Georgia Trailer Park Murders

Early Saturday, a man in Georgia called 911 about a mass killing. Police showed up at the scene and discovered 7 people dead and 2 in critical condition. The man who called, Guy Heinze Jr., 22, is not considered a suspect although he is under arrest on drug and other charges. Police have reason to believe that Heinze has given them false statements. Guy Heinze is also a relative to one of the victims. The murders where committed in a trailer park called New Hope in a town just north of Brunswick, GA and police believe that the murderer is still on the loose.
One of the critically injured victims in the trailer park died on Sunday, raising the total number of dead to eight. Autopsies of the first 7 dead victims were started on Sunday. The county's coroner's office director mentioned that the crime scene was brutal and that he had never seen a case like this in his 17 years at the coroner's office. Georgia police are not giving much information out to the public, but they did mention that the age range of the victims was from a young age to a very old age. They also stated that there was no evidence of it being a murder-suicide case, since none of the victims were suspected of being involved in the murders. Georgia authorities are warning the New Hope trailer park residents to be cautious of their surroundings. Twenty detectives have been assigned to the case and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation is also involved.

2 Virginia Tech University students killed near campus

It happened 15 miles from Virginia Tech University's Blacksburg campus at a campground frequented by students. The students were shot to death in the parking lot of the Caldwell Fields campground. They were 19 year-old David Lee Metzler and 18 year-old Heidi Lynn Childs. David's body was found in the car and Heidi's was found outside the car. David was an industrial and systems engineering major and Heidi was majoring in biochemistry. Autopsies are going to be conducted but no suspect has been identified.

This incident follows the massacre that took place 2 years ago at Virginia Tech University by a student that killed 32 others and then himself. To add to that, in January of this year, a student killed a fellow student by beheading her in a campus cafe!

Virginia Tech University's President, Charles Steger, has been counseling the campus community and doesn't understand how this sort of violence is taking place in the area, at this time and in the campus community. He mentioned that tragedies like these are deeply painful to all. Memorial services will be posted on the university's Web site.

Detroit 12 year old boy shoots a woman to death

Demarco Harris, a juvenile, killed 24 year old Trisha Babcock on August 1st , during a robbery just after midnight in Detroit, Michigan. He shot her in the chest with a gun after a struggle. She had been sitting in her car and later pronounced dead at the hospital.

Demarco Harris could face life in a Michigan prison for his felony. The prosecutor's office filed the case with an adult designation. In the state of Michigan, this means that a child is tried in juvenile court and after conviction, a judge has the option to sentence the juvenile as an adult or a juvenile or the decision can be postponed until the child reaches adulthood. Demarco Harris was charged with felony murder, armed robbery, having a firearm during a felony and violating curfew!

Times have really changed. What parent of a 12 year old, lets them out on the streets of Detroit pass midnight? Did the child's parents know he had a gun? Many parents accuse the schools or society in general if their children become criminals. But there is no excuse for parents to loose that special bond and communication with their child. It is up to the parent's, not the school, not the church or society, to raise children.

Almost all U.S. Money is Laced with Cocaine

A recent study done at the University of Massachusetts, has shown that 90 percent of our money is laced with cocaine. Baltimore, Boston and Detroit were the top cities on the list. The study was performed worldwide. Canada and the US were on the top of the world list, while Japan and China were at the bottom.

The study was conducted on paper bills and contamination is presumed to have occurred during drug deals and people snorting the drug through rolled up bills. But other factors that can contribute to contamination is using currency-counting machines. Traces of cocaine can contaminate bills that weren't even involved with cocaine. When banks use these machines, they can spread the cocaine traces from dirty bills to clean ones.

Which raises the question of, what else is money contaminated with? The possibilities are endless! I wonder what other particle traces are found in our money? Besides just billions of DNA, there sure are other traces. I'm sure traces of marijuana, tobacco and other drugs showed up. Viruses and bacteria can surely travel through paper currency and so can other substances. We all know that money goes through many hands.

Should Americans spend money on studies such as these? The University of Massachusetts study was done to help track crime trends and help police track dealers, but with banks using machines that spread traces everywhere else, I think this study was a waste of time and money. We should be focused on studies to improve our agriculture, our energy resources, medical research, etc. The real results of this University of Massachusetts' study is that it was pointless.

Neighborhood Watch Groups Now Twitter, Blog and Email!

Neighborhoods across America are taking advantage and using our technology to prevent crime. Some communities are downsizing their police force due to the economy and neighborhoods are responding by forming more neighborhood watch groups. In fact, the National Sheriff's Association office shows an increase of neighborhood watch groups across the US. In 2005 there were 5,000 registered neighborhood watch groups compared to 20,000 groups in 2009!

These watch groups are high tech now. Twittering, emailing and text messaging are a fast communication tool that really keeps all the members in the watch group in touch with what is going on in their neighborhoods. Members of these groups tweet a constant stream of crime alerts to a privacy-protected Twitter address. Others blog about certain activities that are suspicious and warn their neighbors. Sometimes they text message to all neighbors and request for everyone to call the police about a suspicious crime activity. According to groups, the more calls the police get, the quicker they respond.

Most city police officials offer training to these neighborhood watch groups. They explain how to identify suspicious behavior and how to respond to it. They also warn block watch members who aren't trained by police that they should be cautious of overstepping legal boundaries, such as peeking through people's windows, etc.

WOW, who would of thought that all these Twitters and text messages were going to actually keep us safer in the future?

Pepper Spray Pen or Stun Pen for College

What could be more perfect than to have a self defense product that blends right in with the college scene?

Fall is getting closer and as you or your child start packing their backpack for college, you should consider adding a self defense product. A pepper spray pen or a stun pen look like your typical school supplies, but these are no ordinary pens! Both of these pens look normal and provide you with the element of surprise against an attacker on campus or where ever you may be.

