It won't happen to me - The Final Word

All Hands, Dec, 2002 by Craig Strawser

Come on chief Why do I have to listen to that safety brief again? I know exactly what they're going to say. I've heard it all before."

How many times have we heard someone (possibly ourselves) say that? I know that I've sat through so many safety briefs and security briefs, that I could probably do a good job teaching them myself. But sometimes, even though we know better, we still allow ourselves to get lazy about personal security.

This issue provides us with many tips about how to maintain personal security. If you just glanced over it on Pages 36 to 41, I would encourage you to go back for a second look.

Why did All Hands do a personal security article? Why does the Navy provide us with training on this kind of information anyway? After all, Sailors are smart. We know better than to let ourselves get into a situation we can't handle. We know that we have to watch out for our family members. We know that we have to lock our doors. So, why then?

Perhaps it's because no matter how prepared we think we are, bad things can still happen. I was recently reminded of this the hard way. After leaving my truck parked in a well-lit parking lot, with security guards patrolling, I returned to find the passenger window busted in. A lot of stuff was stolen. I felt like I had been kicked in the gut. Sure, I heard about this happening to other people, but this is the kind of thing that "won't happen to me.

Looking back on it, I wonder what other situations I might have put myself into without realizing it. What if someone was still at the truck? I didn't look that closely when I was approaching.

What if the thief had a gun?

The U.S. Department of Justice -- Bureau of Justice Statistics Web site lists some interesting facts about crimes involving firearms.

According to the "National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS)" done in 2000,533,470 victims of serious violent crimes (rape and sexual assault, robbery, and aggravated assault) stated that they faced an offender with a firearm.

* Victimizations involving a firearm represented 8 percent of the 6.3 million violent crimes of rape and sexual assault, robbery and aggravated and simple assault.

* The FBI's "Crime in the United States" estimated that 66 percent of the 15,517 murders in 2000 were committed with firearms.

Maybe I should have been just a little more careful.

"Okay, but what does that have to do with me, the Sailor reading this issue of All Hands magazine?"

Well, with the winter holidays close at hand, many of us will be out shopping for presents for our loved ones. We'll park in well-lit parking lots, and ensure that our doors are locked. But with all the shoppers loading their vehicles with high-dollar gifts, someone is going to get hit. Someone is going to get their car broken into. Someone is going to have their presents stolen, and it's possible that someone's family is going to be threatened.

Hopefully, by telling my story, and encouraging you to follow the personal security tips we've provided in this issue, that person won't be you.