How Alaskans can protect themselves from kidnapping
Jason Evans | The Arctic Sounder |
Feb 14, 2012
On Feb. 1 in Anchorage, 18-year-old Samantha Koenig was kidnapped and abducted from her work in a coffee stand near Midtown Alaska Club on Tudor Road. This abduction happened around 8 p.m., in a fairly public place, where there was bound to be people near Alaska Club or people driving by on the busy Tudor Road.
The Anchorage police have said little about it. There is a video but they have not released it to the public. Many people are watching this event and are jumping in to help in any way they can. They have donated money; they voluntarily drive around looking for her and are hanging signs and searching throughout the community.
People in Anchorage and beyond are wishing they could do more and are at a loss as to how or why this happened. Just as we prepare for a camping or boating trip, we must also be prepared keep ourselves safe in all situations.
As a father of an 11-month-old daughter and an uncle to seven young nieces who are all growing up in rural Alaska, I have been thinking about what a young person can do to fight back in this type of situation or just be prepared when traveling to larger cities or unfamiliar places. This is what I found:
Have a plan
First try to keep yourself out of dangerous situations. For example, if you’re traveling away from home, stay in public places and areas known to be safe. Use the buddy system and travel in pairs. Always let your friends and family know where you are going and when you should be expected home.
Be prepared to resist
Carry mace, use your keys to fight off an attacker, take a self-defense class, or learn some defensive moves from your older siblings.
Run Away
Do whatever you can to get away. Don't look back and don't stop until you're in a safe place. Your chances of surviving are much greater if you don't get in a vehicle with a stranger.
Don't be embarrassed to make a scene -- yell and scream to get the attention of others. Fight like your life depends on it, as it may.
Jason Evans is publisher of The Arctic Sounder, Bristol Bay Times and Dutch Harbor Fisherman. Alaska Dispatch encourages a diversity of opinion and community perspectives. The opinions expressed herein are those of the contributor and are not necessarily endorsed or condoned by Alaska Dispatch. This commentary was originally published in the Bristol Bay Times and is reprinted here with permission.
The little Huts should have a key entry instead of a doorknob so that no one can come in whenther is anyone there or to breakin.Have cameras around the huts.PAIR UP it's harder to mess with two people than with one person.
My heart goes out to the Parents and siblings of Samantha, I hope and pray the the person who stole her from her partents will release her ASAP,I am praying for her safe return.
Take the 1st Amendment Class, and you could learn the 2nd too.
"A strong body makes the mind strong. As to the species of exercises, I advise the gun. While this gives moderate exercise to the body, it gives boldness, enterprise and independence to the mind. Games played with the ball, and others of that nature, are too violent for the body and stamp no character on the mind. Let your gun therefore be your constant companion of your walks.
--- Thomas Jefferson to Peter Carr, 1785
I agree with Brian Rozell's comment, do not ever go with someone. Fight and keep fighting, your odds are much better.
All women should be prepared for an attempted kidnapping or rape. The best thing you can do is be prepared - with a gun. Carry it in your back pocket and know how to use it. Go to the range and become comfortable with it. Take a shooter's safety course. Then if someone tries to grab you, shoot him in the crotch. ALWAYS FIGHT BACK. Rapists and kidnappers are weak men, who do not want a confrontation. If you are walking down the street and someone asks the time, ignore them, pull out your gun and be prepared to shoot. Don't be a victim. Let's all kill these scumbags.
I have said to my wife and my kids again and again and again. Whatever happens, you JUST DON'T GO with an attacker. YOU DON'T GO. Even if they have a gun, the worst thing they can possibly do is shoot you right then and there. Odds are they wont, but even if they do, maybe you survive it. But even if not, at least we know where you are, what happened, and at least it's no worse than that. If you go along, odds are your experience will be unimaginably worse, and you'll get killed anyway. Don't go. Fight, fight, fight, scream, yell, run. If you are going to be killed, better for it to happen quickly, in public, with a modicum of dignity, rather than be dragged off, tortured, stripped, and left in an anonymous shallow grave. DON'T GO.
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