I have a story that will probably top all of them in this article. I was walking with a security guard/friend of mine late one night at one of the local theaters. He has to check around back periodically to run off the kids that are hanging out back there. He's not trying to be an idiot, it's just that it's not safe for them to be back there after dark. One time (out of many it seems) we walked up unnoticed behind a young teenaged girl who was yakking on her cell phone. She was behind the theater by herself, sitting on the curb beside a dumpster...in the dark. There was no one else around. My friend told her to move up front, and she looked at him like he'd grown a second head (and then she moved). People, especially kids, just don't get it sometimes.

While this all sounds great in a perfect world where criminals dont kill you, Your best DEFENSE Is a .357 SIG. NOT running away. Be aware of whats going on, even in daylight, enjoy your shopping but carry a nice new GLOCK. There is a good reason women are packing into CHL classes and a nice GLOCK afterward. It's simply called refuse to be a victim.

I stopped carrying a purse 10 years ago, it's just a bullseye for thieves. I also have had my older kids look at the Registered Sex offender Database including around their schools so they are realistic about safety issues. I did feel some guy was creeping around me yesterday at Walmart, he kept popping up right next to me in the kids party aisles and then in certain kids toy aisles when I was purposely trying to get some space. I live in a nice neighborhood but you never know. I've been around long enough to have seen plenty of crimes happen in real life.