USA Carry
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Concealed Carry Maps
  • State Guides
    • A-E
      • Alabama
      • Alaska
      • American Samoa
      • Arizona
      • Arkansas
      • California
      • Colorado
      • Connecticut
      • Delaware
    • F-J
      • Florida
      • Georgia
      • Guam
      • Hawaii
      • Idaho
      • Illinois
      • Indiana
      • Iowa
    • K-M
      • Kansas
      • Kentucky
      • Louisiana
      • Maine
      • Maryland
      • Massachusetts
      • Michigan
      • Minnesota
      • Mississippi
      • Missouri
      • Montana
    • N-O
      • Nebraska
      • Nevada
      • New Hampshire
      • New Jersey
      • New Mexico
      • New York
      • North Carolina
      • North Dakota
      • Northern Marianas
      • Ohio
      • Oklahoma
      • Oregon
    • P-U
      • Pennsylvania
      • Puerto Rico
      • Rhode Island
      • South Carolina
      • South Dakota
      • Tennessee
      • Texas
      • Utah
    • V-Z
      • Vermont
      • Virgin Islands
      • Virginia
      • Washington
      • Washington D.C.
      • West Virginia
      • Wisconsin
      • Wyoming
  • Articles
    • Defensive Gun Uses
    • Concealed Carry
    • Gun Reviews
    • Gear Reviews
    • Training
    • Firearm Laws & Litigation
    • CCW For Women
    • General Firearm
    • Open Carry
    • Self-Defense
    • Survival
    • Home Defense
  • Forums
  • Podcast
  • Store
  • Deals
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Concealed Carry Maps
  • State Guides
    • A-E
      • Alabama
      • Alaska
      • American Samoa
      • Arizona
      • Arkansas
      • California
      • Colorado
      • Connecticut
      • Delaware
    • F-J
      • Florida
      • Georgia
      • Guam
      • Hawaii
      • Idaho
      • Illinois
      • Indiana
      • Iowa
    • K-M
      • Kansas
      • Kentucky
      • Louisiana
      • Maine
      • Maryland
      • Massachusetts
      • Michigan
      • Minnesota
      • Mississippi
      • Missouri
      • Montana
    • N-O
      • Nebraska
      • Nevada
      • New Hampshire
      • New Jersey
      • New Mexico
      • New York
      • North Carolina
      • North Dakota
      • Northern Marianas
      • Ohio
      • Oklahoma
      • Oregon
    • P-U
      • Pennsylvania
      • Puerto Rico
      • Rhode Island
      • South Carolina
      • South Dakota
      • Tennessee
      • Texas
      • Utah
    • V-Z
      • Vermont
      • Virgin Islands
      • Virginia
      • Washington
      • Washington D.C.
      • West Virginia
      • Wisconsin
      • Wyoming
  • Articles
    • Defensive Gun Uses
    • Concealed Carry
    • Gun Reviews
    • Gear Reviews
    • Training
    • Firearm Laws & Litigation
    • CCW For Women
    • General Firearm
    • Open Carry
    • Self-Defense
    • Survival
    • Home Defense
  • Forums
  • Podcast
  • Store
  • Deals
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
USA Carry
No Result
View All Result
  • DAILY GUNS & AMMO DEALS – CLICK HERE!
Home Articles

Dealing With A Violent Incident in Your Neighborhood

Michael Jenkins by Michael Jenkins
November 8, 2017 - Updated On May 8, 2018
in Articles, General Firearm, Self-Defense
Reading Time: 3 mins read
Dealing With A Violent Incident in Your Neighborhood
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Recently, a man was shot and killed in my neighborhood. I didn’t know him, nor do I know what lead to the incident. I can’t pass judgment or offer commentary, beyond extended my thoughts and prayers to his family. However, the whole thing got me thinking: what’s the best way to handle something like this? How do you respond in the wake of an act of violence in your neighborhood?

First and foremost: panic and spontaneous emotional reactions are off the agenda. There’s nothing to be gained from snap judgments or shooting from the hip. You must think with your brain, not with your feelings.

From there, I recommend taking a step back and putting the incident in context: What caused it? A crime of passion or a moment of anger between individuals necessitates a different response than a gang or drug-related crime. For the former, it’s important to remember that this particular act isn’t likely to repeat itself. Do what you can to help your neighbors through a tough time, and just accept that we live in a flawed world and sometimes trouble comes looking for us. Your emotional reactions can run the full gamut from shock to fear to indifference—and that is 100% OK. There’s no one way to handle something like this. Process your responses as best you can, put them somewhere, and move on with your life. Bad things happen; don’t let them run your life.

The latter case—violence stemming from drug sales, gang activity, or another persistent problem—is a bit more complicated. If this is the case, you will be facing a series of choices, some of which are difficult. Organizing a community watch, working closely with local police, and volunteering with at-risk youth to help keep them out of trouble can counter these problems. Likewise, setting your own house in order and upping your home security game is an important step. Once all that is underway, the only thing to do is keep working and see how things go. Did the situation improve? Great!

If things do not improve, you will have two choices. The first will be toughing it out and the second is relocating to a more desirable neighborhood. This is an awful choice and I can’t tell you what to do, or even if you’ll be able to move.

One point about gun ownership in a troubled neighborhood: keep your firearms discreet and secured. A home burglary that helps arm the bad guys is something we’d all like to avoid.

