Things you learn living in a shady neighborhood

In a lot of threads like this people always say that those of us living in good neighborhoods are fooling ourselves, or are naive and there is crime everywhere etc.

While there certainly is crime everywhere, and sh$t happens even in good areas, still there is a difference.

Certainly there is a difference between the level of preparedness and equipment needed in an upper middle class town with less than half the national crime rate, and Baltimore, or Detroit, or Fallujah.

I reached 65 without ever carrying a weapon (except occasional hunting trips).

Now I carry. But a single small revolver.

I can't see wearing body armor to go to the supermarket.

I don't feel the need for a high capacity 45 plus two backup guns plus a knife and three cans of pepper spray.

Now if I move to St. Louis or Fallujah I'd reconsider.

Rick_A said:

We lived in a crappy apartment complex in Kissimmee FL for a couple years. Not to out do the OP, but there were "working girls" a couple doors down, drug deals going down in the kids park almost daily, police chasing folks around, illegal street racing going in full force, and folks doing drugs daily in full view...not to mention a large concentration of the worst drivers I've ever seen. A group of folks tried to steal my motorcycle while we were out and my neighbor scared them off. Young gals would often make passes at me and men of all ages would make cat calls at my wife whenever we were out. There were still good people out and about and we had a couple good neighbors.

You're never "stuck" anywhere unless you've chosen to be.

That said a nice neighborhood is never complete insulation from bad people, they're just less apt to live next door.

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Hey if you live in Jax you could always go to the northside or westside and see the same thing. Don

GatorFarmer said:

Simple really, listen to your neighborhood gossip. It is fascinating at times. Also, when the police were taking away my upstairs neighbors in a raid, I had a conversation with the sergeant afterwards. Neighbors going away after a SWAT team visit happened three or four times during my time in the ghetto. I learned that when someone was really dangerous, that an ambulance would be parked out front, ready in case of need.

My then girlfriend had vivid memories of being in the kitchen making a cake when suddenly the nice man in a black helmet and tactical armor cake to the window and motioned her to get down on the floor.

The police were courteous like that in urging you to take cover.

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(solemn nod...)

Muss Muggins said:

More often, they have personality disorders, which can't be treated with medication . . .

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"Personality disorders"??? What happened to just calling evil what it is?

RSanch111 said:

I'm from Detroit. After many years in the city, I've come to realize that no matter HOW poor you are, you can always move to a better neighborhood. Seems like half the people I hear talking about how bad their neighborhood is take some kind of perverse pride in still living there. My advice: MOVE! If someone wants to shoot you, you're going to get shot, no matter how "tactical" you are. GTF out.

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This thread is starting to remind me of the "We were so poor when I was growing up" thread a few weeks ago in the Longe"!

Cal44 said:

I don't feel the need for a high capacity 45 plus two backup guns plus a knife and three cans of pepper spray.

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I haven't really mentioned guns in this thread but at home I am never more than arm's length away from a gun and I don't so much as take a load of laundry to the laundry room unarmed.

Until recently I've been carrying a 9mm Shield around the house but about a month ago I was out walking my dogs and I ran into a neighbor (who has since been evicted) and 4 or 5 of his crack head houseguests and without even trying they surrounded me.

Nothing happened but that day I put the Shield up and started carrying 6906 and 2 reloads.

Warren Sear said:

This thread is starting to remind me of the "We were so poor when I was growing up" thread a few weeks ago in the Longe"!

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We were so poor when I was growing up in Phoenix that I had to walk five miles each day to school.

And I walked barefoot on broken glass through the snow -- up hill both ways.

RSanch111 said:

I'm from Detroit. After many years in the city, I've come to realize that no matter HOW poor you are, you can always move to a better neighborhood. Seems like half the people I hear talking about how bad their neighborhood is take some kind of perverse pride in still living there. My advice: MOVE! If someone wants to shoot you, you're going to get shot, no matter how "tactical" you are. GTF out.

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Some can and some can't. That's the bottom line.I have to disagree on the perverse pride thing. I am a blessed enough to be abel to save , to get back in a better living aera, i know. Some are not.

Warren Sear said:

"Personality disorders"??? What happened to just calling evil what it is?

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Can't bill Medicaid for treating evil . . .

Paying attention to what is going on around you has always been a very important survival skill. It doesn't matter where you live or what you are doing. It is important driving down the street. It is important if you are walking down the street and it is important in your home.

I honestly don't feel unsafe the places I go. I don't feel unsafe in my home. Heck I live in a small town in Utah right on the edge of the suburbs, almost a rural small community. I live in a nice neighborhood. The community isn't all that diverse. Most of my neighbors go to the same church. It is small town Utah.

