Self Defense- Crime Wave in Phoenix and Washington DC

Crime waves are hitting at least two of our nations biggest cities.
Citizens are in an absolute state of fear of "living" in their own
cities. They have to realize that police are doing everything they can
but cannot be everywhere all the time. Individuals have the right and
duty to defend themselves.

Recently on the Fox News Network, one of the stories was about a crime
wave in Washington DC. What's new you ask? Washington DC has a history
of crime waves. These statistics are particularly startling when you
consider that Washington DC has so many different levels of police. In
the first twelve days of July 14 people have been killed and in the last
30 days robberies are up 14% and armed assaults are up 18%.

The crime wave comes at the height of the tourist season in our nation's
capitol. This is the third such crime emergency in the last four years.
Tax paying, law abiding citizens are prohibited by city law from
carrying lethal weapons to defend themselves because of a thirty year
old ban on guns in Washington DC. Apparently only criminals can have
guns. Does this show how effective such bans are?

Then came a story of two thugs terrorizing the city of Phoenix. One is
called the "Baseline Rapist" because he hangs out in the southern part
of Phoenix near Baseline Rd. He started his spree in August of 2005. He
is believed to be responsible for 6 murders, and many robberies and
sexual assaults. The other "Serial Shooter" has at least 5 murders.
Sixteen of his victims have survived since he started his spree in May
2005.

Both killers have put the city in a state of terror. Citizens are
rightfully afraid to go out alone after dark. Fear and paranoia are
rampant.

Phoenix police are frustrated because after all this time and so many
victims they don't have a good description-so they are looking for two
people in a city of three plus million.

There is only so much the police can do and they are stretched thin as
it is. Citizens across the country would be well advised to start taking
more responsibility for their own self defense. They should investigate
carrying some form of non lethal self defense weapon such as a stun gun
or pepper spray. Personal alarms such as sirens and whistles act as a
good deterrent too

Self defense is called that because the responsibility for defending
yourself lies with the individual. Police do a wonderful job but cannot
be everywhere.