People are being killed all over the world every day, or so it seems.
The recent carnage in Paris, France, is a case in point. Around 20 people died in the senseless killing of innocent people by terrorists. And then, there was the story of the little girl who was wrapped in explosives in order to become a human bomb and blow people up.
There are people today who are afraid to travel because of the things occurring at places and times they are unprepared for.
As I was entering Bella Vista the other day, I noticed a sign on a billboard that said, "Owning a Life Vest is Not the Same as Wearing One." How true. Likewise, owning a gun is not the same as knowing how to both use it and keep it safe. Owning a gun and keeping it locked up may cause a person to feel more secure, but it certainly doesn't help in an emergency.
But, on the other hand, having a loaded gun in a home without taking the proper precautions is almost an invitation to have someone use it -- perhaps a child or a visitor. I would make the undocumented assumption that most of the people in our country know very little about firearms and even less about how to use them in an emergency.
Most people know about firearms from watching the media, but let me assure you there is a huge difference between knowing something from the media and actually knowing about it in real life.
A friend of mine went to the gun range recently to learn how to shoot a handgun. After firing off a few rounds of ammunition, my friend stated excitedly, "That's really loud, and the gun is heavy and jerks around in my hand."
My friend has never fired a gun since. It just was not like the people on television and in the movies who can shoot fast and furious, and hit the target (usually a person) every time without any adverse reaction to the firearm being used.
So, what's a person to do these days in order to remain safe?
Since gunfire deaths against cops were up 56 percent in 2014, Sgt. Glenn French has recently authored seven guidelines to police officers to help keep them safe. French is a sergeant with the Sterling Heights Police Department in Michigan, and has 22 years of police experience. He currently is a sniper team leader, REACT team leader and explosive breacher. He has 14 years with the SWAT team.
It's my feeling that the seven guidelines he offers to police officers also may also be useful for the rest of us as well. I've modified them to fit the public.
1. BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS -- No matter what you are doing or whom you're talking with, be aware of what is going on around you.
2. DON'T BE A SITTING TARGET -- Obviously, this refers more to police officers sitting in their cars, but it also suggests that all of us should make sure we are sitting in a safe environment.
3. BE ALERT WHEN TAKING A BREAK -- Sometimes the worst things happen when we are relaxing the most, such as taking a coffee break.
4. HAVE A PLAN FOR ACTION -- Some time ago, someone entered a theater in Colorado and shot a lot of people. I made a plan for my family if something like that ever happened when they were in the theater.
5. READ THE PUBLIC -- The security people protecting others are known for their ability to spot a problem quickly by just reading what the people are thinking and perhaps planning on doing.
6. NEVER HESITATE -- If you find yourself in a dangerous situation, don't think about it; ACT! Yelling, hollering, throwing something, etc. has an immediate reaction. You don't have to be passive. You can even run.
7. USE THE PROPER FORCE -- There are many self-defense courses offered these days, but it is important to know when and where to use the proper force. It could be a kick, the use of pepper spray or even deadly force; but make sure you don't over react by kicking a defenseless senior or shooting an unarmed individual.
Yes, if you are in trouble, immediately call 911, and your police officers will come as quickly as they can, but in the meantime learn how to take care of yourself. Remember that someone loves you and wants you to be safe.
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Box is the chaplain for the Bella Vista Police and Fire departments. The opinions expressed in this column don't necessarily reflect the views of the newspaper.
Editorial on 01/21/2015