How not to be a serial killer victim

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KY DAN

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The title is outlandish and I intended for it to be as such, the last few days this has been a constant thought due to podcast I have listened to centering around serial killerconfessions and unsolved murder cases.

The most notable in my opinion was BTK and the tactics he applied, his use of burglary and ambush are interesting. I know nothing is simple, one could surmise if the victim had simply patrolled the interior of the home BTK would have been found and another variable added to an already complex situation. Of course if one had this forethought, the would be victim would recognize the value having a firarm at the ready. To compare modern opinions on self defense to the time frame in which BTK operated is to compare an apple to a orange. No matter the era this action would still leave the victim with a armed and murderous predator at arms length away.

Let's take a moment and discuss behavior and tactics we can employe in our day to day lives to make our homes and families safer.
 
The only way to avoid a serial killer or any killer for that matter is peak situational awareness, carrying a handgun or having one next to you all the time, having a plan for defending in your home or office, taking care to always lock you car, having your gun easily reachable while in your car, and finally being ready to engage near instantaneously. Of all those situational awareness is the most important. Are you hyper aware of your environment? Can you maneuver through your house or office in the dark? Do you have a strobe effect in your light so when you turn it in you can deteriorate the perp’s vision? When you walk down the street do you check behind you and observe doorways, alleys, and between cars? Finally be fast, be accurate, and have the capacity needed for fight against a committed pro. Luck also helps.
 
1942bull said:
True. However the human eyes just sent to bright light quickly so the strobe effect’s rapid on—off cycle makes that adjustment harder while giving the defender a good sight picture.
Click to expand...

I have to disagree. I have done a lot of shooting with the range lit up by strobes on squad cars. I much prefer a regular light that's not strobing. I found that hitting a suspect in the eyes with a bright light gave me enough of an advantage to take whatever action I wanted to. I mostly worked at night and I always hit the rear view mirror with the spotlight as I prepared to approach the vehicle that reflected light into the drivers eyes left them looking through the "spot' the bright left in their field of vision.

My experience with strobes is that they were distracting to me.
 
BTK stalked his victims and developed a well thought out plan in which to commit his criminal acts. With the exception of his first kill, a family of two parents and two young children, all his victims were singular. He learned from his first killing when he realized he hadn't thought things through as well as he should have when he broke into their home and discovered the father was still home...he had two adults and two children to take control of, not an easy task for a single person.

He had a "hit kit" already made up for use, indicating great forethought. He stalked his victims to gather information on their habits. They all occurred in their own homes, apparently.

Here's the plain fact:

If you are being intelligently stalked with the sole intent of your murder on the stalker's mind, you are not likely to survive UNLESS the stalker trips some alert in your mind.

The stalker has the advantage of timing and planning on his side, as well as whatever his chosen means at the time may be. You cannot possibly be 100% alert 100% of the time and ready to employ deadly force at an instant's notice 100% of the time.

To look at this another way, place yourself in a mindgame where YOU would have to figure out how YOU would commit such an act. Most people here are highly intelligent and understand the value of OODA in self-defense. Because we think in ways to avoid confrontation, and ways in which to survive if confrontation is unavoidable, we KNOW what the weak points are. You know that planning is essential and the key to this is information on the victim so a successful plan can be developed.

Doing this should illustrate how scary serial killers can really be. These aren't "crimes of opportunity", because these killers MAKE their opportunity.

Your best defense is this: situational awareness. And I'd add to that a projection of awareness. In other words, if someone trips an alarm in your noggin, you straight up take notice of that person. People who have discovered that they've been noticed (made, identified, whatever) are likely to assess a higher risk level to their chosen target and may move on to someone else. Serial killers are planners...if things go wrong, they change the plan.

Also, if you've ever had anti-terrorism training, the tactics brought up to make yourself less of a victim of terrorism would likely work well here. Things like varying your schedule, varying your daily transportation route, being alert to unusual people/events/activities, reporting suspicious activities (in the personal arena, keeping people close to you informed at the least).

Making your home less of a soft target would help, as well. Whether that be lighting, keeping concealment means to a minimum outside, cameras, alarm systems, pet dog, or whatever else.
 
You all are aware that there are literally hundreds of serial killers operating at any given time in the USA, and very few likely to be on TV. Only the flashy, dramatically staged murders are national news. The chances of being targeted however are not far from the chance of being hit by lightening. If it makes you pucker, you made need to rethink everyday life....
 
Several people touched on this: situational awareness, AGREED! I might add in every circumstance regardless if you're taking out the garbage, walking the dog early or late or going to the grocery store, just to name a few.
 
How not to be a victim:
1. Carry a "decent"* gun everywhere; yes, even in a "good area" where your perceived threat level is near zero.


*decent = of the concealable handguns owned, that one would be preferred to defend life, regardless of where or when. (Less than 9mm fails that)
However, if a pocket 380 is the best you can do because of work attire that is understandable. God help those that can't carry at work, I been there.
If a pocket 380/38 snub is the most effort you are willing to expend for a quick trip to the store, you got room for improvement. ;)
Its okay if you disagree with me, I can't force you to be right. :neener:
 
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