Don’t Be Fooled!

In honor of April Fool’s Day I want to talk about a scam that was attempted on me just a few weeks ago. When you have someone who calls or mails you with a proposition that does not seem right, it probably isn’t.  How do you know if it seems right or not?  The first thing you need to remember is the IRS or Law Enforcement will never call you on the phone forcing you to provide your personal information or demand payment over the phone.  Always remember, if it is too good to be true, it probably is NOT true!

So, a couple of weeks ago I received a registered letter in a large cardboard envelope, something similar to a Flat Rate Envelope from the Post Office. Inside of the envelope was a letter along with a check for more than $2,000.00.  Not one of those checks you receive in the mail from a credit card company that says you can cash this check when you open an account, but then of course you will have to pay the money back…with interest.  This was a check made out to me.  The letter enclosed explained that I had been chosen as a “Mystery Shopper” and that I needed to deposit the check into my bank account.  It then continued to explain that I needed to keep $150.00 for myself and then I needed to go to any Western Union location and send two money transfers with the remaining money.  Sounds great, right?  Remember what I said before, if it is too good to be true it probably is?  The first thing I did was go online to do a little research.  My research first showed that most Mystery Shopper jobs pay between $5.00 and $20.00.  RED FLAG!  They are going to pay me $150.00 for my very first job.  As I continued my research I went on to learn that typically the scam was that you deposit the money into your account and then of course you are supposed to immediately send the money.  The scam is that before the check clears and after you send the money, when it is too late, they cancel the check and you are out the entire amount you have sent through Western Union.  Cute trick, huh?  They are scamming millions of dollars out of people this way because so many people just want to believe they are going to get something for nothing.  It is not going to happen.

There are people in this world who spend all day trying to figure out the next best scam that can be utilized to try and steal people’s money. Just like you go to work every day, their work is scamming people.  If you have access to a computer, do your research.  Put in the information of the organization and any other information that you may have.  Trust me, when people get ripped off or are unhappy about something they are going to go straight to the computer and let someone know.  Whether it is to write a horrible review or to even blast it all over social media, if they get ripped off, you are going to hear about it.

The best rule to live by is IF IT IS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, IT PROBABLY IS!

Congratulations to the FBI for Gaining Access!

There has always been conspiracy theorists out there questioning everything that happens whether it is the assassination of President Kennedy, the 9-1-1 terrorist attacks or the death of Princess Diana. As if people didn’t already think that “Big Brother” was watching them, now they have Edward Snowden talking about all the horrible things that the NSA is doing.  Businesses and Organizations want to try and guarantee their customers that their information is safe with them…no matter what.  I personally feel that if you are not doing anything wrong you should not be afraid who should see what you are doing, but a lot of people don’t believe that way.  Spotlight Apple!

On December 2, 2015 fourteen people were killed and twenty-two were seriously injured during a terrorist attack at the Inland Regional Center, which is a not for profit organization that provides services to more than 30,000 people who have developmental disabilities and their families. A married couple who had become radicalized targeted a holiday party, which was being held at the center.  The couple was able to carry out a mass shooting and attempted bombing without being caught.  Luckily law enforcement was eventually able to locate the couple and the incident ended in a shootout with the couple being shot and killed.  The first question you might ask is what on earth does Apple have to do with a terrorist attack and then the second question being who on earth would not want to help the government in trying to gain knowledge and possibly intelligence surrounding this case to prevent further attacks.

One of the pieces of evidence on the scene was one of the killer’s iPhone. Apple Iphones are not only popular with everyday Americans but apparently with radicalized terrorists.  Just sit back and ask yourself, what type of information would you lose if you were to lose your phone right now?  If just temporary information or contacts were placed in the phone, it would still be a pain if it were lost.  So when law enforcement located the killer’s iPhone I am sure that they were happy to think they may have the opportunity to find clues to what occurred or maybe even people who helped this couple commit this horrible act.  Whatever was kept on the phone, even if nothing, if law enforcement didn’t try to do their due diligence in gathering all the information possible to attempt to deter future incidents like this occur, you would not have much respect for them and their ability to do their job?  Unfortunately Iphones have security in place so not everyone can gain access to the information on your phone.  The security is such that if too many attempts are made then all of the information on the phone will be destroyed and lost forever.  Yes, law enforcement knew this and went to Apple for help.  For the good of the country and safety of future incidents they stepped up and helped out, right?  WRONG!  No they refused to help out, to the point the government had to file a case in court requesting that the courts intervene.  Of course once this occurs the case goes public and everyone knows.  You have two types of people, one that is cheering for Apple for not giving in and protecting the information and then the second who is questioning what kind of company would not be willing to help out if it means possibly preventing another terrorist attack.

