There is a multifaceted approach in avoiding the victim status of crime in the home.  From housekeepers stealing stuff, to landscapers/Comcast/Verizon/etc., casing your home for valuables or easy access to breaking in/home invasion and so on.  

When I go to location (students home or office), the first thing we do is walk around the the home, with the purpose of pointing out any and all weaknesses in security.  During the “tour”, the effort is in helping them to start thinking like a criminal.  In all honesty, most folks don’t think like a criminal until they lock their keys in the house or vehicle with no spare key readily available.  Then frantically, try and break in, and in many cases they are successful, which is chilling if you think about it.  Suggestions are, to walk around the house after dusk.  Leaving the lights on and everything as if enjoying the comfort of the home routine.  In some cases, if you own a dog, put the dog on a leash and take them for a walk around the perimeter of your property. The dogs will love it and you’ll get a better idea of how vulnerable your house is.  Can you see through the curtains, are the blinds closed in the peeping-tom secure mode?  Do you always lock every door when you get inside?  Storm and garage entry doors, are the least locked doors, but they ARE the first barrier to repel an unauthorized entry.   

As for the four legged family members, awesome!  Problem is, unless they have been bite trained for the specific purpose of home defense, studies suggest that when the homeowner isn’t home, the perceived viscous defender is really a creature that doesn’t want to engage in any conflict.  Thats not to say some won’t, but the studies are what they are.  That said, if contractors and the such come to the home to do service on a periodic basis, the animals won’t know them from a friend or foe, so they will opt to treat all as friends.  

Gosh, I could go on and on, but you get the message.  Here’s a challenge, when you have time.  Secure your house the way you usually do when leaving for work, store, etc.  Pretend you don’t have the key to get in.  CAN YOU GET IN IF YOU HAD TO?  If you can, we should talk. Or at least consider consulting another specialist in the field, for advice.

Stay safe.

With the increase in Medical Marijuana cards being issued in the state of Maryland, applicants and recipients of those state issued cards, are precluded from having the lawful possession, use and ownership of firearms, as per federal law. Federal form 4473 application to purchase a firearm, specifically asks if the applicant uses or is a habitual user of cannabis. Stating yes to any of the questions regarding “dangerous and controlled substances” will result in the applicants denial of the application.

All that said, it is still ambiguous and unclear how the federal government will apply the prohibitions to the law-abiding gun owners, who, for whatever reason, applied for and received the medical card, post, lawful purchase and ownership of firearms. I’m stumped.

Mass shootings:  To my recollection, every mass shooting has taken place in a GUN FREE ZONE.  At the date of this posting, the Las Vegas shooting is still under investigation and I will remark when that investigation is complete.

To the topic, the Pulse Nightclub, FLA, San Bernadino, CA, Sutherland Springs, TX, and more.  Every venue was GUN FREE.  Proving only the law abiding citizen obeys the law and GUN FREE ZONES are killing fields.  Bad guys don’t obey the law.

Urban Violence:  I am always at a loss to understand the mantra “gun violence”, when in actuality it is  violence, period.  GUN VIOLENCE?  How can an inanimate object be violent?  Unfortunately many folks have been led to believe the gun was at fault for catastrophes endured.  This is a false narrative/opinion.  Guns can be no more at fault for a tragedy than a car or swimming pool.  In the urban community, criminals thrive in drug turf wars, “customers” who want stuff for free-at gun point-and an overall disrespect for life.  Culture norms are “we don’t snitch” or “talk to the police” and therein lies the problem.  Illegally obtained guns are plentiful.  Illegally obtained.  

Fear of the criminals will only breed MORE criminals, TAKE A STAND!

Suicide/murder:  How do we legislate the sick/evil mind?  Example, someone buys a gun in 1994, goes through a wonderful, happy married life and when the spouse decides to leave and divorce, he/she can’t take it and decides to snuff each other.  How do we prevent THAT?  Gun control?  Back ground checks?  Sigh, I have no answer…

The author of this post compares our WAR ON DRUGS equal to the WAR ON GUNS. History here, the war on drugs have been ongoing with dismal results. Certain drugs are illegal for personal use, distribution, etc.  Yet, just about every drug known, can be procured through the proper conduits, legally or illegally.  Same with guns.

Law abiding citizens do not abuse illegal or legally dispensed drugs nor do we illegally abuse our right to bear arms.  Compare the national overdose stats to accidental shootings/intentional shootings and see which holds the greatest comparison.

Bottom line here, guns don’t commit crimes and buildings don’t make a ghetto, people do.

Stay safe!