“Catch-and-Release,” at the expense of public safety (about which no one seems to care):
On Sunday evening, a woman waiting for her flight at EWR (Newark, NJ Airport) was precipitously attacked and stabbed in her face.
I’ve stood at that exact spot at EWR, many times!
She was subsequently treated at a local hospital for a penetrating gash in her face, as well as several broken facial bones. She will survive, but is suffering permanent disfiguring/disabling injury.
The perpetrator, just released from prison (two days previous, early release), is well-known to police and has carried-out similar deadly knife-attacks before, both inside of, and outside of, prison. Police know him to be an extremely dangerous sociopath. He has no permanent residence (homeless), no job (never has), and he had no legitimate business at the Airport.
Yet, there he was!
He did not know, nor did he have any connection with, the woman he suddenly attacked.
This violent felony was committed within sight of, and only a few meters away from, several unformed NY/NJ Port Authority Police Officers, who saw what happened and made an arrest more-or-less instantaneously, performing their duty as expected.
Yet, their close and high-profile proximity apparently did not function as any kind of deterrent!
Lessons:
1) This incident represents an absolute pattern that we’re seeing play-out with monotonous
regularity!
The victim here was sincerely convinced that she was in a “place of safety.” However, the VCA in this case apparently failed to read the memo specifying that knife attacks are not permitted inside Airports, nor within other “sensitive places” (so ludicrously labeled by naive politicians)!
2) Local politicians, and the media, immediately labeled the whole affair “a success,” due to the quick arrest of the suspect.
“Success?”
I wonder if the victim would use that term to describe her continuing, painful ordeal!
For one, I’m suspicious of that term, particularly when it is bandied-about so carelessly!
3) The victim stated (during a subsequent interview) that she had always “felt safe” in airports, until now
“Feel” any way you want. “Feelings” don’t change anything! Trust your senses. Trust what your eyes and experience are telling you.
Through constant awareness, alertness, and preparedness, we have to create our own “safety,” to the degree that we can.
4) When flying-out, get through TSA Security as quickly as you’re able. That will provide some protection. Do not loiter in unscreened parts of airport property!
When flying-in, claim your luggage a fast as possible, and then get away from the airport as quickly as you can.
5) Politicians and their media commissars, like carnival barkers, who assure you that this place or that is “safe” (because they have arbitrarily declared it so, via a casual wave of their arrogant hand), are believed and trusted only by naive fools!
They don’t even believe it themselves, nor should they!
“Affirmation, without discipline, is the beginning of delusion”
James Rohn
/John
