Today I talked to the owner of a local bar. He complained that the new 300,000 volt stun gun he had purchased for “customer control” was nothing more than a “good light show”. I asked him to explain what he said to me.

He told me that his 6 to 7 bouncers he employs, occasionally need a little more help with a few extremely determined customers who would appear to be in a psychotic state for whatever reason and would become dangerously unmanageable. He went on to say that he had purchased a 300K volt model to try out. When it arrived, he went on to say that his bouncers were the first ones to want to stun each other. They held the stun gun against their bodies for as long as 15 – 20 seconds while it “sparked away” without doing the slightest bit of harm to the bouncers. He told me “I’m sending in for the biggest model, a 625,00 volt stun gun called the stun monster and that should put them down! This power (300,000 volt model) gun is for pussies he exclaimed!”

I told him that he probably got a defective model as they are mass produced and that he ought to try another one before buying the huge model. I have personally witnessed the effects of a 300,000 volt stun gun hitting a guy for about three, 1 second bursts, back to back. It was not a pretty sight.

Let’s just say he had better have purchased an expensive suit since he’d be needing the extra pair of pants that usually come with quality suits. I can’t wait until they “test fire” a new non-defective 625K volt model on themselves…..I’m fairly sure the gun won’t make the rounds to all of the guys as they will certainly become fast & firm believers.

I stopped by a friend’s place and there were other mutual pals there as well. One of the guys said that Jeannie was going to be living in her own apartment for the first time in many years. She had previously shared an apartment with her male friend (alternative guy pal) and somehow his presence added an air of safety….doh!!!! Sorry. She is now afraid of all the crazies, tweakers, pervs, etc. that inhabit certain areas in her “to and from work” itinerary.

She immediately demanded to be taken to the surplus store for the complete condo/self protection ensemble. She wanted pepper spray in a small holster with a keychain, and a door brace or alarm. We decided on the Mace big jammer door brace and with a backup (overkill) motion sensor alarm. We were out of there in 20 minutes with a total outlay of $47. Not too shabby for that kind of protection.

I tried to persuade her to buy a small, used .38 special from Argentina or somewhere thereabout, but she “is scared of guns” and “doesn’t want to shoot anyone”. Stun gun, “well maybe, let me think about it”.

All in all she took some pretty sound steps in identifying her more vulnerable living conditions, mapping out trouble areas in her driving patterns and took steps to protect herself. I am in 100% agreement with all of her choices. Pepper spray will get an offensive face backing away from your car’s window in a hurry and the door brace, backed up by the motion sensor alarm will certainly alert her of an intruder. What I don’t agree with is her trust that “911″ will deliver help before she is robbed, beaten, raped, killed or any combination of the aforementioned.

The last thing she needs and I will persist about this, is a small revolver for “in house” use only, such as in her night-stand next to the bed. That way she would call on the police for help and if the door caved in before they arrived, she would, with a little practice, be completely in charge of her own safety.

I’ve looked down both ends of gun barrels in “fight or flight” situations and trust me, the business end of a gun, or a good knife for that matter, speak a universal language that all men (or women) understand fluently.

Black Panther Hunting cont’d…..

Today I put in my first afternoon of panther hunting. I mentally prepared last night by looking at a sketch I drew of the area covered by the “alleged” black panther. It turns out that all sightings indicate that the beast is using a peninsula as his range of operations. With the sides of the peninsula covered with roads, housing and water, all that was left to search was the center of the peninsula which is made up of sprawling wood lots, interspersed with large cultivated sections and connected to the next wood lot by fence rows.

Knowing the terrain intimately gives me an advantage over “looking for a needle in a haystack”. I simply drove as close to all the bottlenecks where we “scout” for signs of deer and other critters. After hrs. of hot & sweaty walking in humid weather and semi-marshy conditions at times, I was able to check the entire range of his activities.

It was at an abandoned farm that has gone fallow where I made my last stop. I drove slowly and carefully (fearing for my vehicle) about a mile back into this farm using an old implement road. After parking my vehicle, loading my gun and starting further into the farm, I kept my eyes between the soft muddy edges of the road and the surrounding weeds and marsh grass which is about 8ft tall already in places. After about 50 yds. I found my first distinct “pug mark”!

