| In the early 1970's I was a teenager and I remember, | | | | but they were awkward to carry and not always |
| not so much the deep recession the U.S. had fallen | | | | effective. The fact is, you had to be skilled to use one |
| into, but the way life seemed to change all of a sudden | | | | effectively and there were precious few alternatives |
| when the broader effects of that downturn | | | | for personal security available in those days. |
| descended onto my quiet suburban town. | | | | Now, as we come off of the economic boom that we |
| When I was a boy in the 1960s we lived in a peaceful | | | | have enjoyed for most of the previous decade, it |
| suburb north of Seattle. It was common then to leave | | | | seems we are about to repeat history, the 1970's are |
| the keys in the ignition of the family car and the | | | | coming back around, but this time a bigger, meaner |
| neighbors didn't bother to lock their doors. Looking back | | | | version. We may not be able to halt that process but |
| now it seemed an idyllic life, an age of innocence. | | | | we can prepare, and plan not to be victims of the |
| In the 70's that all changed. Our car was stolen and | | | | inevitable crime wave that is sure to follow the |
| we woke up to strangers in the house on more than | | | | massive unemployment that we see increasing with |
| one occasion. Drugs made an appearance in my | | | | each passing month. |
| neighborhood with the crime that most often | | | | There are myriad tools for self defense available to |
| accompanied it. Often I was cornered on the way to | | | | the average person, such as pepper spray, high power |
| school by hooligans or petty criminals who thought | | | | mini stun guns, personal security alarms, etc... Whether |
| nothing of beating me up and taking what money I had, | | | | you buy self defense products over the internet or |
| or just beating me up to vent their anger at the | | | | from a local brick and mortar dealer, or decide to |
| unfairness of life. The world had changed and no one I | | | | study hand to hand combat, do something, have a plan, |
| knew then seemed to be prepared to cope with it. | | | | and don't be a victim. Every criminal stopped is one |
| Least of all me... | | | | less embolden to act again, and one that failed to |
| The local community center in my town offered | | | | make you their victim. |
| Karate classes, but by the time I had convinced my | | | | Often times the only thing required to escape an |
| dad it was a good idea that I learned to defend myself, | | | | attack is a plan. Violence doesn't often give you a |
| the classes were booked to capacity and seemed to | | | | warning before it visits. Develop a plan; you never |
| stay that way. I never did make it in. It had suddenly | | | | know when you may need it, and you never know; it |
| become a very popular activity. Outside of that the | | | | could save your life. |
| best form of self defense back then was a billy-club, | | | | |