security

3 Tips For Crime Prevention While in Public

Here are three survival (security) tips that are free, and won’t cost you anything. There is a caveat though, that is you may need to force a slight change in your behavior and habits.

In today’s world of increasing economic woes, more individuals are turning towards criminal behavior as they become angrier, looking for someone to blame, and may be downright desperate. You, as a ‘normal’ person, may be walking among them from time to time and you don’t even know it or recognize it.

To a large extent, the key to avoid being victimized is to simply be aware. Awareness consciously (and subconsciously) changes your own behavior such that you will be more likely to avoid dangerous situations that could escalate into violence.

Define ‘awareness’ in the context of your self-security:

• Know what is happening or has happened in your field of travel
• Look around you (and behind you) while moving (walking, driving, etc) outside your home
• Make eye contact while scanning in crowded public places

Know what is happening or has happened in your field of travel
Whether by paying attention to the news or ‘hearsay’, understand the history of the area you are about to travel in. Most people over time will come to understand where the ‘bad’ areas are in their local region – areas especially vulnerable to crime.

If you are new to the area, or if traveling outside your own area, make an effort to discover where these ‘bad’ areas are. A great tool to look for crime reports is on CrimeReports.com, which shows maps dotted with crime reports in Canada, the U.S., and the UK.
(No, they’re not an advertiser… it’s just a really useful tool)

Look around you (and behind you) while traveling
This simple behavior is more effective than you may imagine. Reason being, is that so many people do not do this, are ignorant to their surroundings, and are the first to become victims. Predators look for the weaker prey. Someone who is looking down, or who appears to be in their own little world, are prime targets for criminals.

Instead, scan around you from time to time, with your head up straight, as you walk with purpose – shoulders back, and confident. Not only might you avoid an unruly-looking gang of troublemakers, but they might avoid targeting YOU.

Make eye contact while scanning in crowded public places
Making purposeful, but quick eye contact is another very effective deterrent to a criminal. Here’s the reason… Most people purposely avoid eye contact in public places. They want to remain in their own little world, and by looking down or avoiding eye contact, they are convinced that they will remain in that cocoon. The reality is that they are entirely wrong.

Sure, that type of behavior may avoid unwanted conversation that otherwise might initiate from a stranger, but that’s about it… By occasionally scanning and making quick eye contact with others, tells any potential criminal that you are not afraid. ‘Quick’ eye contact simply means don’t stare. Staring will provoke a stranger.

Paranoia
Is this type of behavior simply a bunch of paranoia? Do you have to walk around being paranoid to avoid being in the wrong place at the wrong time? No, of course not. Granted, for some people, learning to do these simple things will feel uncomfortable at first – and they may feel as though they are being paranoid. However, after awhile, this will become part of you, just like being able to carry on a conversation with someone while driving a car. It’s no big deal…

Bolster some confidence while you’re out and about. It may unknowingly ward off a pick-pocket, purse-snatcher, or worse criminal, without you even knowing it happened!

If you enjoyed this, or topics of current events risk awareness or survival preparedness,
click here to check out our current homepage articles…

Survive Social Chaos

msb-note
This particular page no longer exists.
Visit Modern Survival Blog home-page for the latest articles.

Expect This in a Neighborhood Near You

This is going to happen more and more in even small towns and rural areas as the economy continues to sour, unemployment rises, and people, even some without prior criminal pasts, get more and more desperate. Expect this in a neighborhood near you.

From just the past few days and a simple Google search (I’m sure there’s lots more…),

Homeowner shoots, kills suspect in home invasion (Beaumont, TX)
…two men with handguns forced their way into his home and demanded money. The man said he struggled with the attackers and was able to get a gun. He fired at the men and struck one in the chest.

Burglary suspect picks the wrong home for break-in attempt (Warren, OR)
…homeowner opened fire when he was awakened by an intruder trying to get into his house. The intruder fled the scene.