The cat had traveled through this farm after the rain which put me about 16 hrs behind him or less. Judging from the freshness of the footprint, it appeared that only a few minutes had passed. The track indicated a young, male cat probably no more than 35 – 40 lbs.. It is now warm and dry again and I will be casting his footprint for the local constabulary to do whatever it is that they do with such a find. After following his path for awhile, it disappeared as the beast jumped into the protection of the high grass, where I was content to leave him.

I was so hot & sweaty and his spoor so obviously small that he is really no threat currently and reports have it from eyewitnesses that his behavior is more one of shyness than aggression, which I would concur with at the present time. When pets start coming up missing and some neighborhood dogs get put on the menu, I’ll be back to find him in earnest. Today he’s just a juvenile cougar or leopard and causing no harm. Reports have it that he is “round-headed and has pointed ears set directly on top of his head. This indicates an American puma, panther, mountain lion, cougar and not a leopard who’s heads are much more squared and angular than the cougar. The ears are not sharply pointed either. I will keep you updated!

To be continued……????

Black Panther Sightings in Rural Mid-West Township:

There have been sightings of an alleged “black panther” for the past month starting about E. XYZ & ABC Pike and moving toward our house. Local news has the story in the paper and the Sheriff’s office said they have nothing official and have made inquiries (including our local African Lion Safari) and stated that they don’t house big cats there anymore, let alone one being there to escape. It must have escaped last year and is now procreating with other ALS escapees!

Just like the Scots now…..”Ahm goin panther huntin tahday lass”! Yesterday’s paper had a sighting at 50?? E. XYZ Rd………we are at 4625! I was going out to look for pug marks about 5:30 pm and a tumultuous thunderstorm hit and kept on for hrs. ruining any chance I had of finding prints. Tomorrow I will begin a quest for his demise, as my daughter believes he’s stalking around our property. I don’t but you never know. If I can find his tracks (a tough job after such a storm..but a great find if discovered..being very fresh), I can spoor him to a likely juncture in the bush and sit up “over my dog” as bait in a “makeshift” machan. I will be using a semi-auto Remington .12 bore loaded with 00 buckshot and “lethal ball” ammunition. My moment is rapidly approaching….like fate…I will slay the vicious brute and become a community hero, lauded by local potentates. Even State legislators will talk about me at their “gala parties” and certainly I’ll gain instant, national, notoriety at the same time.

Maybe I’ll write a book, based on this mysterious black panther and the story of his “undoing” through my extensive knowledge of “Jungle Lore”.

I have to prepare for tomorrow’s hunt…peace out!

Well I must say that it has been an enjoyable experience to take a little time off!

That said…..I called an 85 yr old relative today who has suffered 2 knee replacements and needs a cane to assist in walking. He can’t move his arms above chest high, due to problems in the shoulders as well. It is getting to be that time of year around ‘My Town USA’, for summer and lots of traffic along with frayed nerves and frustrated travelers.

For my relative this will include at least 3-5 “road-rage” episodes (based on past seasonal averages). 99% avoidable, but he loves to respond to a fellow “rager” even if he didn’t “flip-out first”. The thrill of it all I suppose?

Over the weekend I had recalled his many entertaining stories of “road rage” conforntations, relishing all the details. I find them quite enjoyable.

My mind drifted to his safety this summer, so I dialed him up and asked him if he still was using his shaved-down pool cue handle as his first line of offense, reminding him of “road rage season’s” onset. He told me “oh yeah it’s always ready”. I smiled quietly because I know that he couldn’t use it on the neighbor’s dog anymore, let alone one or more infuriated men in fairly decent physical condition.

After much chatting and cajoling, I was able to convince him to use a cannister of Police Model – Mace Pepper spray. I prevailed, I think, in convincing him that his “pool cue” days were long past and that it was time for an upgrade.

