By now, it is no surprise that a political movement has swept the nation that seeks to scrutinize and limit the ability of law enforcement to fight crime. Unfortunately, many events have happened that, indeed, call into question the actions of police officers. There have been numerous high-profile incidents in which police officers have used excessive force or, in some cases, failed to act when they clearly should have. The problem, however, is that rather than focus on funding the necessary training requirements for police to do things better, the political movement that is in sway seeks to dismantle the law enforcement apparatus. The many good officers on the force are now often afraid to act at all as they will be thrown under the bus if things become a media show.
Simultaneously, politically motivated prosecutors and judges are turning violent offenders right back on the streets in large urban areas. There are many reasons for this, but the politics involved have no use for practicality or safety of the community. Therefore, the perfect storm of police scrutinization and political activism taking over the judicial system has led to the greatest uptick in violent crime in thirty years. The vast majority of violent crime is committed by repeat offenders, so when violent criminal actors are not taken off the streets by hesitant police officers or when they are simply let back out in the revolving door of activist criminal justice, we end up with a significant crime surge, as has been demonstrated.
No matter your political persuasion on the issue, unless you are a fool, the fact that violent crime has risen significantly in the past two years should concern you. As a concealed carrier, how does this new reality influence your daily life and your choices? If it does not already have an impact on your life, it should. The landscape of self-defense has changed in the past several years. Not only is crime more prolific in almost all locations, but a political apparatus is in charge of the judicial system, not ironically, in the locations where crime is most rampant.
A prosecutor who lets violent offenders back out onto the street within the same day will certainly throw the book at a self-defender, no matter how clearly justified the actions taken. In the locations most rife with crime, the armed citizen certainly faces a system that literally protects criminals but prosecutes those who refuse to be victimized. While it would be nice to keep politics out of it, the simple fact is that the same vicinities that most heavily limit their police officers’ ability to do their jobs also protect criminals from seeing jail time. As is also no surprise, these wonderful places also leverage the most infringements on the citizen’s ability to be armed and able to defend one’s self. While it is simple to say, “just don’t go to such places,” reality holds that many are stuck living or working in such urban locations.
The sad fact is that the war on police has led directly to increased crime because criminals are emboldened. The particulars of the criminal activity might differ from one place to another, but across the nation, there is an increase in crime.
Understand The Nature of Crime in Your Vicinity
Start preparing for this new reality by studying the nature of crime in the areas where you live and work. What has the criminal landscape been, and how has it changed in the past several years? In suburban areas, the most noticeable trend may be increased property crimes of vandalism and theft. In urban areas, there is likely a significant uptick in violent crimes such as armed robbery, carjacking, and murder. Knowing the trends should guide your overall preparation. If you live or work within a vicinity prone to demonstrations, that should also guide your planning. If you live in an area with flash mobs of violent young people materializing and ransacking businesses, you should know this trend.
While your preparedness should be resilient in that it takes into account the outlier events, knowing the criminal activity of your environment should serve as a foremost guide. An epidemic of property crimes should, perhaps, lead you to harden your dwelling with cameras and alarms. Likewise, a carjacking epidemic should lead you to evaluate your daily routine and vehicle defense plan. An increase in violent robbery should lead you to analyze your daily habits and defensive skills.
Preparation for the New Normal
The degradation of policing in this nation should lead us to approach our own safety differently, and the first priority should be avoidance. Violence is more rampant than in years past, and it is more widespread. Therefore, there are ever more places and events that, realistically, should just be avoided. Being downtown at a nightclub after midnight in any given city was probably always a bad idea, but the crime spike of the past two years makes it an even worse decision now. Certain streets that have always been dangerous are even worse now. Simply avoid places that are not necessary to visit. And, as always, wherever you find yourself, be aware of your surroundings so that you spot a threat before it closes distance and victimizes you. No matter how safe or dangerous an environment appears, awareness is always paramount.
Another legitimate consideration in this era of emboldened criminals and limited police response is what defensive tools you are carrying. While a five-shot revolver or small pocket auto will likely still serve most needs for any civilian self-defender who is not out looking for trouble, in our contemporary time of multiple attackers during an armed robbery, civil unrest, and flash mobs, carrying a real fighting pistol is likely wise, along with less-lethal tools. Avoid trouble at all costs, but be prepared if it seeks you out despite your best efforts. Part of that preparation is carrying the necessary defensive tools.
We live in a sad time in which law and order is giving way to spreading chaos and violence, and the armed and prepared citizen should take heed and act accordingly.
