Top Seven Things That Make People Feel Safe But Shouldn't

I have a lot of conversations with people who entrust their safety and well-being on the presence of certain things being by them. In my opinion, their comfort level is unreasonably justified. As such, in this post I will document the top seven things that make people unjustifiably feel safe and explain why they might want to rethink their position.

1. Daylight
Many people make the mistake of believing that they are safe because the sun is shining. Make no mistake about it, people get raped, robbed, and victimized during the day. For example, not too long ago a WWII veteran was beaten in broad daylight. The story was picked up and carried by the CNN News Network to the horrors of all who witnessed the victim being struck 22 times in his face by a carjacker.

2. Witnesses
Many people mistakenly believe that if they are in an area where others are located, a crime against them will not occur. Nothing could be further from the truth. Detroit is a town where you can't rely upon complete strangers coming to your aid. Just the other day, a woman was allegedly run off the road and abducted while witnesses were present. The witnesses did nothing to intervene of the victim's behalf.

3. Security Guards
It would be complete folly to assume that a security guard, especially one who is not armed, would be willing to come to your aid. They are not employed to serve as your bodyguard. Their job is to "observe and report." They are not law enforcement officers who have a duty to intervene if they witness a crime.

4. Your Drive-Way
Many people prematurely release a sigh of relief when they finally make it home from a full day of activities. In many cases, this sense of comfort was misguided, as many folks are being robbed in front of their very homes. The victims, in all likelihood, did not maintain their awareness level once they arrived home. All it takes is a second or two for an unaware victim to be robbed.

5. "No Guns Allowed" Signs
Just the other day, a local IHOP established a "no weapons" policy in their establishment. These signs do not make any place more safe. In fact, just the opposite occurs. Law-abiding citizens who legally carry firearms will not visit and criminals will now know that everyone in the location is not armed. Thus, it is now a perfect place to rob. Criminals, by definition, do not obey laws or signs. If you are wise, you will avoid places that are designated as Pistol-Free Zones.

6. Personal Protection Orders (PPO)
A PPO is a court order that specifies that a designated person is not to make contact with or come within a specified distance to another person. In short, it is just a piece of paper. If a deranged individual has made up his mind that he is going to hurt someone, he is not going to let a piece of paper stop him regardless of the consequences. The local newspapers routinely run stories in which several ex-boyfriends of victims - with active PPOs - have been charged with murder.

7. Video Cameras
A video camera is a device that records events. It is not personal protection device. As such, it is incapable of protecting anybody. However, it may provide evidence that a crime has occurred and it may identify the person who committed the crime. It would foolish to believe that a camera is not only going to deter a crime but is also going to protect anyone near it. Last summer, seven school kids where shot at a bus stop in Detroit. The entire incident was caught on video. The kids were still shot and harmed, as the camera did not nothing to protect them, as expected.

Detroit and its surrounding suburbs are not very safe these days. All citizens would be wise to do all they can to ensure that they and their families are safe at all times. Care must be made to not falsely rely upon any one thing to provide safety, especially where it is unwarranted. In this article, we have argued that the following do not assure your safety: sunlight, witnesses, security guards, your own driveway, pistol-free zones, and video cameras.