I of course am the later person. I understand that it is important to have trust in your phone carrier that they will keep all your information safe and not allow just anyone to have the ability to gain access to your personal information, but to who’s detriment?  And what about if the person who owns the phone is dead?  How loyal are you required to be?  Luckily the government didn’t give up and they were able to hack into the killer’s phone and now Apple is going crazy trying to figure out how they did it and I am sure would have to be embarrassed that they were actually able to accomplish such a feat.

The results, as far as I can tell are only good. The good is that law enforcement is able to gain the information which may be stored on the phone, possible associates of the killers and possibly people who may have assisted in their attack.  The good for Apple is for them to realize that there IS a way to hack into their system and that it was found out without their being devastating consequences by having millions of their customers having their phones hacked.  And finally the good for Apple in that they have now become aware that it is possible to hack into their system and they can work to better secure it.

 

Uber Cares About Your Safety?

According to Uber’s website – “Your safety is important to us before, during, and after every trip. That’s why we continue to develop technology that helps make millions of rides safer every day”.  So why are they having such a negative reaction to having their drivers checked via their fingerprints?

I can apply for any job and provide the employer with an alias or fake identification, we have millions of illegal aliens doing it on a daily basis, and they would never know the difference.  All people who are arrested must be fingerprinted and if someone has been convicted of a crime the FBI has a database for that.  The only way that you would have the best possible opportunity to match the name that the applicant has provided and whether or not they have committed a crime is to check them with a fingerprint.

If that is the case and Uber cares about our safety, then why are they complaining about airports and other organizations requiring the more intense scrutiny?  If Uber obtains a membership with one of the many companies on the internet which provides any Tom, Dick or Harry with someone’s criminal history you can pay as little as $7.00 per person, but if you go through the FBI it will cost you $18.00 per person.   According to Uber they maintain that requiring Uber drivers to provide a background check which is utilizing a fingerprint, would add “substantial, additional bureaucratic barriers for drivers and Lyft says that it would “prove difficult”.  Really?  Because then you would have fewer drivers?  Because you know that some of your drivers could never pass the background investigation?  Or is it that it would cost the company more money?

Both the San Francisco Attorney General’s Office and the Los Angeles Attorney General’s Office has filed a lawsuit against Uber claiming “registered sex offenders, a kidnapper, identity thieves, burglars, and a convicted murderer had passed Uber’s ‘industry leading’ background check”.  The lawsuit further states “Uber’s process cannot ensure that the information in the background check report is actually associated with the applicant since it does not use a unique biometric identifier such as a fingerprint”.

So the next time you think that it would be a good idea to call a total stranger to your personal residence, remember even though they are claiming they care about your safety, you really can not be sure who that driver is behind the wheel.

For The First Time, New Breakthrough System Reveals How to take the lead in locating your child

Studies show that 58,200 children were kidnapped last year by non-strangers.  This does not include all of the cases which include parental abductions, when parents either choose not to return the child or are late in returning them.  In non-family abductions, the child kidnapped, forty percent were killed and four percent were never located.  With all of this horrible information how can you be prepared in case an emergency if this should happen to your family?

Time is the most precious commodity you have at this point because, once again, studies show that if a child is abducted and if their kidnapper is going to kill them it is going to occur in the first three hours.  Law Enforcement has up to two hours to get the information from the child’s parent/guardian to their department where the information is then placed into the national database.  When a child goes missing the feeling of helplessness is over-whelming, waiting for police, waiting for your child to return, waiting for anyone to do anything to find your child.

With a program created by a twenty-four year veteran of law enforcement who has extensive training investigating missing persons and Amber Alerts you will have the ability to take the lead in locating your child, if they should go missing.  You won’t be sitting around waiting for someone else to do something; you will be able to take an active role.  The program created will not only provide you with the information you need in handling the situation, but it will give you the tool you will need that will be invaluable to you.  There is no other program in this area like it.

The program will provide you with important information you will need to know about the procedures which are taken in the event a child goes missing.  The actual procedures that are followed by law enforcement from the minute they are dispatched to you, making the report and entering the information into the national database.  In addition, you will receive information about what the criteria is for an Amber Alert.  Just because your child goes missing does not mean that there will be an Amber Alert.  After you receive all the information about the steps that will be taken the instructor will help you to create the tool you will need, which will allow you to take the lead in locating your child.

