ride to work used to be.
Yesterday there were three unrelated armed robberies in town. That may not sound like much in a city like New York or Los Angeles but to a city of 88,000 or so it's significant. Two convenience stores and a check cashing joint. In one case the store owner opened fire with his own handgun. No one hit, no one hurt, robbery foiled.
We've seen an increase of home invasion robberies around here as well. In some cases the victims are tied up while the place ransacked, in others they were just held at gunpoint. In at least one I am aware of the 70+ year old homeowner opened fire on the invaders. No one injured but that ended that.
No doubt many of you can tell similar stories. The point being that it is getting worse and will continue to get worse until the jobs and the economy turn around. And it has absolutely nothing to do with whether Obama's Jobs Bill, or parts thereof, pass or not.
If you only make one preparation for the bad things that are near certain to come, maybe you should invest time and money into a firearm, ammo and some training. Because if this thing bottoms out crime will get worse and you may have to defend yourself not only from some dumbass punk trying to take your wallet watch and ride but maybe neighbors who think you should be sharing any food and supplies you have.
Now that's ugly. That's hard. That's bad.
But not nearly as bad as the criminals we have at 1600 Pennsylvania and environs these days.
Weekly Standard:
Biden Warns of More Rapes and Murders If Jobs Bill Is Not Passed
In Flint, Michigan, Vice President Joe Biden suggested that more rapes and murders could occur if President Barack Obama's jobs bill is not passed.
"In 2008, when Flint had 265 sworn officers on their police force, there were 35 murders and 91 rapes in this city," Biden said. "In 2010, when Flint had only 144 police officers, the murder rate climbed to 65 and rapes--just to pick two categories--climbed to 229. In 2011, you now only have 125 shields. God only knows what the numbers will be this year for Flint if we don't rectify it."
The vice president also seemed to suggest that the Obama administration's first stimulus is the reason rapes and murders were not even higher in 2010 and 2011." And God only knows what that number would have been had we not been able to get a little bit of help," Biden said.
5 comments:
Taking your advice seriously here. Went shopping this weekend and received some interesting advice for a novice like me. Last time I pulled the trigger I was a kid using a .410 while hunting with dad over 40 years ago.
With the Rossi Circuit Judge you can fire .410 Ga. 3 inch Magnum shotshells, .410 Ga 2.5 inch shotshells and .45 Colt ammunition in any order you please without switching barrels.
This enables one to send a painful, but not lethal warning shot (slug), which takes off the edge from the homeowner pulling the trigger under extreme stress, without taking precious time to reconfigure if more lethal options prove to be warranted.
demonstration w/novice shooters
Locating this item may prove difficult as it sells out immediately at every local shop.
If that is your first gun in 40 years and the only one you will have for self defense I would adivse you otherwise.
NOT because it's a bad gun. I can't say either way because I've never seen one until now.
But because it is a long gun/rifle/shotgun.
Generally when things go bump in the night you're not going to be thinking your clearest. And you may have to act very quickly.
Fumbling around trying to find and bring that into play may not be easy.
Additionally, in a self defense situation at close quarters, a long gun is not only harder to bring to bear but can also be taken from you much easier.
Instead I would opt for a regular revolver for the bedstand.
Not a semi-auto, but a regular revolver. Because along with that fumbling and bumbling with a semi auto you now have to worry about getting the safety off. Then shooting.
If you were to buy any number of .357 mag models you have a very powerful cartridge (but I'm betting you know that). Additionally, you can load it with the milder 38 special or 38 special +p rounds if recoil concerns you. I know people say 38 spc is not a proper stopper but at contact distance in a house it will do it's job as long as you do yours. (practice practice practice)
If you really like the Shotgun Revolver then Taurus makes the regular Judge, which is where this morphed from. A bit bigger than your standard revolver but not a long gun.
Anyway, that's my 2 cents. That's just me. And this is geared toward someone who is a novice shooter who wants it for home defense and not concealed carry. Someone more familiar with firearms would acquit themelves well with a 1911 or a Glock 17 or Sig 229 etc.
