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Stay Safe Street Tip #30
"Respect, Security Alert and Clearwater Tigers"
Good morning Folks. I
hope that all are staying safe and enjoying our rain this weekend. Before
getting to the topics at hand, a few administrative notes.
1. The Knight Shooting Sports Complex at 12000 US 19 North (between
Ulmerton and Park Blvd.) is making outstanding progress. The target retrieval
system is almost finished and what a system it is! Wait until you all see this
range. The Certificate of Occupancy (CO) should be issued this week. I have my
first CWP class scheduled (hopefully) in the new complex March 2, 2002 and the
first Tactical Firing Course March 9, 2002. If you are interested, the Tactical
Course of Fire should be added to the website today or tomorrow. If not, please
email me and I will send to you by return email.
2. I will be featuring Ladies Only classes in the new complex. Sorry
guys, women only! These classes will include CWP, Self-Defense Handgun and
Tactical Firing. Times and dates will be announced. I also hope to offer a
Tactical Shotgun course in the near future.
3. Jane and I now offer a complete service in regard to Customized
Special Occasion gift certificates. These services will include CWP Classes,
Self-Defense Handgun, Tactical Firing and Tactical Shotgun Classes, Florida
Firearms lawbooks, soft body armor (bulletproof vests), Stay Safe Street Safety
Seminars and Home and Business Security Surveys to include Mylar Glass Gard and
Suncoast Security infrasonic alarm systems. Please call or email for
information.
Thanks and Stay Safe! Norm
Respect
Please don't confuse the
respect that I am addressing with the respect you would render your elders. I
don't qualify yet but will soon-ask my wife Jane! I am concerned with respect
for your safety and the safety of others in regard to the damage that firearms
can do if handled either carelessly or wantonly or stupidly. In the last two or
three weeks, there have been three truly stupid, ignorant instances in which the
gun handler should have been more respectful. Believe it or not, two of these
involved law enforcement officers. Last week a SWAT officer shot himself in the
thigh while holstering his Glock. Finger off the trigger stupid! Even
"stupider," a deputy in an adjacent county shot himself twice in the thigh while
holstering his Glock. This is classic. Finger on the trigger and goes for the
holster-Boom! Removes the firearm from the holster, looks at it with a puzzled
look on his face and then reholsters with his finger on the trigger-Boom! I hope
this guy doesn't driv! e on US19! I heard that another guy (unconfirmed) in
Pinellas County liked to keep a loaded .45, apparently cocked and locked, under
a sofa cushion. He sits down on the cushion, the weapon discharges and hits him
in the thigh. This had a poor outcome for him since the bullet clipped the
femoral and he bled to death! Please remember that if you are going to store,
transport, carry or use firearms you must maintain a positive, proactive
attitude in regard to safe storage, safe transport, safe carry and safe usage.
It only takes a split second!
Security
Alert
Two ladies
finished dinner last night and drove from the restaurant to an apartment complex
just east of US 19 by Countryside Mall. They arrived in the parking lot of the
complex and one lady started walking to her car while the other lady was standing
near her speaking on a cell phone. A black male, 25 to 30 years of age wearing
dark clothing, thin build and armed with a black colored handgun approached.
He demanded the car keys to her late model Cadillac from the lady on the cell
phone. When she refused, he pistol whipped her in the head. She then gave him
the car keys. The scumbag then approached the other lady and stole her purse.
I have mentioned these type offenses before and have previously covered in Stay
safe Street Tips. It is time for a refresher since this carjacking type offense
will probably be committed again and frequently.
1. Always be observant when traveling from
A to B. If you are concerned that you are being followed, don't go home, don't
go to your place of employment and don't go anywhere that you can be located
later. I recommend either four right turns or four left turns to verify that
you are being tailed. If still concerned, call the police (911) on your cell
phone and drive to people. Do not confront the pursuer!
2. If you have a garage, back in and keep
the doors locked and the engine running until you verify that the garage door
has closed and no one has slid under the door. Of course, you really need a
garage door remote. If a problem develops, drive through the garage door and
then call 911.
3. If you do not have a garage and park
in an unsecured area, be sure that the area is well lighted. Keep your engine
running, hopefully with an escape route, and doors locked. Observe the area
carefully looking for possible ambushers. If you see something that worries
you and cannot drive away, lean on the horn and dial 911. If it appears to be
OK, exit the vehicle with keys ready and enter your home and immediately lock
the door behind you-do not wait to put down your bags, purses, packages, etc.
4. If the situation is similar to the lady
on the cell phone, give up the keys, purse, packages, etc. This may not always
turn out well but sometimes there are no alternatives and property is just property.
In this event, the woman that gave up her purse was not harmed but the lady
who refused the keys was! However, remember the cardinal rule. If you are in
danger of being removed to an isolated area or being harmed, fight like Hell!
There may be no tomorrow!
5. Remember-the scumbags are out there
so stay alert!
Clearwater Tigers
"A bump at bar leads to slaying" St. Pete Times, February 19, 2002
The first sentence of the article says it all. "It all started with a bump."
This act of Tigerism occurred at Norm's Place, 1681 Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard in
Clearwater. Two 20 year olds, Mickey Hanifen and Lance Clapp, took the "bump"
outside. There was a struggle of some kind and allegedly Hanifen pulled a folding
knife and stabbed Clapp at least twice in the head and body. Hanifen then fled
the scene in his car, crashed into a power pole and was blocked in by a bar
employee who had followed the fleeing scumbag from the scene. Fortunately, Hanifen
was unable to flee and was arrested by a passing Clearwater police officer at
the crash site with the folding knife found on the floorboard of the car. Clapp
died at 7:30AM that morning at Bayfront Medical Center. Of course there will
be questions about how these two underage males were able to drink at the bar.
I don't know about you all, but what a stupid way to die and what a stupid way
to spend your life in prison. ! I guess it must be hard to be a "sheep"
at 20. Of course, it must be more difficult to be either dead or facing life
in prison!
STAY SAFE AND GOD BLESS AMERICA
Tips