Take A Look At Your Home Security

I seem paranoid. I have what is called “hyper vigilance” which seems to others like paranoia. The difference is that paranoia is a fear, vigilance is being ready. We live in difficult times. I never agreed with what the character Colonel Jessup did in the movie “A Few Good Men”, but I agree with his speech. He said: “You can't handle the truth! Son, we live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Who's gonna do it? You? …I have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom. You weep for Santiago, and you curse the Marines. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know -- that Santiago's death, while tragic, probably saved lives; and my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives. You don't want the truth because deep down in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall -- you need me on that wall. We use words like "honor," "code," "loyalty." We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something. You use them as a punch line. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather that you just said "thank you" and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon and stand a post.” We do live in a “world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns.” Sometimes those walls are the walls of our homes. Sometimes they may be the walls of our business or school. I obviously have no problem with defending with guns, but there are many other ways to defend and guard. Determining the threats around you may not be comfortable, but it’s necessary. Doing a “threat assessment” would be a great advantage. Actually we do this all the time. We hear about burglaries in the neighborhood and we ensure things are locked and secured. By doing an assessment we can cover every threat, perceived and real. With crime and terrorist activity, businesses, homes, schools, airports and almost every place that can be victim to violence. You can mitigate, and sometimes eliminate, these threats with preparation. A threat assessment is the practice of determining the seriousness of potential events, the likelihood of their occurrence, and how to handle them. The basics of a threat assessment are: Evaluate all threats manmade, and natural, that are likely to happen. Make a list of these threats. Look at the current security, or lack of, that is in place now See what needs to be done to change the risk Re-evaluate after changes have been made Examples of threats: Burglary, active shooter, terrorist attacks, several kinds of natural disasters, home invasions, civil unrest, etc. Some things to look for: Vegetation obscuring criminals or terrorists. Unlit areas. Things left unsecure. Doors or windows needing more fortification or strengthening. Windows needing curtains or blinds. Alarms or cameras needed. There are many small things a home owner can do. Such as a nail sticking out of the door into a drilled hole in the door jamb. This is for doors with the hinges on the outside. This way if the hinge pins are removed, the door can’t be pulled out of the jamb. Doing a risk assessment and thinking like a criminal can help you to see vulnerabilities in the security of your home or business. I did this at a school once and they did not appreciate it even though I was right. I noticed the changes I recommended slowly happened anyway and I just chuckled. Don’t be vulnerable. Do a risk assessment on your home and make whatever changes are needed to be safe and secure. Semper Paratus Check 6 Burn