In the area where I live there have been reported cases of women being attacked in parking lots after dark.
Regardless of a woman's earned independence, it is a fact that women are targeted by vicious rapists, and that most often after the sun has gone down and before it rises again.
It is my personal opinion that every woman should protect herself as best as possible by doing some of the following things if she is going to be away from the safety of her home after dark.
1. Parking Your Car: Park as close to the doors of the Building you are interring, or coming from.
2. Mobile Phone: Never speak on your mobile phone while outside your car for any reason as it distracts you, lowers your guard against a potential attacker.
3. Locked Doors: When parking, remain in your locked car long enough to fully survey the surrounding area. Pay close attention to any men walking or standing nearby. Do not leave your parked car if you have any suspicion of any kind. You should never unlock your doors or roll down your window to speak to a stranger. Do not feel self-conscience or rude by not giving out directions or answering a strangers questions, as that is a prime method to make you feel guilty in order to gain control over you.
4. Security Officer: Always obtain the services of a Security Officer when returning to your parked car at night. Don't feel embarrassed, they need the work.
5. Sitting In Your Car: Once you are back in your car: (a) - lock your doors. (b) - Place your mobile phone where you can easily reach it should an emergency occur and you need to call 911 (or any emergency number in your area).
6. Restrooms: Restrooms are a very dangerous place for a woman any hour of the day or night. One of the worlds most vicious serial killers, Ted Bundy, from the Pacific Northwest, USA, removed more than 30 women from restrooms to rape and murder!
There is a natural, false security about entering a public restroom. I always encourage my wife and my daughter's with the following: "If you happen to find yourself all alone when entering a women's room, open the door and ask if anyone is there, if a woman does not answer, remain outside the door and wait for another woman to come by before going in, and leave with that same woman if possible."
I have been laughed at because of my views. Many women say my ideas are just not practical. On the other hand, if you had to sit in my office and look into the eyes of a woman who was brutally raped and listen to how her entire life, family and dreams have turned to nightmarish failures, you would not think my views quite so foolish after all.
7. Self Protection: There are various ways that can help protect you.
(a) - You can take Classes on personal safety such as kick boxing, for example, in order to defend yourself against someone coming up from behind and grabbing you.
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(b) - Pepper spray (attached to your key chain) is very easy to find in any Sporting Good Store and can be effective when an attacker is facing you within a few feet from where you are standing.
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(c) - A whistle can be obtained at any Sporting Goods Store and also attached to your key chain. Blowing hard into a whistle will create a loud and uncomfortable sound that will cause people within any large Parking Lot to stop what they are doing and look to where the sound is coming from. As discussed earlier, the last thing a rapist wants is to be noticed by other people. Such a defensive act, will cause a potential attacker to turn and quickly move in the opposite direction allowing a woman to reach safety. A woman is within her legal rights to blow into a whistle any time and any place she feels uncomfortable in respect to her personal safety.
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(d) - Next point is very a very sensitive topic to many people. I personally believe that every person should follow their conscience when it comes to what they are willing to do in order to feel safe. A large number of women have chosen to carry an actual weapon of self defense such as a pistol.
This is a very serious decision and takes a great deal of thought and personal education. Any lethal weapon is required to be legally registered with the Local Authorities, as well as the person who carries it. Some States and Countries refuse to issue a personal license to own or to carry any kind of lethal weapon. Whatever you decide to do, follow the laws and requirements set before you by the Local Authorities. If you have any unanswered questions, ask your husband, father, Police Officer, Pastor or Biblical Counselor for answers.
If you have decided to carry a self defense weapon that has been legally approved, be sure to attend safety and protection Courses as soon as possible. It is a serious thing to carry a weapon, and you must be properly prepared on how to use the weapon or you would be potentially in greater danger without it.
Finally, do not make a foolish mistake that once you have chosen any of the above (a) - (d) ideas, you are then protected from all possible attacks. Nothing could be further from the truth! Every rapist has their own scenario. No person, especially myself, could provide all the safety information you may ever need in your lifetime to be 100% safe. The information on the first two pages and my personal thoughts have been provided to you in order to cause you to carefully reflect just how much your personal safety is worth to you, and hopefully, help you make a commitment to remain as safe as possible for yourself and all those who love you.
I pray that your life is always blessed with GOD'S 'JOY'.
Dr.
Mark Fielding |
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