I will be dropping his new “side-kick” off tomorrow. So, as a public service announcement to any of you guys who may run up on a little, old, white haired man and begin your mutual, vulgar, “Road Rage” dialogue between cars, REMEMBER……that old man may just give you a mouth full of Mace when you thrust your angry face up to his car window and start talking smack!

A real eye-closing experience – I’m sure. Cheers!

I Am Taking A Week OFF!!!!!

Be seeing ya in about 7 days!

I found a great online book. just click on the title link and it will take you to this fabulous resource for families who discover that a child is missing. I have it bookmarked for easy reference if ever needed.

Did You Know?

Every day children are missing from their homes for any number of reasons; a toddler at play wanders away, a teenager in turmoil runs away, a child is abducted by a noncustodial parent or even by someone unknown to him or her.

The crisis of a missing child calls on every ounce of courage and determination that parents and other family members can muster. The search for a missing child demands a timely and coordinated response by parents and law enforcement alike. The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention has published When Your Child Is Missing: A Family Survival Guide with the hope that it may afford parents the critical information, guidance, and tools they need to work with law enforcement agencies to help find their missing child.

I have skimmed through the entire book and find it to be a “must have” source for anyone who would want to be prepared for the worst parental experience, “our child is missing”!

This document was prepared by Fox Valley Technical College under cooperative agreement number 95-MC-CX-K002 from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), U.S. Department of Justice.

Points of view or opinions expressed in this document are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of OJJDP or the U.S. Department of Justice.

Interview with an 8th Grade Student:

Ronin: I would like to start by welcoming my friend Gina from our local Jr. High School.

Ronin: Hi Gina how are you today?

Gina: Ahmm…I’m OK.

Ronin: What have you been taught in school about avoiding a violent crime situation?

Gina: First of all, to try and stay out of risky situations.

Ronin: And?

Gina: The person that is committing the crime doesn’t have to be standing in a dark alley and could be anyone.

Ronin: Who taught your class?

Gina: It was a cop and C.A.P. instructor

Ronin: What’s a CAP?

Gina: It stands for crime something prevention.

Ronin: Is that all they taught you?

Gina: No, they also taught us ways to get out of certain situations like for instance if you’re being raped, mugged or even being abused or beaten.

Ronin” Anything else?

Gina: They taught us self defense moves to get away from certain situations.

Ronin: Like judo or karate stuff?

Gina: No, like small little moves that are pressure points or just little things that hurt just to get away.

Ronin: Tell me one?

Gina: Like if you’re walking out to your car at the store parking lot and it’s dark, and you are attacked then if you have your keys in hand, then you could ram your keys into their arm, neck, ear or even their eyes.

Ronin: That’s awfully advanced to really work for a kid don’t you think?

Gina: Yeah I guess but the ones in the face, neck and eyes would work pretty good.

Ronin: Thank you for spending this time and sharing your classroom experiences with me.

Gina: OK

It’s readily apparent that the right ideas are being taught:

1. Awareness of your surroundings

2. Don’t be fooled, every stranger could be a potential criminal

3. Be prepared, have a plan to defend yourself and begin to practice simple evasive actions with a partner if possible

4. Have confidence! This girl had confidence that some of the techniques that were taught would indeed work if used.

I believe there are many, more simple methods of evasion that don’t stress counter-attack, but rather simply, “evasive movements”.

All in all, I think our Jr. High is addressing violent crime against young girls and are doing as well as they can, short of a regimented course in women’s self defense.

Stun Gun Fatalities Rise…Part VI

Two Taser Deaths in Four Days – Georgia

End of May 2004:

Daryl L. Smith, 46, died Sunday night, about six hours after a Fulton County sheriff’s deputy used a Taser to subdue him when Smith turned on paramedics who had responded to a call to assist him, said Fulton County Sheriff’s Lt. Clarence Huber.

Frederick J. Williams, 31, of Lawrenceville died last week after being shocked at least twice during a scuffle at the Gwinnett County Jail. He was the second Gwinnett inmate in eight months to die after being shocked with a Taser during a scuffle with deputies.

