The recent murder or 23-year old Alissa Branton by her 61-year old stalker Roger Troy has been called a tragedy. Certainly, it is a tragedy for those who lost a loved one and most assuredly for the husband of this unfortunate young lady. But it is also a heinous act perpetrated by a twisted, homicidal mental case who would have done the world and this society a GREAT SERVICE had he chosen to end his own worthless existence before causing pain to an innocent party. I extend my most sincere condolences to her family.
Details on the case may be found here...
There are some basic lessons to be learned here in regards to personal security. We now know that Mrs. Brandon had applied for an order of protection against Troy. We know that the injunction was awaiting a court date - a necessary step in the process - and since no physical threats had been made by Troy, the judge would not issue an injunction without said court date. I'm not willing to argue this point as we must follow the process, providing evidence for such documents when it is necessary. Sometimes such accusations have been made under false pretences.
The facts would show however, that an Order of Protection or restraining order is really no protection at all. It is at best, a deterrent to individuals who were not a significant threat to begin with. It is at worst, proof that a homicidal maniac was allowed to prey upon an innocent victim and that they harbored complete and utter disregard for such authority. These documents have actually been found in the hands or near the body of the victims of such animals. A piece of paper will not stop a bullet or the blade of a knife.
Many individuals, on various firearms and self-defense forums have stated that "she should have obtained" a weapon (or carry permit). Not bad advice that. However, as I have stated far too many times... a weapon (a gun) does NOT hold mystical powers! It is only useful in the hands of someone who has the where-with-all to USE IT! (The majority of people who think that they do, do not!)
In this specific case, it is unlikely that this young woman would have had the opportunity to use such an implement if she had been carrying one. The attacker acted quickly and it is not indicated that she had adequate warning of his presence or intent. It was in effect, an ambush. The average person doesn't prepare themselves for such things.
"How can someone possibly be expected to defend against something like this?"
There are several steps she could have and should have taken to prepare for this. When one is placed in a threat situation - assuming, as in this case, that they are AWARE of the threat ahead of time - there are things that one can do to at least lesson their vulnerability.
This particular threat was known to the victim. The severity was such that she felt it a viable option to seek protection. That should be the FIRST STEP, not the ONLY STEP! There are things that each person can do to mitigate or at least lesson the likelihood that they will be caught in such an ambush. While all of these things may appear to be incredibly intrusive, we're making the assumption here that this is a temporary condition. However, one should actually implement as much of this as possible as the normal regimen they follow. This alone can alleviate a lot of the potential for problems down the road.
1) Take ANY threat to your life SERIOUSLY! This is number one FOR A REASON! A significant number of stalking victims didn't bother to take the threats or bizarre behavior of their assailant seriously. They "blew it off". They died or were maimed physically or emotionally as a result. This is not to say that one should seek an order of protection or file a police report every time they encounter someone who may appear "a bit odd". A onetime meeting may be an anomaly. Repeated contacts may signal something more. Train yourself to recognize the signs. Do the research. You may not be right every time... but for your own sake, you should be thinking about this like an adult, not like a child.
2) Avoid activities, hobbies, jobs etc., that MAKE YOU a likely target. Obviously, for many people, their careers or interests are going to put them in the preview of some... weirdo's. Cocktail waitresses, bar tenders, models, news anchors... or anyone else whose vocation or activity takes them into the public eye is going to be far more likely to encounter the typical sociopath who attaches themselves to celebrity. Ordinary people fall into this category as well however. A person with a membership at a local gym or health club may find that they are attracting the wrong kind of attention from others. Make yourself aware of it. As I said, every contact is probably not worth sounding the alarm for. Learn to recognize the signs.
3) Notify your friends and your employer of the situation! These people may be your first line of support and protection. If your company has a dedicated security department or contracted service, notify them as well. They should be provided with the name and photograph of the individual if the circumstances warrant it and if the law allows it. (Some jurisdictions may not permit the posting of this information before an order has been signed by a judge. A potential victim can STILL make their office and security department aware of this situation and advise, request or DEMAND that security and \ or reception not admit this individual or give out the victim’s location within the facility. This isn't being paranoid. It's being SMART! Strangers shouldn't be getting this information anyhow.)
4) Do not leave your place of employment for "lunch" or other activities during the day. Stay within that controlled environment as much as possible. It may not be a fortress... but it will certainly require the stalker to enter the premises and seek you out. It's made much more difficult in a building with several floors and hundreds of employees. Yes... this might appear to be a "hassle". However, isn't it far more of a "hassle" to be shot or stabbed to death in the parking lot of your place of employment? If your life has been threatened or you feel that you may be in danger... then adjust your thinking to compensate for this inconvenience. Death is a more serious alteration of your habits than eating lunch out of a brown paper bag. If you must go out... don't go alone. If you "must" go alone notify your employer where you are going, how you are getting to and from and when you expect to be back! Send such notifications as an e-mail where possible and prudent. (Don't trust the receptionist to remember or follow through conveying this information to your supervisor, family or the police).
5) Vary your routes to work, home and to your other activities as much as possible. This can be difficult to different degrees. The closer you get to your destination, the fewer options you may have on your choice of routes.
6) Vary your time lines. This follows the same basic rule as number five. It also has the same problems. You may not be able to control what time you need to be at work, the gym, your classes etc. However, you should work to control this YOURSELF as much as possible. If it means being early on occasion, combining trips or being late once in a while... then make the decision.
Neither the police, your loved ones nor that piece of paper issued by the court is going to stop someone who is ABSOLUTELY DETERMINED to do you harm. Nothing is! The steps that I've mentioned aren't "magical" either. They'll give you more control than you had previously and hopefully discourage or at least inconvenience the nut case who's after you. Ultimately, you're going to have to depend on your own wits, the skills you develop and your own mindset to make this work. You're going to need to be aware and not drop your guard to the point where you're on auto-pilot during the day. Again, all of this will seem like a hassle... until it pays off and you're still alive.
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