Blog 4

      

Preventing Assault

             Almost every time I turn on the news I see a story about a woman getting raped, abducted, or murdered.  Women are easy prey for predators because they can easily be overpowered by men.  I spent many of my years traveling alone as part of my employment.  I was fortunate to have worked with  women who shared their tips on traveling alone and staying safe.  Perhaps the safest advice I could give is to get your concealed hand guns license, take shooting lessons, and procure a handgun.  In Texas it is simple to get a concealed hand gun license and usually only takes a few hours of your time.  The costs is minimal and well worth the added security.  Another good tip I learned was to never stay in a hotel that has an outdoor entry to your room.  This prevents predators from seeing what room you are staying in from the outside of the hotel, and/or gaining access to your room.  I also believe that is important to always be aware of your surroundings.  Stay aware from poorly lit areas, and try not to walk to your car alone at night.  When walking alone, I would carry my can of pepper spray in one hand and my car keys in the other hand so I could quickly get entry into my car.  I would also check my car before I got into it to make sure no one could be hiding in my car.  I would quickly lock the car door as soon as I could get the door shut.
         Another thing a woman can do is take a self-defense course.  I am not fortunate enough to have any of these offered in my area, but they are fairly easy to find in bigger cities.  I fortunately live in a town where crime is minimal, and not aware of any assaults on any women in the last 20 years.  Living in a safe town is also important in preventing assaults.