Tasers also have been linked to two deaths in Houston County in middle Georgia after scuffles with sheriff’s deputies.

Well, the more things change the more they stay the same! As I try to conclude this series on the inherent dangers of random “shocking” by law officers who have been issued the Taser gun, I keep finding more and more cases of fatalities by those receiving shocks with this weapon. It is really very alarming and I encourage any readers to do some investigating of their own to confirm what I have been reporting.

Amnesty International and the ACLU are calling for the use of the Taser product to be discontinued until more studies are done regarding it’s use.

My Final Conclusions:

Being an optimist by nature, I honestly believe that law enforcement is trying to move toward more humane methods of “control”. I believe that officers (for the greater part) welcome a tool they can use, other than the baton or a handgun. They have a tough job to do and any “law enforcement tool” that they can use to make it easier and safer for themselves and also the alleged “perp” or convict is a most welcome addition.

In the rush to arm officers with the Taser stun gun, it appears that there should be a more uniform training program in dealing with scenarios when it’s use would not be safe. Training should also be from an independent source or sources and coupled with studies by physicians. It would include the death toll in the wake of it’s use, rather than always looking at the numbers of “shootings” by police since it’s implementation.

Crime statistics show graphs that have crime figures plummeting over the past few years and could have a causal relationship to “police shootings” numbers, seeming to be a result of the Taser rather than the National levels of crime being at an encouraging low point presently.

The Taser is popular among police, this electronic stun gun shoots a 50,000-volt charge 15 to 21 feet, disabling would-be attackers for five seconds with each jolt. But even as the use of the weapon is being criticized by civil liberties advocates, the company that makes the Taser is ready to roll out a new “civilian” model.

“We believe, in the long run, that there is a much bigger market for consumers,” said Rick Smith, CEO and founder of Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Taser International.

Remember the old saying “whenever someone says it’s not about the money….it’s about the money?”

Taser International posts on their site:

“The sensationalism of these reports in the media is extremely disconcerting given the proven safety of these products in tens of thousands of uses where we have proven beyond the shadow of a doubt, that our technology greatly reduces injuries to suspects and officers….”

That’s true Rick…..EXCEPT for the dead bodies (Taser related deaths) looking like a path of breadcrumbs to your door!

While these unfounded, sensational media reports are a concern, since they are not based on any hard facts, our customers in law enforcement and the military clearly understand and appreciate the exceptional safety record of the TASER technology and we are experiencing our best sales month to date in the Company’s history, continued Mr. Smith.

Taser International posts letters, statements etc. that attempt to prove how safe their product is. They post rebuttal statements on their own site and anywhere else that will provide space for, or a link to, their vague and obtuse rhetoric regarding the safety of the Air Taser Gun. Just read and see if you can find “harder data” than a whole lot of dead bodies that had just been Tasered!

We read the numbers Rick and your stock is falling faster than a mud-slide and you, instead of looking “long term” and advocating the study of Taser related fatalities. You should welcome the scrutiny of your products. In my opinion, independent studies would lead to better training programs and more cautious use of your product. This would put highly trained officers in a better position to “make the call” when the Taser should be used and when it should NOT! The end result is more revenue for your philanthropic company. And, that’s (revenue) really what Taser International is sweating about now.

I am a layman and have enough sense to know that a 275 – 300 lb out-of-shape, middle-aged man, who has become intoxicated on “drugs..including alcohol” and has been behaving in a threatening manner or has exhibited violent behavior (such as fighting with the neighbor), then is wrestled down by one or more police officers (believed to be in good physical condition and trained to restrain “alleged perps”) is in no shape to be blasted (sometimes more than once) with a Taser! What are they thinking about? Where did they recieve such poor training that would allow them to ignore such obvious health “risk factors?”

It’s time Taser International stopped playing “the numbers game” and embrace further study of their product and perhaps offer superior training programs that are mandatory for law officers who will be issued a Taser gun. In the long run this whole issue might even disappear and they can watch their beloved “bottom line” grow as the death toll evaporates in the face of proper training and further refinements to their product.