Teach your children situational awareness!!!

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This was a terrible crime that took place in my town less than 2 mi from where I lived at the time. I'm not sure how much situational awareness would have changed this situation. These kids were not armed or trained and were outnumbered. A gun, however, would have been an invaluable tool.

The whole case is enough to just make you sick. It's sad that this stuff happens everywhere and nobody is immune to the risk. These were good kids who were tortured by a group of ignorant, sadistic animals. I wish so much that one would have been carrying.

On a lighter note, when interviewed after the trial of the first defendant, Gary Christian (victim's father) gave quite a speech on the right to CCW. He really put the interviewer on the spot, asking him if he carried and if not why? Of course the interviewer declined to comment on such a controversial issue :rolleyes:. Gary was very adamant about the need for every law abiding citizen to have the means to protect themselves.

I feel for the families. They are hard working people who didn't deserve this. Not that anyone does.
 
Terrible story.

I'm not sure how much situational awareness would have changed this situation. These kids were not armed or trained and were outnumbered. A gun, however, would have been an invaluable tool.
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Agreed.


The evil walk among us everyday and we never know when we will be visited by it.

I hope the families involved are able to rest one day.
 
This incident is a reminder for us and our loved ones to make a stand at the initial attack, regardless if armed or not.
Better to be shot in the parking lot and possibly live, then be subjected to the kind of horror that these kids went through before being killed anyway.
 
In the video, the boys father talked about hew his son was getting a kiss from his GF, before she drove off, while a grope of HoodRat/perverts walked up behind them and stuck a gun to the back of his head.

Even with the muzzle touching the back of your head, your better off fighting, than being removed from the original location. Get a knife in one of their guts and that's one less to rape your GF and you.
 
^^^ Either way, it's not like these kids knew what was to come. They thought they were being carjacked. Most people feel that if they cooperate the aggressors will go easy on them. I personally don't agree, but hey, it's how people think.

Also, what kind of life can one have if you are constantly "on guard" to a point where, at 21, you can't kiss your GF goodnight as you walk her to her car. I mean, you have to live a little. Not everything can be treated as a possible combat situation. Maybe later in life, but if you aren't taking a risk here and there at a young age, you are missing out on some of the finer points of life.

This was just one of those situations that one could mill over incessantly (and most of us in this community have), but it's all just speculation. Sure, there are factors that could have changed the situation. However, coming from someone who watched almost every minute of the trials on live TV, those factors would have been a gun or a compassionate witness. Otherwise, I doubt things would have turned out any different.
 
Very sad. It's too bad that we must teach young people about things like this, but I guess we must, because, I'm only 170 Miles from Knoxville, and I've never even heard of this case. (And I'm a news junkie).

Les
 
^^^ The reports were kept pretty much local. I believe this was due to the need to find unbiased non-local jurors.

Oddly enough, the ringleader (L. Davidson) demanded a local jury for one reason or another. Bad move, he was sentenced to death a few weeks ago.
 
It's a bad situation c919. Just like Gary Christian's statement on CCW, I would like for ppl to use this tragic story for something good. Those kids did have weapons, a vehicle, most likly a keyfhob with a panic button etc etc.

Anything else would be speculation, but I would venture to say that thinking about where you are parking beforehand, scanning the area and having a plan (run back to the apt, get in the car and drive off etc) or pepper spray, knife or gun, would be some things that us old geezers should talk to kids about.

To modify an old saying: It's not the HoodRat with your nome on it, that you should worry about, it's the ones addressed "to whom it may concern" that you should look out for.

I'm not saying that the victims were in condition white or that they were in anyway responsible for what happened to them. I'm saying, look what can happen. Teach your kids to be aware. 2:00 a.m in any town USA isn't the time to be in condition white.
 
Yes, I agree, horsesense. A quick visual scan of the area prior the smooch could have been the difference between life and death. People just get comfortable in their surroundings I guess. They had probably been there many a time at night with no bad consequences, but it only takes one time with bad consequences to end your life.

I hope I don't come off as arguing with you. That is not my intent. I just feel that, for the most part, this was one of things that is just a bad situation. It's a sign of the times, and it makes me sick that these are our times. All it took is a few bad people and whole lot of stupid to end the lives of a couple of innocent kids.
 
So sad. Watching that brought tears to my eyes. I don't know how those fathers kept from taking a gun to that trash.
MM60: I don't have the patience for all that. When its time to take out the trash, TAKE OUT THE TRASH:fire:
 
After this case broke open in the news, I know several folks who made the decision to get their HCP for the first time. I think it woke up a large portion of the Knoxville population. I was so sick. I certainly would rather had my brains on the parking lot while trying to fight than to go through the hell they went through for several days. Evil is not a myth.
 