But in the end the decision is yours. You know your own situation and security concerns. An apartment dweller should not choose this gun whereas someone in the 'burbs or rural areas it may be an appropriate choice.
Choose the best gun you can afford and are comfortable with amd that you can handle/control and make sure you know how to use it. That includes this gun as well.
Practice Practice Practice.
By the Way
Gun Blast gives this particular model an excellent review.
Some further reading for you on the virtues of the revolver:
Wheel Guns Are Real Guns
MR, I said that was 'my' first gun in 40 years. I'm the lone 'non-shooter' in the family - a family with members in law enforcement as well as one heading the county gun federation.
I've been extremely hesitant/reluctant to take the responsibility upon myself.
Despite my childhood familiarity, or even perhaps, 'because' of it, I became very reluctant to possess a weapon once children came into my world . .which coincided with the 1980's Lennon/Reagan assaults. Falling in with the Brady gun lobby seemed natural at the time - though quite confrontational politically at home.
My personal reluctance did not impact on my grown children as they were trained and licenced to hunt.
Admittedly, it would be foolish to assume any intrusive event will involve only one intruder, and I've come to the conclusion - albeit very hesitantly - that I will no longer rely on someone else to completely take care of that business, should it arise.
Perhaps I've taken for granted my blessings with various family members at the ready as well as residing in a well prepared community since I do reside in a rural pocket of confident Conservatives in a deeply blue state.
I will continue to train with the others,(smug as they are) but I need to feel confident that I will actually loose my hesitation should I ever need to pull the trigger.
A pump or semi-automatic shotgun cannot cycle and fire a bruising warning shot immediately followed up with lethal ammunition if/when needed. Given my decades of reluctance to get this far, the Circuit Judge appears to be the best match for me . . .for now.
Thanks for all the information, as it is very much appreciated here.
Well, as I said, the advice was intended for the novice shooter unfamiliar with firearms. Clearly not you. You have more than enough people around you to give you better solid gun advice than I can give from a distance.
I have not always been a gunowner, either. In fact I was a member of the NRA 10 years or so before I ever owned a gun.
But in my case it wasm't a hesitancy about guns. I hunted through college but financial considerations came first and then I, too, did not want to have a gun in the house while my daughters were young. (an attitude I have since changed, by the way).
Then along came 9/11 and the twinge started, then the city where I live began a serious social deterioration and finally Virginia Tech sealed it for me. I've been a gun owner and carrier ever since and have never looked back.
And, as I said, I have changed my attitude about chldren and guns in the house.
My youngest daughter is 13 and she has been shooting since she was 10. She knows where the guns are in the house and that she can see and handle them any time she wants as long as I am there. Getting them familiar wth them and teaching them to respect, not fear, them early is a big part of keeping their curiousity at bay.
Since I got my LtCF both my wife and middle daughter have also become licensed. The middle daughter has claimed my PPK as her own and is quite handy with it. The wife is trying to claim it from her. Oldest daughter lives in Alaska with husband & my ew grandson, owns guns, no license to carry needed. A month or so ago they had a 1300lb griz wandering around town, strolling through yards going through trash cans and generally being a nuisance. Then he charged a cop who had to kill him. Not uncommon up there and thus nearly everyone carries a gun.
Anyway, you will not gain confidence with your chosen weapon unless ou get out and practice with it. But your friends and family are no doubt already telling you that. The more you handle it, the more confident you will feel.
"I will no longer rely on someone else to completely take care of that business, should it arise."
Yes. In the end, you are responsible for your own safety. As in my case it took the police 10 minutes to arrive once they were called and in the earleir case I/we had to deal with it on our own when the guy walked in the front door. There was no time to call the police first.
"the Circuit Judge appears to be the best match for me"
Truest words spoken. You will hesitate with a gun you are not comfortable with.
Anyway, welcome back to the shooting world. I hope you come to enjoy it and have confidence in yourself to defend yourself and those around you and I pray that you never find yourself in a situation where you need to do so.
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