During the program you will be provided paperwork to complete that will have all the important information that people will need in order to help you in locating your child.  You will not only have their information, but you will provide a picture and you can even provide information about the child’s parents.  All of this information will be downloaded on to a flash drive, which you will get to keep with you.  The flash drive is something you can keep on you at all times because unfortunately kids go missing from a lot of different places and you want to be prepared no matter where you are.

The thing that is so unique about the flash drive is that you can use it for so many things.  Instead of sitting around waiting for someone else to bring your child home you can take an active role in getting the word out.  Most all officers in East Tennessee have computers in their vehicles.  These computers have the ability to communicate with their fellow officers who are working.  Typically when you call for an officer when your child goes missing and they respond you will typically spend the next thirty to forty-five minutes answering questions for their report.  If you have your flash drive, the minute the officer arrives, you can provide him with the flash drive and he can disseminate the information immediately to his fellow officers.  So the other officers will have the information they need to begin looking for your child, while you are completing paperwork.  Hopefully if this happens you aren’t alone because if you have someone with you, you can provide them with the flash drive and they can quickly create a missing person flyer and begin to disseminate them to people in the neighborhood to get the information out.  But that’s not all, you can also take the flash drive and download the information and get the word out on social media, which will give more people the ability to keep their eyes open for your child.  And you can even use it to send out an e-mail to all the area media outlets.  The possibilities are endless.

A program is going to be held on Tuesday, March 29, 2016 at the Chick Fil A, which is located at 4944 Kingston Pike.  It will begin at 5:00 p.m. and should conclude around 6:30 p.m.  This is a program no parent should pass up.  There is limited space so pre-registering for this program is highly advisable.  If you have any questions or would like to register call (865) 963-5351 or send an email to debra.nuchols@gmail.com

The President, What A Perfect Example

We have learned a lot about our President’s character in the past few years.  He has done things that no other President in history has done or in my humble opinion, shouldn’t do.  If you disagree with anything that he does then you are portrayed as a racist.  The President has made so many questionable decisions that all we can do is pray that we can recover from his presidency, although the choices we have to replace him with are not much of a consolation.

To start off with I believe as a President you should be held to a higher standard than any other person in the country.  You in fact are our leader and should set an example to the people you lead.  Therefore how do you justify having an advisor and allowing them access to the White House who has ignored the rules of our land?  The one statement I remember when I was hired for my first job is there are two things in this world that are guaranteed, death and taxes.  Well apparently not for Al Sharpton.  Mr. Sharpton owes the government 4.5 million dollars.  My first question would be how do you get to that point before someone catches it and does something about it?  I am sure that if I were to become delinquent on my taxes, the government would have me in a nice IRS office telling me how much I would be paying, with interest or I could choose to go to jail.  Not Mr. Sharpton.  He gets rewarded by being an advisor to our President.  How ethical is that?

Then you have one of the Supreme Court Justices die and do you have the President attend his funeral?  Nope!  His Press Secretary made the announcement but couldn’t give an explanation as to why.  First of all I would get all my ducks in a row before I came out and made a statement.  You have to know the first question that is going to be asked is what is so important that he can’t attend.  The answer ended up being a golf game.  Yes, that is right, instead of attending the funeral of a well respected Supreme Court Justice, he chooses to play golf.  The best thing about that was that he was rewarded by rain, which cancelled his game.

And then one of the biggest disgraces is that we have a President that chooses to weigh in on events that occur in our country before ever getting all the facts or having an investigation completed.  Since the President is our country’s leader, his opinion will mean a great deal to a lot of people.  There have been several occasions where the investigation has ultimately exonerated the person of any bad deed, but it is too late the President has already chosen to be the judge and convict them in the court of public opinion.  He has sent representatives to many different funerals of African-American individuals, but I would be curious to find out how many representatives he has he sent to even one Police Officer’s funeral, or how about one of our fallen Soldier’s funeral.

Our President chooses to live in the past and blame everything on President Bush, but I think it is about time you accept what you have done.  Our President has now issued a hundred and eighty-four commutations, which is more than his last six predecessors combined and he has put our country in more debt than we can probably ever get out of.  When you look at our young people today they refuse to take responsibility and would rather blame their actions on someone or something else, well we can’t necessarily blame them, can we?  They have the perfect example in the White House.

 

Controversy Time! Gun or Knife?

