Doublefeed:
I have prepared myself and educated my family about all possibilities. We live life in condition "yellow" and review plans on a regular basis. Home invasion, fire, and hurricane plans are in place and actually rehearsed periodically. Some may think this is a bit extreme, but we take "being prepared" a step beyond the average boy scout.
Regarding the public, I have had too many people actually try to hurt or kill me to think that there aren't predators out there. Six plus years in 24 hour retail management taught me about the real world and the people who roam about in it. My wife is prepared to defend herself on a moments notice and we constantly stress to our children that awareness is a key factor in survival/avoidance of problems.
Here is my take: If I fail to protect my family or give them the tools/skills necessary for them to protect themselves, then I have failed in life. Absolutely.
How could anyone NOT take self-preservation seriously? Sheesh. Perhaps one of the side-effects of living a charmed life is that you don't think anything will ever happen to you. You know, the old ignorance is bliss thing. The stunned looks on "victims" faces on the tv is enough to convince me that I don't ever wish to be in that role.
I once had a new co-worker ask me if I was one of those "paranoid" people. I told him I was more prepared than most, but don't sit alone in dark rooms fondling firearms and staring at bags of beans hoping for the breakdown of society. It disgusts me how quickly people ran back into the womb of comfort dished out by our consumer driven society after 9/11.
HELLO!?!?! The real world can be very nasty folks! You will need plenty of bactine for your owies if you wish to live to tell the tale. Maybe a TRUTH-like ad campaign is in order.
-White Horse <-- quietly goes to his "Happy Place"
p.s. Golly, Double, you musta struck a nerve with me.