Store clerk distracts armed robber long enough to pull gun and shoot (Cincinnati, OH)
…a man wearing a garbage bag walked in and demanded money. “I laid it on the counter and he demanded more,” “He said, ‘Now I want the rest,’ and he puts the gun up in my face.” Matthews said he held the money in his left hand and tried to distract the robber. “I knew his eyes would follow the money, and I said, ‘I have more hidden here,’ and when I reached down, I grabbed my pistol and started firing”

Elderly ND man hold intruder at bay with handgun (Jamestown, ND)
…man’s wife was awakened by a loud noise about 4 a. m. Wednesday and saw someone in the house. Her husband grabbed a handgun and held the intruder at bay until officers arrived.

Suspect Shot During Attempted Robbery Dies (Buffalo, NY)
…two men had originally approached the 71 year old victim, as he got out of his vehicle in his nearby driveway just after 12:30pm. They robbed the victim of an undisclosed amount of cash. However, the victim pulled out a gun, which he possesses legally, and a struggle ensued with the suspects. During the struggle, one shot was fired, and the two suspects fled on foot. The one suspect, who had been shot, collapsed…

Another burglar shot inside a home (St. Louis, MO)
…the property owner, who is 66, returned home and caught the man inside. he ordered the intruder not to move, but the intruder started coming toward him. In fear for his safety, the victim fired a shot at the suspect, striking him in the shoulder. The man died at a hospital.

Women took action against would-be assailants in separate incidents (Detroit, MI)
…a 70-year-old woman was inside her home on the city’s northwest side at about 12:50 p.m. when two men — one of them described as between 15 and 18 years old — tried to break in through her window. The woman was waiting for them, police said. “The victim … fired shots,” the suspects fled.”

…two hours after the thwarted break-in, a 40-year-old woman got into a gunfight with two men who tried to carjack her, according to police. Two armed men approached the driver and demanded she surrender her vehicle. At some point during the attempted carjacking, the suspects, one of whom was described as a 17-year-old boy, fired shots. “(The) victim … returned fire,” the police report said.

Citizens need to get involved in their own personal safety,
the police can’t be everywhere…

If you enjoyed this, or topics of current events risk awareness or survival preparedness,
click here to check out our current homepage articles…

Sneaky Ways They Can Take Our Guns

Guest Post: by ‘Be informed’

Message:

Here’s the scenario: There has just been a mass nationwide terrorist
attack in the United States, much like the one years ago in India but
considerably worse. Over 200 terrorists in 12 cities have massacred
over 2,500 people and injured over 10,000 at malls, religious
gatherings, open crowds, anywhere large numbers of people congregate.
The terrorists did not use any special weapons, all firearms were
purchased “legally”, though some of them were modified to function
automatically. Immediately there is an outcry from tens of millions,
afraid of this reoccurring, to ban the sale and ownership of
practically anything with a trigger.

Gun rights advocates within an instant begin all sorts of defenses to
the onslaught certain to follow from the government. A critical
election is rapidly approaching and many of those elected members of
congress and even governors that have been steadfast towards rights to
own firearms either become silent or flip-flop on what they actually
support. Fear of being voted out of office by enraged and scared
magnitudes of voters that are demanding gun control, they offer little
resistance to the new suffocating gun laws passed by the president.

The very basis of the right to bear arms is a constitutional challenge
that would “at first” lose any attempt to overturn. However the
government can restrict and severely limit what an individual can
actually possess without actually violating the constitution. Sweeping
measures are carried out and many people readily accept these
“compromises” as gun ownership still being allowed even with many
restrictions, all in the name of safety. Unaware these are the first
waves of regulations leading to an eventually effort to start a type
of European exclusion of firearms for the U.S.

First to be prohibited is ownership of anything that can be converted
into an automatic weapon. The reason given for this is that no one
needs a machine gun for self defense or hunting as machine guns are
already illegal to own.

Next in line are magazine sizes that are strictly limited to 7 rounds.
The reasoning is that no one needs more than 8 rounds, one in the
chamber and 7 in the clip, to take down anyone or go hunting with.
Federal regulations already in place for hunting waterfowl require
plugs to limit how much can be discharged at one time is reminded to
the public.

Registration for all firearms starts a yearly fee of “only” $10 for
each firearm, siting that law enforcement will be able to keep better
records and thus there will be less likelihood of it ending up in the
wrong hands. Failure of registration mean forfeiting all privileges of
future gun ownership for 5 years, a fine of $1000, and giving up all
your firearms to the police. The grace period for registration is
only 30 days.

