Apartment Shooting

[penguinofdoom]

I live in an apartment that isn't the ritz but it's not a bad neighborhood. We have decent neighbors, generally no trouble, no one's loud or bothersome...except the neighbor up one and over one who started a kitchen fire because she left the stove on and then went to the store but that's a story for the survival forum and why you should have a go bag prepped...

Anyway, I'm meandering. So I come home the other night and my husband says we need to move. Why? Because there was a shooting outside. Not outside down the block. No, a 9mm bullet was lodged into the car parked directly in front of the window my husband was sitting next to. WTF! Of course that was a wake up call. My work a few months ago implemented a gun ban, no guns in the building or in the parking lot. That new law that tells the employer to shove it when it comes to personal vehicles just went into effect but I haven't been carrying before that. So of course now I'm completely and utterly paranoid while we find a new place to live.....

[Bob Mayne]

A good reminder of how things hit close to home (no pun intended.)  Yes, carry everywhere you can, in the parking lot and at home.  Carry a gun at home...what?....what kind if nut does that?  (That's what I've been told before.)

[Dale]

This nut does.

[Bob Mayne]

Remember, if you subscribe to the theory that you will never go anywhere that may require to you to "have a gun" then you'll never go home!

[EmptyMags]

It always puts things into perspective when something like this hits so close to home. On one hand eye-openers are good. You are more aware. Maybe take some extra steps in precaution that you might not have.

On the other hand, and please don't take offense - moving because of it is drastic. Shootings (intended or negligent) can happen anywhere, no matter how "bad" or "nice" the neighborhood is.

I used to live in a so-so part of town when it came to the violent crime levels near-by. Every once in a while you would hear gunfire. Or the police helicopter would be up nearby with the spot lamp on looking for someone for whatever.

I then later moved to a "NICE" part of town. Guess what? All the same crap going on. Even in my gated and "secured" community I lived in.

The best you can do, is be aware - and carry to protect.

[penguinofdoom]

We were already thinking about trying to find a house anyway so this was just a push for my husband to do something I already wanted. I'm not going to argue with the conclusion he came to in this case.     

[jerneedog]

Bad things can happen anywhere.
Good luck in your relocation.

My Wife used to ask me, "Why do you carry in the backyard when you let the dog out?".
I kept telling her that bad things can happen anywhere and at anytime and I want to be as prepared as I can be.
I guess she understood why and hasn't asked me anymore.
I carry everywhere I can.

[NS2]

We were already thinking about trying to find a house anyway so this was just a push for my husband to do something I already wanted. I'm not going to argue with the conclusion he came to in this case.     

A means to a positive outcome!  Good luck with your move. 

[Bob Mayne]

Any update on this penguin?  By the way, thanks for the gift you sent me, just got it last Friday.  Much appreciated.

[Chuck Boylan]

I can't see anything wrong with carrying in the back yard to let the dog out. She's never complained to me about that. There are only two occasions I don't carry: in the shower and in the bed.

[BikerRN]

One thing I've come to realize over the years is that there is no place that is 100% "safe".

The best one can do is be prepared for the possibilities that can happen and go about thier daily life. I too wear a gun to "let the dogs out" or take the trash to the curb. If you move because of this incident it may not be a good idea. First, you and your's weren't harmed, just shooken up. Second, if you move you may end up in a place that is no better than where you are now. Third, if everyone flees then the criminal element has won. Fleeing doesn't work, in my opinion. Look at what happened back in the fifties and sixties with "white flight" and the conditions of many of our cities today.

With that said there may come a time when one has not the desire to continue the good fight and relocation to what they perceive as a safer place becomes a necessity. That is understandable as one reaches the twilight of thier years or trying to ensure the safety of thier offspring.

Biker

[haskovez]

One thing I've come to realize over the years is that there is no place that is 100% "safe".

The best one can do is be prepared for the possibilities that can happen and go about thier daily life. I too wear a gun to "let the dogs out" or take the trash to the curb. If you move because of this incident it may not be a good idea. First, you and your's weren't harmed, just shooken up. Second, if you move you may end up in a place that is no better than where you are now. Third, if everyone flees then the criminal element has won. Fleeing doesn't work, in my opinion. Look at what happened back in the fifties and sixties with "white flight" and the conditions of many of our cities today.

With that said there may come a time when one has not the desire to continue the good fight and relocation to what they perceive as a safer place becomes a necessity. That is understandable as one reaches the twilight of thier years or trying to ensure the safety of thier offspring.

Biker

I am not sure I agree with you here.  I agree that no place is 100% safe but at the end of the day it is all about probabilities.  I could live in southwest Dallas but the likely hood of me being attacked by a criminal is much higher than here in East Dallas.  We still have crime here, but isn't it better to position yourself in an area that you are less likely to have issues and prepare for issues occurring as well.  It is sort of like covering all your bases.  Especially that given in this case they are renters so there is very little cost in moving vs staying.  I think if you own your home that changes the calculation to some degree as the exit costs are much higher.  If you want to stay and turn around a neighborhood I say good on you, and you are probably a good neighbor, but at the same time if someone doesn't want to take the risk, I say go where you feel safer, but be prepared there too as criminals can go anywhere as well.

Personally I ended up buying a house in a neighborhood that is turning around.  So it isn't perfect here, but it has come a long way compared to when I looked over here 10 years ago.  It was the best for me as far as bang for the buck.  Some other people would prefer to flee to the northern suburbs to feel safer and just deal with a commute and I think that is a valid option as well, but I would prefer to live in the city.

[jmstevens2]

In my experience, people doing a home invasion for profit will tend to target the "safer and nicer" areas. They tend to have better stuff to steal. Also if they are they type to be angry because you have what they don't, they might take out their aggression on you, like rape, assault, shoot you, etc.

[haskovez]

In my experience, people doing a home invasion for profit will tend to target the "safer and nicer" areas. They tend to have better stuff to steal. Also if they are they type to be angry because you have what they don't, they might take out their aggression on you, like rape, assault, shoot you, etc.

From what I have seen in Dallas there aren't a lot of hot home invasions here (probably given the high rate of people with guns).  Generally when you read about a home invasion here it is someone trying to steal someone else's drugs which doesn't happen a lot in the nicer neighborhoods.  As far as burgleries goes I agree the rate in the suburbs tends to be somewhat higher from what I have seen for the reasons that you mention, and it happens some in the part of the city where I live, but it isn't super common either.  The most common thing around east Dallas is getting cars broken into.  I think someone doing home invasions for profit knows there is no profit in being shot so they are going to case a place and make sure it is empty before they go in.

[jmstevens2]

Unless they are a crack head.

[Bob Mayne]

True, haskovez, seems like San Antonio is the same.  Not many home invasions, but car thefts.  But I'm not taking chances.  If they can break into my car, they may try my home.  If I'm in my home when they try, they will meet the business end of a Glock.