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I can't say it often enough. Don't put one's self in a non defensive position. I know everyone wants to be accepted. Predators are the most accepting kind. One time I made a list for not only TG but any person to follow for safety. Especially TG and women need to be extra alert of their surroundings and the body count in that clear space. If anyone is closer than ten feet make sure one's hand is wrapped around mace, pepper spray, or other weapon. Because of my lifestyle I pack heat, usually on my hip with a shirttail draped over it. More than once I have uncovered my defense. Conversation and approach is usually stopped cold. The couple times they didn't, I didn't let them get within arms reach, and my hand was wrapped around my gun. I'm not afraid of anyone. I'm just overly cautious of those I don't know and have never met before. Those strangers can be here today and five states away tomorrow. Who would know? Even if my state didn't allow carry, I would anyway.
These Are the U.S. Trans Women Killed in 2015. This has been a particularly deadly year for transgender women in the United States. Most were murdered by knife. Their killer got in close. In the first seven weeks of the year, seven trans women were killed. Twelve transgender women were killed in the U.S. in all of 2014.
http://www.advocate.com/transgender/2015/07/27/these-are-tra...
Be a statistic as a survivor who showed how it was done.
Don't be a statistic in the body count making that one way trip to the morgue.
Boys and girls, you're some of the smartest class of people on this screwed up planet. Use it and stay alive.
Comments
To make it clearer - it's not
To make it clearer - it's not just TG that run risks.
In 2012, there were 1700+ women murdered in the US. Of those, over 90% were killed by someone they knew (http://www.vpc.org/studies/wmmw2014.pdf).
What that means is that even if you're with people you -know-, be aware of what's around you. If you're in a marginalized group of any sort (lesbian, TG, furry, sane), I would strongly suggest a self defence class, and possibly look into concealed carry.
However, before you immediately panic, keep in mind that the 1,700 women were out of over 150 _million_ females in the population. It's not likely to happen, but paying attention lowers that risk even further. Also remember the adage about the police. "When seconds count, they're minutes away".
I'll get a life when it's proven and substantiated to be better than what I'm currently experiencing.
Good Point
Not to minimalize anyone's perspective because homicide even in small numbers is appalling, but some of these stats are surprising.
https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2012/...
Almost a third of murders from 2012 are unsolved.
All the nonsense from "The Donald" aside, it appears Hispanics are not quite the killers as the whites and blacks. Also, note that older black men rarely murder while older white men still are lethal.
Also . . . why so many homicides in California? It looks like Alabama is the place to be.
Angela Rasch (Jill M I)
I'd suspect that if you
I'd suspect that if you looked, the pockets of homicides in California are in border zones, or in towns with extremely high _recent_ immigrant populations. (or just plain illegal). Miami is a pit (according to an ex-Miami cop), Houston has problems, but the 'Valley' has some REAL issues.
It's not necessarily really the illegals that are responsible - it's the related illegal activities that go along with it, like drug smuggling, human smuggling (for sex, normal coyote behaviour, whatever). Cities with big gang populations are probably going to see more as well.
Another issue is the enormously high cost of living in a lot of California urban areas. That sort of stress can cause all sort of problems.
I'll get a life when it's proven and substantiated to be better than what I'm currently experiencing.
Rate per 100,000
California has 38,000,000 people, yes, there are a lot of murders. But considering the rate per 100,000, CA is only a bit above average and much lower than a few states – like most of the deep south states, including Alabama which is 40% higher than CA's rate. The other states along the Mexican border also have some elevation due most likely to the other crimes in that area.
The states with low rates are mostly very rural, like Idaho, Utah and Wyoming. Though, amazingly, Alaska's rate is 80% as high as CA, and you don't get much more rural than Alaska. MN is probably the largest state with a low rate, but other than the Twin Cities area, MN is very rural.
Hugs,
Erin
= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.
Murderapolis
The Twin Cities are not all that peaceful. We have gangs, drugs, and stupid, angry people with guns.
Thanks for the thought. After posting, my spouse made the same remark about the density of population.
Angela Rasch (Jill M I)
Lifestyle choices
I made some observations about the group of women killed. I will let you make your own conclusions.
I seek social opportunities. Bars are not as safe as churches. Being out after midnight is not as safe as before. Walking on isolated roads is not as safe as riding in a car or on a bike. On a bike, though you are likely only doing about 10+ miles per hour, you are past most potential assailants before they can act.
I flirted, even at my age, with a man in a Middle Eastern Bar and "I liked it". I got my ass out of there before it got too fun.
I used to carry a .45 auto but they are heavy, but that is when I had an innocent potential victim with me. I am a very good body guard. These days I hope that someone that kills me will do it with something that is quick. Because of my Mental Health history it is doubtful I could get a carry permit now.
I park in a basement garage and never see anyone. What will I do when I do?
Once upon a time
When I was younger and pretending and presenting as male, I feared nothing. Was it stupid bravado, possibly, but I never thought of what could happen to me.or harm could come my way, I've been full time TS since 2010 and I'm not sure whether it is the hormones or just age acquired wisdom but I'm nervous as hell when I go do my laundry late at night or walking. Not to brag or anything but with my own grown DD breasts, I feel self conscious of my body and what most men/perverts are looking at.This in a 'good' part of town and with lots of lighting. I feel more vulnerable and situationally alert. Most nights when I go to the laundry room, I'm in an apartment complex, I carry my .45 in my laundry basket. Not due to anything that has occurred but it makes me feel safer.
Night before last I walked to the Walgreen's drug store at 2 am. It is half mile away on a major roadway with lots of lights. At one time in my life I wouldn't have given it a second thought. Needless to say, not any more. I had my .45 in holster clipped to the back of my shorts. Out of sight of any front approach but in very obvious view to anyone who cared to come at me from behind. That being said, I still kept looking over my shoulder just as a precaution. Had my walk without incident and all ended well.
I add this last out of curiosity. I wonder if there is an increase in female/transgender murders/assaults due to the use of personal devices to play music. With earbuds or headphones on, it is near impossible to hear anything coming up from behind or either side. Hell, most people don't even pay attention to persons walking right at them from the front. Tune out the world and in how many cases......tune out their own life?
Being relatively slight of build even pre-hormones
I presented very well and consequently got a taste of vulnerability really early on. This was the late 1980s and being discovered could cause big trouble to say the least.
Now I am an even slighter woman so that feeling only is more so.
But one does what one has to do.
I stopped carrying
When much younger, I never won a fight because when I decided to fight someone, hurting him always bothered me more than winning.
When I was protecting someone, I could have defended them easily. Now that I am alone that old bugaboo of worrying about hurting someone is back. I am more than expert with a .45 auto, but why carry it if I won't use it?
Now after 10 years, I feel entitled to live again. What now?
Gwen
Hon, try a little John Wayne
Of course some were from movies others from interviews, but the motto is still the same for real life
http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/45481.John_Wayne
“I won't be wronged. I won't be insulted. I won't be laid a-hand on. I don't do these things to other people, and I require the same from them.”
"A goal, A love and A dream give you total control over your body and your life”
Oklahoma born and raised cowgirl