"Move to a Better Neighborhood"

Told by whom? It's pretty rare for anyone to tell a Central American that they should not move to a different area, (assuming, of course, that they do it legally).

 

Not when the homeless far outnumber the legal residents.

 

We live on an upscale development outside the Lawton, OK city limits. Over the past 21 years Lawton crime has slowly crept our way. We see hoodlums casing the area from vehicles and on foot. Anything of value left outside is quickly stolen. Cars are being broken into: Two residents have had their carry guns stolen from cars. A couple utility trailers and a camping trailer were stolen.

Sooner or later burglaries and home invasions will begin.

 

Wealthy, good neighborhoods can have parents that raised rotten punk-thugs kids.

 

Are you an attorney? It's Texas. Castle doctrine. Everyone outside city limits has a gun and a dog, usually several, and is ready to put either one to use on a home invader.

 

From what I've observed, any neighborhood no matter how upscale is only one power outage, fire, or natural disaster away from becoming a playground for looters. Some locals give home owners some rights to defend themselves but some do not.

 

In the immortal words of Gomer Pyle: "well, surprise, surprise, surprise!"

 

So far, so good.

Next we shall see whether he goes to prison and if so for how long.

 

There is the problem. Political hacks who shill for long prison sentences are often the first to complain about costs of prosecution and incarceration. Most criminals are never tried in court, prosecutors very often propose plea bargains. "Bargain" is right, the criminal always gets a bargain. Here in Oklahoma criminals very often get around the 85 percent rule for certain violent crimes by plea bargaining to a lesser charge.

Additionally, prosecutors and judges have gotten very innovative in sentencing. There was a case in Lawton where folks were injured during a home invasion. The judge sentenced the career criminal to "20 years". Yep, ten years suspended, five years probation and five years to serve. The scumbag will be released in 2-3 years.

 

Many of the crimes in my area are committed by people from out of town. People from Jacksonville, WPB, Miami and smaller cities like Ft Pierce cruise up and down I95 committing crimes. It was mainly store robberies but home and car burglaries are common now too

 

My county has zero gang activity. At least that's what the Sheriff's dept says to make the rich people beachside happy

 

In our area the actively private patrolled, gated community has the better crime stats because it isn't accessible to outsiders. Those homes are in the $1.5M+ range. For the rest of the residents in the city the crime stats are middle of the road. Plenty of the usual car and auto thefts. Assaults including sexual. Home invasions are lower fortunately. Homicides and crimes of that level are lower. The city is surrounded by neighboring cities of less than stellar reputation so those types do come into the area because of the availability of nicer pickings. Gang activity is monitored so they remain in specific locations of the city around retail areas in the later hours. Petty crime would be the bulk of calls.

 

No opinion on whether or not it's insulting advice, but I don't think it's helpful advice. There are a lot of reasons moving may not be possible, and any idiot can look at crime rates in their neighborhood and larger area and realize moving is the best solution.

However, aging parental care can cause a person to stay put. I have very selective skills that typically require me to live in smaller towns in a lot of cases. Small town have issues of their own, but right now for me, moving isn't really an option. Low income folks may be trapped by debt and unable to save to move.

I think the bottom line is that where ever you live, good or bad, harden your home and make easy money a little harder.

 

it can be very hard to move. at the very least you have to have first and last months rent, security deposit and all the money to get yur electric and other stuff turned on. so you are looking at 2 k in cash easily. lots of folks don't have that kind of money.

I grew up poor and lived poor up until my 40,s.i scrimped and saved and built everything I own from scratch. the key is doing everything yourself and not paying anybody to do anything.

if id of had to move in those broke years. it would of been down in a van by the river..

 

Well, you should have "just gotten a better job!"

I've actually seen that sanctimonious bit of "advice " given as well.

 

You never know who is watching. The roof guy? The pool guy? The internet guy? The delivery guy? Et cetera and so on and so forth and those could all be girls, as well.

I think that a lot of home invasions are people invading other people's spaces on purpose for reasons of dope deals gone awry. There is a community nearby my town that is probably first in reported crimes with another nearby community coming in at a close second. Constantly. There is reason behind it; no doubt.

My neighborhood seems to suffer some car smash and runs every now and then but who in their right mind would leave their car unlocked and/or with a gun in it. I'm not kidding. They usually catch them. Usually teenagers. Everybody has cameras. Like Britain. Yugo Boris.

People generally live in the neighborhood that they can afford, for one reason or another. It would be an insult to tell someone that they should move to a better neighborhood. They probably already know that they should if they could so it is pretty moot. Eh?

 

That's not always the case; I have known folks who stayed in one area or another because they didn't want to move and maybe have to drive a little further to work. As someone who chose where I lived over the course of 40 years (and moving a lot in the construction management field), sometimes I gave myself a 45 minute commute so my family would be in a safer area or one less crowded or more family oriented. You have to do what works for you, but sometimes a little sacrifice in one part of your life is necessary for a better way in another part.

 

I understand the OP... but...

I try not to get insulted by stuff I read on the internet.

 

Moving a similar discussions about the 2A for those of us in CA that want to enjoy the shooting sports with far less restrictions. There is a myriad of reasons why "move to ____" while simplistic is difficult. Weather, work, family, etc, are big factors along with crime and quality of life. Those with medical needs is yet another high consideration.

I've been pondering a re-location the last 10 years and I'm at a wash in one for another. I may cut expenses in one area but spend in another. Weather for those of us accustomed to being in So. Cal coastal areas are not as easily matched in northern climates nor in southern areas of the country. I have a buddy that left Seal Beach to try different areas of the country and he's moving at 3-4 year increments. CA is not friendly to his business either so that was a motivator for his move.