On top of felons not being able to possess firearms, many misdemeanor
offenses are added to the list of those prohibited from firearms.
Those in possession of firearms that are not allowed to can face up to
20 years in federal prison.

Concealed firearms permits are allowed ONLY to law enforcement or
those in security positions such as those guarding armor trucks. “Our
government can better protect you when firearms are not hidden”, is
given in a speech by the president. Searches of “suspicious”
individuals begin in various spots around the country under the
pretext of national security.

While difficult to prove, the amount of ammunition that someone can
own at one time is limited. Transportation of firearms to hunt, go to
the shooting range, whatever, becomes a federal law that ammunition
and firearms must be kept separated at all times in any vehicle, no
loaded gun ever can be transported on any public road.

A new tax on ammunition and firearms purchases is passed in an effort
to limit anyone massing enormous amounts of firepower.

In a public relations effort to better reassure that the government
wants people to be able to protect themselves without the use of
firearms, the federal government overrides all state and local
regulations on NON LETHAL protection. Pepper sprays, stun guns, and
others, become legal everywhere.

On top of the idea of non-deadly force, new very confusing laws are
passed regarding firearms protection, even in one’s own home. The
scheme here is pure intimidation and to make the law of gun protection
as unclear as possible. This makes many people uneasy and uncertain on
self protection using a gun and becomes just not worth it to risk all
sorts of terrible legal entanglements.

There are only the first steps in a mapped out plan for the government
as the next phase begins…….

Don’t think this is possible? Paranoid delusions? Guess again! Most of
these restrictive FUTURE anti-gun laws are already bills or ideas in
congress and with the president, waiting patiently for the correct
time and right circumstances to implement. A mass firearms related
massacre or even a lesser event can be that catalyst for this. Why do
you think the NRA or other gun rights groups become so actively
involved in public outcry when even a rumor of something similar to
this going around the government?

In the United States people have firearms rights that are much more
giving than the recent past and must not take them for granted. The
rights to bear arms can be made very difficult to enjoy in a flash and
dissolved to almost nothing. People must consistently remind their
congressional representatives how important this is to them and they
risk much disapproval come election time for their lack of support.

For those that don’t care about gun rights need to understand that
when some of your rights, such as firearms rights, are taken away that
many other cherished rights that absolutely matter to everyone are
soon to follow and disappear. Americans still have much freedom that
others don’t have in many countries that must be appreciated and not
lost through unconcern and complacency, especially the right to defend
yourself and own firearms.

If you enjoyed this, or topics of current events risk awareness or survival preparedness,
check out our current homepage articles…

We’ve Been Hacked

msb-note

Apologies to those who have experienced a scary warning message while loading our site.
(No worries though- it has all been corrected, and you are safe)

This morning, Modern Survival Blog was directly hacked and redirected with malicious intent. I’ve worked on the issue during much of the day while researching the cause, on the phone with our web hosting provider, as well as appealing with Google (who had immediately proceeded to put up a frightful Alert warning message on Firefox and Chrome browsers while attempting to load our web site).

Apparently Google is aligned with Firefox (and of course, Chrome) such that even if a ‘hacker’ screws with your site – and you subsequently remove the hack, you immediately become blacklisted in Google. So, even though it is no fault of our own, and we are entirely legitimate, we are guilty until proven innocent, so to speak. In the mean time, our site gets a bad reputation form new Firefox and Chrome browser Users to our site, who don’t know us yet… and there’s nothing I can do about it. I’m at the complete mercy of Google in this regard. Wow… Scary stuff.

We have discovered the hack, removed it, found the root cause, removed it, have purchased a better security mechanism, and are now appealing with Google to get reinstated in their Index. Their reply reads that it can take up to 48 hours… surprising though – given that these things can be checked in an instant… we’ll see. It has been very frustrating to say the least.

This is the first time I’ve experienced a malicious hack directed at our site. It feels just like the time when someone broke into my vehicle. It’s up close and personal.

Update, 8PM PT, Google has lifted the warning and we’ve been cleared. I just wish I could get my hands on the hacker – who is no doubt presumably under surveillance as I write this.