Guess what it is also the 10th most dangerous community in Utah. If you asked 100 of people you meet on the street what is the most dangerous city in Utah most would say "West Valley City or maybe Ogden" not Payson or half the towns listed. When you look at the top ten for Utah I would bet most people in Utah would be shocked by what communities made the list. I bet most States top 10 most dangerous list wouldn't be what people from those states expect.

Anyway, with the ever increasing number of home invasion burglaries in our state I do carry in my home even thoughI live in what feels like a nice middle class neighborhood.

Last summer there was a group of dirt bags that were hitting homes at night in a richer community. This was an area where people left their doors unlocked. These guys were walking in quietly at night while people were sleeping. Home surveillance videos showed that they were armed and robbing people, some in their bedrooms, without waking the occupants.

We don't answer the door if were not expecting anyone. We lock the doors. We keep the garage door closed. I'm thankful I have two dogs big that bark and are big enough to give anyone pause trying to come in the house uninvited.

Moral of the story don't get to comfortable out there. Bad people can be where you least expect it. Pay attention out there just like you do driving down the road.

Utah top 10 list.
These Are The 10 Most Dangerous Places in Utah - Movoto

Bluff dale break ins
Brazen Bluffdale break-ins put residents on alert | News, Weather, Sports, Breaking News | KUTV

Having grown up in the ghetto I can relate to all of what Smoke is saying. I developed "eyes in the back of my head" and a spidey sense that has saved me on several occasions.

Now, I'm blessed to live in a city where crime is very, very low - and violent crime almost non-existent, but the lessons learned in Detroit are still with me. I answer the door with my handgun concealed behind my thigh, and I DON'T open the door for any shady characters with a story. I carry at home (despite my wife's belief it's not needed). I'm a "better safe than sorry" kind of guy.

Smoke said:

Until recently I've been carrying a 9mm Shield around the house but about a month ago I was out walking my dogs and I ran into a neighbor (who has since been evicted) and 4 or 5 of his crack head houseguests and without even trying they surrounded me.

Nothing happened but that day I put the Shield up and started carrying 6906 and 2 reloads.

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Had the need for shooting arose, the Shield would most likely have saved the day. Most thugs (and drugies) flee when the shooting starts. And had they not chose to, 5 or 6 people is more than you could have shot before being overwhelmed, regardless to how many rounds were carried.

Warren Sear said:

"Personality disorders"??? What happened to just calling evil what it is?

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Sure the acts they commit is evil, but many have chemical imbalances. It would do you good to research it.

ClayCow said:

Sure the acts they commit is evil, but many have chemical imbalances. It would do you good to research it.

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Well, you might want to give that research a shot yourself. Personality disorders aren't a chemical imbalance and aren't treatable by medication. Some of the symptoms and effects are, but the various disorders by themselves are not. It's just how that person is wired. Some people are truly evil.

Muss Muggins said:

Well, you might want to give that research a shot yourself. Personality disorders aren't a chemical imbalance and aren't treatable by medication. Some of the symptoms and effects are, but the various disorders by themselves are not. It's just how that person is wired. Some people are truly evil.

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And you should reread what I wrote. I never negated that possibility. Your statement as fact is also simply opinion.

ClayCow said:

And you should reread what I wrote. I never negated that possibility. Your statement as fact is also simply opinion.

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Duly noted . . .

I feel blessed to live in Arizona even with our severe illegal immigrant problem. I read through a list of the 100 most dangerous city's in the United States earlier today and Arizona didn't have one entry on this list.
I attribute this to our gun laws where virtually anyone without a criminal record can carry just about anywhere.
Jim

Protected One said:

Had the need for shooting arose, the Shield would most likely have saved the day. Most thugs (and drugies) flee when the shooting starts. And had they not chose to, 5 or 6 people is more than you could have shot before being overwhelmed, regardless to how many rounds were carried.

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I'm sure you're right but I feel more comfortable with a higher capacity gun.

For all of those suggesting an immediate move, please feel free to offer the OP a loan of 'first, last, and security deposit.'

A move, whether across the street or across the country, costs $$$.

PatriotX said:

For all of those suggesting an immediate move, please feel free to offer the OP a loan of 'first, last, and security deposit.'

A move, whether across the street or across the country, costs $$$.

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The 12% small loan interest you could take out from the bank would be far smaller than the price of your life or goods stolen.

Warren Sear said:

"Personality disorders"??? What happened to just calling evil what it is?

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That's not politically correct! You should slap yourself.