Each holiday season, police departments and media remind people they would make fine targets for criminals. Retailers prepare for billions in shoplifting losses. The National Crime Prevention Council issues a pamphlet warning that crooks love the holidays because the season makes “an opportune time for crime.” Do we really have more to fear during the… Read More
Author Archive
U.S. Crime Rates in First Six Months of 2006
Take a look at preliminary violent crime rates during the first six months of 2006 compared with the first six months of 2005. Violent crimes overall: +3.7 percent Murders: +1.4 percent Forcible rape: -0.1 percent Robbery: +9.7 percent Aggravated assault: +1.2 percent Property crimes overall: -2.6 percent Burglaries: +1.2 percent Larceny-theft: -3.8 percent Motor vehicle… Read More
Athletes And Guns: A Loaded Question
Tampa Bay running back Errict Rhett was making a career of fearlessly confronting 300-pound linemen and rock-solid linebackers, but his first encounter with real, heart-thumping fright came the day he faced a .45-caliber muzzle. That was a decade ago[…] “My heart started beating so fast it was uncontrollable,” he said. “I’ve never been so scared.… Read More
The Danger Of False Accusations
by Scott Hughes I have written quite a few published articles on self-defense and violence prevention. (See: Self-Defense: End Victimization and Women’s Safety: Tools For A Self-Defense Strategy.) Most adamantly, I have condemned rape and sexual assault. Not only have I condemned the sexual assailants themselves, but also I expressed my sickening disgust with us,… Read More
Arkansas Bill Would Expand Self-Defense Rights
A bill that would expand the limits of legal self-defense in Arkansas was pre-filed Thursday in advance of the 2007 legislative session, which starts Jan. 8. State Rep. Mike Burris, D-Malvern, pre-filed House Bill 1027, the proposed “Stand Your Ground Law.” The bill would permit the use of deadly force against a person forcibly entering… Read More
Officer Shoots Sister Claims Self-Defense
An off-duty St. Louis city police officer is being questioned after investigators say he shot his sister during an argument around 2:00 a.m. Wednesday on Vera Cruz in Affton. St. Louis County Police say the woman was grazed in the head and suffered non-life threatening injuries. Investigators add the off-duty officer acted in self-defense. There… Read More
Take Back The Night
The phrases “Reclaim The Night” and “Take Back the Night” refer to international marches and rallies intended as direct action and protests opposing forms of violence against women such as rape. It originated with the radical feminist movement. The term “Take Back the Night” comes from the title of a memorial read by Anne Pride… Read More
Dramatic Increase In Self-Defense Products For Women
“There is a serious problem with store-bought accessories,” points out Guy Dar, an expert in self-defense who teaches a hand-to-hand combat technique. In most cases, notes Dar, you do not have enough time to pull out the stun gun or tear gas canister, and thus it is much better to first try reacting with your… Read More
War As Self-Defense?
by Scott Hughes Few can imagine a tyranny worse than denying a person or people the right to defend themselves. Preventable violence plagues the world, such as theft, slavery, assault, murder, and rape. The people of society need to stop this. Society needs to put an end to the prevalence of any form of offensive… Read More
Two Barbaric Murders Given New Life
Do you remember February 1993 when a young 3 yr old was taken from Liverpool, United Kingdom, by two 10-year-old boys. Jamie Bulger walked away from his mother for only a second and Jon Venables took his hand and led him out of the mall with his friend Robert Thompson. They took Jamie on a… Read More
Self-Defense & Cops: Protectors Or Victimizers?
A cop goes to a fast-food drive-through and mistakenly thinks the female teenage cashier short-changes him. After the manager checks the drawer and finds that the cop’s 20 is non-existent, the cop hollers at the girl and arrests her. When the girl hollers back and asks to wait for her mama, the cop gets mad… Read More
Self Defense For The Shopping Season
“Drop everything. I always say, you can always get more stuff later,” Austin Martial Arts Academy instructor Tristan Truscott said. That’s an important lesson this time of year, Gribi said. “Here it is Christmas time, none of your packages, your car, none of that’s worth your life,” Gribi said. After letting your stuff go, the… Read More