I just reported on a woman being robbed in the parking lot of Target in North Stafford. And already social media commenters are saying people should be more aware of their surroundings, or they need to carry mace and have their car keys in their hands ready to use as a weapon. But it’s not so simple.
To recap, the woman and young child had walked out of the store to her vehicle. She then placed the child in the carseat. When she stood back up, she was shocked to find a man standing next to her. She asked him to step back. He showed a gun and demanded money.
A similar thing happened to me years ago in another area. I am normally very aware of my surroundings. I had served in the Civil Air Patrol, and our motto was Semper Vigilans, which is Latin for “always vigilant” — always alert and ready. I took that motto to heart.
Yet, one day at the park, after I had placed my child’s stroller in the trunk of my car, a man appeared out of nowhere standing VERY close to me. He asked for money.
He didn’t get any.
The trunk of my car was still open, and I had a sword in it. Yes, a sword.
I had recently given a presentation on what it was like to live in the Middle East as an American and had brought various souvenirs as well as historic cultural symbols. One of them included a sword.
I last saw him running across the train tracks with a bicycle in his hands that he didn’t have with him earlier. He was running fast. I never saw him again.
I was fortunate the man did not appear to have a gun. Mace, car keys, and even being aware enough to notice a criminal before he gets too close doesn’t help if that criminal has a gun.
I still don’t know how this man got right up next to me so quickly and so silently in an open area when there was no one else around for at least 50 feet except a gentleman sitting in an adjacent truck who called police after I was approached.
So I ask you not to judge the victim of the crime. If you choose to judge anyone, let it be the perpetrator.
To read the original story, click here.