Controversy time!  Handguns and knives are options you can utilize to protect yourself.  Let’s talk about knives first.

You want to check your state for their specific laws about knives, but in Tennessee the laws have changed a little in the past couple of years.  In 2014 the laws regarding a switchblade and knife blade length have been changed.  It is now legal to carry a switchblade and there is no limit on the length of a knife’s blade.  But now other states laws have not changed so if you plan on going outside the state of Tennessee you want to make sure that you check these items at the border or insure that they are legal in the state you intend to visit.

I have a couple issues with a knife.  A knife is a deadly weapon, so if it came down to survival, of course I would do whatever it took to survive.  But if I had preferences, it would not be my first choice.  The positive of a knife is that you can easily conceal it on your person, in a purse or in a pocket.  This allows it to be easily accessible in case of an attack.  The drawback is that you have to be close enough to stab the attacker which causes a few problems.  Do you have the mid-set that you have no problem with putting the knife into someone in order to stop the attack and can you deal with the consequences?  Are you able to keep a strong enough grip on the knife that the attacker won’t be able to take it from you and use it against you?  If your attacker has gotten a hold of you, the knife is good in that you have the ability to hopefully get the knife out and stick your attacker just enough to break his hold on you.  Or maybe just the site of a knife will cause the attacker to choose another victim.  Remember, for the most part, your attacker is looking for an easy target.  If you show them you are not going to be an easy mark, hopefully they will go the other way.  When it comes time to use the knife, remember you are not using it to repeatedly stab the attacker to death.  The knife is something to stop the attack which will allow you the opportunity to escape.

Maybe you don’t want to use a knife, but you think you will feel more comfortable carrying a gun.  Once again, a gun is a deadly weapon and it is a weapon that requires training and a permit.  After my husband went to his firearms training to get his permit, he told me about his experience and there was something I found real disturbing.  My husband of course took the gun he intended to carry.  Not so much for the other people who took their training.  Everyone else brought a small little gun that had no kick and easy to shoot.  Now that is all fine and good if that is the gun you are going to carry, but if it is not, why are you not confident enough to qualify with it?  You are going to carry it, but not qualify with it.  That is very concerning to me.  Once you get your handgun carry permit, you need to decide what type of gun you are going to carry.  Is it something you are going to carry all the time?  Do the places you frequent allow you to bring a gun into their establishment?  Just a little side note here, if you are being a responsible gun carrier no one should be able to tell or would even know that you are carrying a gun.  You need to think about where you are going to carry your gun?  No matter what you want to carry it in a holster.  Ladies, if we just throw it in our purse, there are so many thinks that could possibly get lodged in the trigger area which could cause it to fire by accident.  There are numerous different holsters available.  They have one you can carry on your ankle, in the small of your back, on your hip or even hidden compartments in brief cases and purses.  You have your gun, where you are going to carry it and the holster you are going to carry it in, now what?  You want to make sure that your gun is always out of reach of anyone else.  Kids, other adults, there have been too many accidents that have occurred because of irresponsible gun owners.  BE SAFE!  No matter what, treat all guns as if they are always loaded then you will always treat guns with the utmost respect.  If you choose a gun and get a gun carry permit that is not the end of it.  You need to continuously practice with your gun to make sure you feel comfortable with it.  Don’t ever take your gun out unless you intend to use it.  Never use it to simply scare someone or intimidate them; because if you don’t intend to use it you are opening up the opportunity for the attacker to rush you and take your gun from you.

I have expressed my opinions about several different personal protective devices and no one device is the magic weapon.  It is important that you carry something that you feel comfortable and confident in yourself to use it in an emergency.  But above all else you want to have a plan in case of an emergency and you are confronted with an attacker.  What will you do?

 

How To protect yourself And be more confident

We just talked about Stun Guns; the good the bad and the ugly, now we are going to talk about Tasers.  Many times when people talk about Stun Guns, they refer to them as Tasers, but a Taser is something totally different.  I prefer a Taser as opposed to a Stun Gun and I am going to tell you why.  And the information I am providing about the Taser is through research on their website and extensive training I have received through my employer.

There are two types of Tasers created for the civilian population, one is the Taser Bolt and the second one, which is just coming out is the Taser Pulse.  The difference between the two is all in the size.  The Taser Bolt is a more compact weapon and the Taser Pulse is a larger weapon which resembles a gun; but for the most part they do the same.

