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Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!floyd!clyde!ihnp4!inuxc!pur-ee!uiucdcs!uicsl!preece
From: preece@uicsl.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.flame
Subject: Re: why wouldn't criminals use their gun - (nf)
Message-ID: <3134@uiucdcs.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 5-Oct-83 22:57:10 EDT
Article-I.D.: uiucdcs.3134
Posted: Wed Oct  5 22:57:10 1983
Date-Received: Sun, 9-Oct-83 17:17:57 EDT
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#R:ccieng5:-15700:uicsl:4300092:000:2608
uicsl!preece    Oct  5 09:48:00 1983

About the only thing I can suggest to Laura, or her grandmother, is
to work for change in the nature of Toronto. It may just be that you
have to write off certain parts of the city at certain hours,
especially if you insist on walking or public transit. What you do
is pressure your government and your fellow citizens to change those
areas and the way they are policed. The best way to make a part of a city
safer is to get more people onto the streets. This means lighting and
reasons for being there (shopping, theater, whatever).

I don't know about Laura's grandmother, but I can't see mine getting
a gun out of her purse and aiming it in a short enough time to do any
good, so I don't think a gun would help her much. It also adds the
risk of turning a tireiron mugger into a handgun mugger after he
relieves her of her purse and adds the further risk that he'll use it
on her. Without denying that there are violent people on the streets,
MOST muggings do not involve serious violence. MOST house breakins
don't involve the occupants at all. And statistics say you're safer
acquiesing than resisting.

That's all pretty pessimistic, but I think it's realistic, too. We need
to improve public safety, improve the criminal justice system, and
improve opportunities, so that fewer people feel forced into crime.
I don't know how much progress you can make - I'm sure there were
muggers, rapists, and burglars in Rome under the Caesars and in
any other human civilisation you care to name.  All you can do
is try to improve the situation and try to avoid the most dangerous
parts of current life.

I'd like to tell you there was an instant solution that would allow
you to go anywhere, anytime, without danger, but there isn't. On the
other hand, I'd also like to suggest that in most of Toronto, most of the
people on the street at night do not get mugged. I know quite a few people
who live in Chicago, many of whom lead fairly active after dark lives.
Exactly one of them has been mugged. None of them has been burglarized.
The only people I know who have been burglarized live in suburbs.
I would suggest, as I have to my wife, who considers Urbana threatening
at night, that the statistics are still on your side if you exercise
only moderate caution.

scott preece
pur-ee!uiucdcs!uicsl!preece

[n.b. I don't really think anyone is going to be served by half the net
contributing their anecdotal evidence to this discussion; I know there
are a lot of muggings and burglaries and I don't really think you need
to post your particular horror stories. On the other hand, if it makes
you feel better...]