I certainly would rather had my brains on the parking lot while trying to fight than to go through the hell they went through for several days.
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OldMac, I agree. I'd rather fight to the death on the front end. You just never know what someone's intentions are. What you may think is a simple robbery could turn out to be something as sick and disturbing as this case. I'd take a gunshot any day over what happened to those kids.

I don't know how those fathers kept from taking a gun to that trash.
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Interestingly enough, there was a report of Gary Christian trying to bail the killers out after they were caught. Gee, I wonder if he just wanted to talk.......
 
I lived about 5 miles from there when it happened, things like this are why I am glad I moved out of Knoxville, but then we have a couple of alleged cop killers here, one got off and the other is trying to claim double jeopardy from his first mistrial...
 
I feel for the parents. If that happened to my kids, there would be very little stopping me from handling judgement and punishment myself. "A time to kill" has been on recently. I would have done the same. The girl wasnt killed, but I think they got what they deserved. Most people say they would let the courts deal with it. But what would they say if it happened to one of their kids.
I have been teaching my kids self defence and weapons use. I am teaching them to shoot pistols, rifles, everything I have. I am also teaching them CQC hand to hand. How to avoid, spot threats, counter, avoid, and incapacitate if need be. I am also teaching them hand weapons, staffs, sai, battons, etc. I have told them that it is only to be used in defence, and only if necessary. They are coming along quite well. Next will be retreat and escape, awareness of their surroundings, etc.
Has anyone else done so? And what kind of training.
 
Something like this happened to my kid, I have nothing left to lose so that bastid better hope they don't let him into the open.
 
MM60: I don't have the patience for all that. When its time to take out the trash, TAKE OUT THE TRASH
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Robert DeNiro in Heat, anyone?

"Look at me. Look at ME!"
::Mozambique::

END SCENE
 
Teach your children situational awareness!!!
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Not to rain on your parade but fire service is trying to change it to situational understanding. You can be aware of your situation but if you do not understand it you cannot react properly.
 
We are surrounded by evil and that evil is just waiting for us to make a mistake. This is what I have taught my children from the time they were able to comprehend things. I have tried to prepare them so they might have a chance in bad situations. Both have martial arts training and are proficient in the use of firearms. I keep a revolver in the house where they can get to it if needed. They are young adults now but I keep reminding them to be alert and prepared. They think I'm paranoid and maybe I am. But, when you hear about the kind of evil that happened to that young couple, maybe I'm not.
 
Great site here

http://shilohtv.com/?p=1099#more-1099

from Steven L. Doran

"To keep your kids safe teaching them avoidance is number one. Be aware and run before someone can touch them. But if that does not work controlled aggression is next. Because we live in a politically correct society our kids are taught in school and elsewhere that fighting and being agressive is wrong and there is zero tolerance for this kind of behavior...When a predator is trying to take your child all of the rules go out the window. Your children should be fully aware of that, from the time they can comprehend it. Politeness does not count with a stranger and they are alone.
 
I wish I had taught my daughter situational awareness. She learned on her own though. Last year (I posted this in Tactics....) she was mugged at the Pentagon Mall in VA/DC while on her 7th grade field trip.

Now, she sizes people up and knows her surroundings. Sad way to learn, and she was just roughed up a little. And all of her belongings that were stolen were on loan to her from yours truly.

But, she learned the hard way.
 
...I have taught my sons since grade school...several things...some may be of use to others

...buddy system...stay together, whether on the playground or at school, safety in numbers...one goes to the bathroom at the movie or mall...another goes with them...

...I gave them cellphones early...at school, they keep them silent and don't get caught...

...as soon as they were ten, I gave them a legal pocketknife to carry, larger than a penknife, and taught them everything I have been taught through the years...(obviously, not at school)

...I taught them situational awareness and strangers vs. authorities...and how to keep space and objects between them and strangers...

...I taught them that, if something catastrophic happened at school, they were to leave by whatever means necessary and go to a nearby friend's house and call me on the way...NOT huddle like sheep in a classroom or hallway, waiting for whatever might happen...we've seen how much that helps...I'd rather have them break out a window and run for it...and the teachers who have "authority" over them have neither the mindset nor ability to keep them safe...as has also been often demonstrated by example....

...I taught them where and how to find and use the weapons in the home if someone came in...and where to go to be safe until police arrived...

...two of them, 20 and 22, are in Iraq together...
...one of them, 16 1/2, still at home and safe and healthy...thank God for all of them....

The one piece of advice for any parent...talk it out ahead of time...
 
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