I like the Taser for several different reasons.  If you choose the Taser Bolt, you will have a weapon that you can conceal fairly easily.  You would hold it like you would hold your phone or keys.  Now, if you chose the Taser Pulse you would have to decide how you would carry it, inside a coat or inside your purse, but with your hand on it ready to use.  In the moment you happen to be leaving work after working late and as you head to your car in a dark parking lot and you see a large figure of someone rushing towards you, dressed in dark colored clothing and you don’t know them; as the person begins to get closer you point the Taser at their mid-section and then pull the trigger.  Once you pull the trigger your Taser should shoot out two wires which have what looks like fishing hooks on the end of them.  The goal is to hit your target with the wire and fishing hooks because if that occurs they will receive an electric shock.  The Taser will be effective up to fifteen feet away.  What if I am not a good shot, you ask?  Taser has a solution for that;  you have shot your Taser towards the individual rushing towards you and you miss and he keeps advancing, you then have the opportunity to take the Taser and press it against the person to give them a big shock.  When you incapacitate the person that is when you run and escape.  Don’t stand around and watch him flop around like a fish.  But what happens if the wires from the Taser are stuck in him, then drop the Taser and take off.  With the Taser you have two opportunities to escape and the first opportunity you don’t have to wait until the attacker gets close enough to grab you.

One of the best things I like about Taser is their replacement policy.  I am sure when I told you to drop the Taser and take off you probably was thinking I was crazy, right?  Tasers are not real cheap weapons, so the thought of just dropping it and then having to replace it may seem unfathomable but there is a reason why I tell you to do so.  Taser has a policy which basically states that if you utilized your Taser to protect yourself and you complete a police report they will replace your Taser.  This is an awesome policy.

You do not have to be licensed to carry a Taser, but in my next post I will talk about the last two weapons we will discuss and that is guns and knives.

 

A Little Bit Of Spark In Your Life

Now we get electrical!  I have found that when people talk about stun guns they include Tasers, but they are not the same and I will explain why.  Although they are both dealing with electricity, the way you use them is different.  The purpose of the stun gun is to immobilize a person during an attack, long enough for you to escape.  It is not something you get to try and have fun with your friends.  You know, zap, and see their reaction.  Just like any other device I talk about it is important that it is kept in a safe place and you can get to it quickly and it works in case of an emergency.  Before deciding on a stun gun you must first check your state laws and make sure it is legal.

First let’s talk about the stun gun.  Stun guns come in all different shapes and sizes.  They have flashlights, batons, one you wear on your knuckles and then several different compact hand held models.

When thinking about a stun gun you want to consider how and when you are going to carry it.  Is it something you want to have for when you have to walk to your car at night?  Maybe it is something you want to carry while you are jogging in the neighborhood or on the walking trails?  How you are going to carry it will depend on the size and shape you want.  Are you going to keep it in your purse?  Or maybe you will carry it on your belt?  No matter where you keep it, you want to make sure that you have quick access to it in case of an emergency.  For example, you may carry it in your purse while you are sitting at your desk working, but when you head out to your car you may want to carry it in your hand.  How quick do you think you will be able to retrieve your stun gun if it is in the bottom of your purse?

The next thing you want to think about is how much voltage do you want?  The voltage will determine how much electricity emitted each time you use it.  A stun gun can range from 500,000 volts to 5 million volts.  The purpose of the stun gun is to incapacitate someone just long enough for you to escape.  Common sense will tell you the larger the volts the more of a punch you will have, but also want to think about this, what if it is used against you or taken away from you?  Even though the stun gun has more voltage it doesn’t necessarily mean that it will be larger, you will still be able to find a compact stun gun with a lot of volts.

Now something you need to think about is how you use the stun gun.  Most all stun guns you have available are hand held and are small in nature.  When it comes time to use it you will have to actually make contact with the attacker.  You will be in close proximity.  The stun gun is great in a situation where the attacker has grabbed you and you are trying to get loose.  When making your decision you want to think about whether or not you want to carry a device that requires you to get that close to someone in order to be effective.

Since this entry has been quite long, I am going to talk about my favorite tomorrow, the Taser.

Is A Handgun For You?