When violence intrudes into an otherwise peaceful neighborhood, the most common response is a blend of shock and fear which is understandable. But my strongest suggestion is to become proactive. Communities don’t’ often go downhill overnight. When they do, the cause is often in part our disconnection from each other. Building community, connecting with our neighbors and taking an active role in civic life used to be the mainstays of civilization. I’d like to suggest we bring them back and see if that doesn’t improve things at least a bit.

At the risk of sounding self-serving: a trip to the range or a round of skeet shooting can go a long way toward making new friends. So consider inviting your neighbors for your next round of range therapy—it might just make the world a better place.

Michael Jenkins

Michael Jenkins

Michael Jenkins is a writer and editor based in Wilmington, North Carolina. He is a lifelong reader, gardener, shooter, and musician. You can reach him at [email protected].

Next Post
Spare Magazine

Tips For Carrying A Spare Magazine

0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Connect with
Login
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
Notify of
Connect with
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
Please login to comment
4 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Previous Post

M&P Shield M2.0 Subcompact 9mm Review [FIRST LOOK]

Next Post

Tips For Carrying A Spare Magazine

Related Posts

Redmond Employee Shoots Alleged Car Thief in Self-Defense After Late-Night Confrontation
Defensive Gun Uses

Redmond Employee Shoots Alleged Car Thief in Self-Defense After Late-Night Confrontation

July 14, 2025
Concealed Carry Expanded: Wyoming Officially Ends Most Gun-Free Zones
Firearm Laws & Litigation

Concealed Carry Expanded: Wyoming Officially Ends Most Gun-Free Zones

July 14, 2025
Armed Camper Defends Himself After Intoxicated Man Aims Rifle During Dispute Over Driving While Drunk
Defensive Gun Uses

Armed Camper Defends Himself After Intoxicated Man Aims Rifle During Dispute Over Driving While Drunk

July 11, 2025
When Emotions Take Over: A Concealed Carrier’s Arrest Caught on Camera
Articles

When Emotions Take Over: A Concealed Carrier’s Arrest Caught on Camera

July 11, 2025

© 2025 USA Carry LLC

Navigate Site

  • State Guides
  • Maps
  • Articles
  • Forums
  • Podcast
  • Store
  • Deals
  • Giveaway
  • Advertise
  • Contact

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Concealed Carry Permit Reciprocity Maps
  • Concealed Carry Permit Guides By State
    • Alabama
    • Alaska
    • American Samoa
    • Arizona
    • Arkansas
    • California
    • Colorado
    • Connecticut
    • Delaware
    • Florida
    • Georgia
    • Guam
    • Hawaii
    • Idaho
    • Illinois
    • Indiana
    • Iowa
    • Kansas
    • Kentucky
    • Louisiana
    • Maine
    • Maryland
    • Massachusetts
    • Michigan
    • Minnesota
    • Mississippi
    • Missouri
    • Montana
    • Nebraska
    • Nevada
    • New Hampshire
    • New Jersey
    • New Mexico
    • New York
    • North Carolina
    • North Dakota
    • Northern Marianas
    • Ohio
    • Oklahoma
    • Oregon
    • Pennsylvania
    • Puerto Rico
    • Rhode Island
    • South Carolina
    • South Dakota
    • Tennessee
    • Texas
    • Utah
    • Vermont
    • Virgin Islands
    • Virginia
    • Washington
    • Washington D.C.
    • West Virginia
    • Wisconsin
    • Wyoming
  • Articles
    • Defensive Gun Uses
    • Concealed Carry
    • Gun Reviews
    • Gear Reviews
    • Training
    • Firearm Laws & Litigation
    • CCW For Women
    • General Firearm
    • Open Carry
    • Self-Defense
    • Survival
    • Home Defense
  • Forums
  • Podcast
  • Giveaway
  • Store
  • Daily Deals
  • Contact

© 2025 USA Carry LLC

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Concealed Carry Permit Reciprocity Maps
  • Concealed Carry Permit Guides By State
    • Alabama
    • Alaska
    • American Samoa
    • Arizona
    • Arkansas
    • California
    • Colorado
    • Connecticut
    • Delaware
    • Florida
    • Georgia
    • Guam
    • Hawaii
    • Idaho
    • Illinois
    • Indiana
    • Iowa
    • Kansas
    • Kentucky
    • Louisiana
    • Maine
    • Maryland
    • Massachusetts
    • Michigan
    • Minnesota
    • Mississippi
    • Missouri
    • Montana
    • Nebraska
    • Nevada
    • New Hampshire
    • New Jersey
    • New Mexico
    • New York
    • North Carolina
    • North Dakota
    • Northern Marianas
    • Ohio
    • Oklahoma
    • Oregon
    • Pennsylvania
    • Puerto Rico
    • Rhode Island
    • South Carolina
    • South Dakota
    • Tennessee
    • Texas
    • Utah
    • Vermont
    • Virgin Islands
    • Virginia
    • Washington
    • Washington D.C.
    • West Virginia
    • Wisconsin
    • Wyoming
  • Articles
    • Defensive Gun Uses
    • Concealed Carry
    • Gun Reviews
    • Gear Reviews
    • Training
    • Firearm Laws & Litigation
    • CCW For Women
    • General Firearm
    • Open Carry
    • Self-Defense
    • Survival
    • Home Defense
  • Forums
  • Podcast
  • Giveaway
  • Store
  • Daily Deals
  • Contact

© 2025 USA Carry LLC

wpDiscuz
4
0
Join the conversation, please comment.x
()
x
| Reply
You are going to send email to

Move Comment
Gun Deals
Gun.Deals