Just to finish up a little from my last post, there are a few other things that you can carry on your person, for protection.  One such item would be a small pocket knife.  In the state of Tennessee the knife must be less then four inches in length.  Some things you must consider when using a knife is that you will have to be very close to the person.  You will also have to think about whether or not you are going to be able to hit an area on the body that will take the person down, otherwise you are going to have to strike again or take the chance your attacker will come after you and possibly use your knife against you.  Another device you can use is pepper spray.  There are various types of small key chain-type canisters on the market that will allow you to keep them in your hand or even in a pocket.  Since there are so many different types out there you want to do a little research.  You want to check on what method of dispersal it uses.  Is it going to be a fog, where if it is a windy day you will have the possibility of it blowing back in your face?  Do you want one that has a dye additive, so that if they escape there will be residue that will help to identify him/her?  In my opinion and experience, you will want one that contains Oleo resin Capsicum or also known as “OC”.  Pepper Sprays which don’t contain OC people who have a high pain threshold or on different types of drugs may be able to fight through the effects, but if you use OC the effects to the body are something that they cannot control.  But of course, the drawback of any pepper spray would be can the attacker be able to take your pepper spray from you and use it on you?  Are you willing to practice a little to make sure you know what its effects are?  And do you have confidence that you will be able to be precise in using it well enough to hit your intended target?

As we go on to the next device which is the only one that requires a permit to carry is a gun.  A gun is a huge decision to make.  There are several things that you MUST think about when making this choice.  First of all do you have time to take a Hand Gun Carry Permit class and if so, can you pass it?  So lets say you pass it, now what kind of gun do you think you would feel comfortable in carrying?  Well that will probably depend on where you think you are going to carry it.  I think it is extremely important that no matter where you carry it, you should carry it in a holster.  This is a little extra safety measure which will insure that you don’t accidentally put your finger on the trigger or if you are carrying it in a purse that something doesn’t get wedge in the trigger guard and cause an accidental discharge.  There are many types of holsters out there on the market.  Will you feel comfortable having it strapped to your ankle?  Or would you rather have it on your belt?  How about maybe in a purse that has a holster built in to the bottom?  No matter where you choose to carry it you want to practice with it to make sure that you will be able to safely get to it when needed.  You needed to train enough with it that you feel comfortable enough that if you pull it out during an attack that your attacker will easily be able to take it from you.

With all devices that I am talking about, it is so important to practice with them to make sure you 1) know what it does; 2) feel confident in using it and 3) an attacker is not going to easily take it from you.  Sometimes it is just a matter of looking confident, even if you are scared to death on the inside!

Tomorrow I am going to talk about electronic devices like stun guns and Tasers.

Personal Protective Devices, What Are You Gonna Choose?

In my humble opinion I believe each individual needs to think about what personal protective device they would use in case of an emergency.  I am not trying to suggest that everyone should run out and get a gun, but I am suggesting that in the society we live in today it is important to be prepared.  There are so many different types of devices out today, in addition to objects you carry on you daily.

It is important that you actually put some thought and effort into choosing a personal protective device.  Not everyone should carry a gun, just like pepper spray is not for everyone, but if you look around you will find something that is a good fit for you.  I want to give you my personal opinion about a few items.  The information I provide is either garnered through personal experience or research.  I am not endorsing any device, but just like all products on the shelf, some are better than others.  There are a few things that you need to think about before you jump into your personal protective device shopping spree.  One of the first things you want to think about is where are you going to carry your device?  Another thought is, does the device you choose require any training or a license to carry it?  Will you feel comfortable carrying the device you choose to carry?  And finally, does the places that you typically frequent have restrictions on what you are allowed to carry (i.e. A lot of businesses don’t allow firearms)?

Let’s take the first question, where do you plan on carrying your device?  Are you going to carry it hanging around your neck, in your pocket or purse, or even strap it on your belt?  If you want to carry it on you and you want to carry it around your neck you can think about a personal alarm.  A personal alarm is a small device that makes a lot of noise.  This would be used to draw attention to yourself, which a criminal does not want.  It is small and is something you could have quick access to, if you are wearing it around your neck.  You do not need any special training and it is something you don’t have to worry about someone taking it from you and using it against you.  Remember in a couple posts back when I explained that a criminal is looking for an easy target?  If you are using a personal alarm along with screaming and yelling, you will not be that easy target.

It is important to look around at the different alarms that are out on the market.  You can choose from ones that simply make a noise, to those that are actually monitored by someone who can actually call for help if you need it.  Of course the monitored devices are a lot more expensive than the other.  You don’t want to just look at the price though; you want to look at reviews.  I love checking reviews because if people aren’t happy with something, they are going to let people know.  So do your research before you make your decision.

Tomorrow I am going to discuss the devices that require training and permits to carry them.  Both the pros and cons.