The Pepper Spray Pen contains 17% pepper that can disable an attacker as far as 5 to 7 feet away. This pen contains approximately 6 bursts and also a UV Dye to help police with identification when the person is apprehended. A one-second spray to the face will cause temporary blindness, choking, coughing, and nausea, bringing the attacker to their knees. Their eyes will burn and hurt so much that they would not be able to open them. In some cases, the eyes swell up and slam shut! This self defense product is available in burgundy/black or pink and has a pocket clip just like any other pen.

The Stun Pen looks more like a magic marker and contains 1 million volts of power! Just test firing this stun pen into the air is often enough to stop an attacker. As the bright electric current pulsates across the top of the unit it creates an intimidating electrical sound. An attacker with any sense at all will be stopped in their tracks. If the sight and sound doesn't stop them, a jolt from this unit certainly will. The stun pen also comes with a built-in LED flashlight, safety switch and even a holster! Although it comes with a holster it is slim enough to carry in your pocket or purse. The holster is if you prefer to carry it on your belt. This self defense product is available in black and batteries are included.

Keep in mind that safety in college is just as important as getting good grades!

College Dorm Safety

When most people think of college safety they picture the student that is out and about campus grounds. But what we sometimes fail to think about is the college dorm environment. Students can be intruded upon while they are in their dorms as well as outside. If you are a student or a parent of a student in college, you should consider a small item to add to the rest of the college supplies for safety.

A college dorm room would be a safer place to study and sleep if it had a door alarm. There are a variety of affordable door alarms available on the market today.

One of the most popular is the Door Stop Alarm. It's perfect for dorm rooms or even hotel rooms and apartments for that matter! It actually works like the old rubber door stops that were so popular years ago, but it also has an alarm that sounds if someone tries to come in. You just simply place it under the door! The Door Stop Alarm also has an on/off switch that prevents it from sounding accidentally and a sensitivity switch which prevents tampering. If an intruder attempts to open the door, the wedge-shaped design will prevent it from opening and activate a 120 db alarm.

Another popular dorm room alarm is the Personal Alarm with Flashing Light. This is mostly a 130db alarm that you can carry with you wherever you go, but it also has the added bonus of being able to be used as a door or even window alarm! It has 2 accessory pieces that when attached to the alarm allows it to be adjusted for different situations. One of the accessories is a cord that attaches to the alarm and is clipped to your belt, backpack, purse or wrapped around your wrist. If someone attempts to take it from you, the alarm and flashing light gets activated. The other accessory can be used on doors and even windows. When either of these entrances has the alarm connected to it and it is opened, the alarm goes off and the light flashes. This particular connector can also be placed under a laptop, for example, if someone tries to lift and take it, it also will sound the alarm and flash the light!

Lastly, a personal 116db alarm called the Sport Strobe Personal Alarm by Mace is also one to consider for safety. It's features are similar to the previous alarm but the flashing light can also be turned on as a constant light by pressing a small button on the side of the unit.

All of these alarms are small, very affordable and easy to use. These door alarms deter any intruder from sneaking into a college dorm.

Safety Tips for College Women

Rape or sexual assaults against college women is a huge problem today. Information from reliable sources have disclosed alarming statistics. One study done by researchers at RTI International, Bowling Green State University, the University of Cincinnati, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill which was released in June, 2009, is of particular concern. The study was funded by a grant from the National Institute of Justice, which is part of the U.S. Department of Justice.

The study showed that almost 20 percent of undergraduate women were sexually assaulted during their time in college. Alcohol or drugs played a factor as well. Statistics also showed that 11 percent of college women were assaulted when they were incapacitated and unable to give consent. Freshmen and sophomore women where targeted more than their junior and senior classmates for sexual assaults while they were under the influence of alcohol or any other drug. Other similar findings were announced by The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), which found that college women were 4 times more likely to be sexually assaulted or raped than other women in society.

With all these sexual assault statistics, it's no wonder that women in college need to follow some safety tips while on campus. If you are a woman planning to attend college or a parent of a student, you should keep in mind that prevention is number one! Please make sure that you follow the basic self defense or safety tips shown below or if you are a parent, inform your daughter about them.

• Keep the college police number handy, call them if you need an escort
• Most colleges offer self defense classes, enroll in one
• Buddy system; try not to walk alone, especially during the night
• At parties:
  - Keep your eye on your drink,
  don't leave it unattended
  - Never drink out of the punch bowl
  - Always get your own drink,
  never have others get it for you
• Carry some sort of self defense product, such as a pepper spray or a stun gun
• Always be aware of your surroundings
• Let your fellow students know about these safety tips

It is common sense to follow these tips, just as it is to wear a seat belt when you drive. It's always better to be informed and prepared than to be careless and become a victim.

Send Your Child Safely to College

Fall is gradually getting closer and before you know it, your daughter or son will be headed back to college or going for the first time.

Most parents of these students make sure that their child get all the clothes they need, the books that are required and that their backpack is filled with all the tools they need to perform well and hopefully graduate with honors. There is one thing that is overlooked by parents when gathering all these materials and that is the self defense product or tool. What tool is that, you might ask? This is the simple pepper spray or stun device or even a citizen taser that they might need if confronted with an attacker. A must have item when walking through campus grounds.

A self defense product added to a child's backpack, is a small investment that parents overlook when sending their kids off to college. Especially if your child is a female. It is a known fact that college women are victims of sexual assault 4 times more than other women in society. Women are more vulnerable to sexual assaults than men. It is crucial for your daughter to carry a self defense product. Don't assume your son will always be safe either. There are many incidents where college men have been victims of attacks too. These incidents against males are most of the time, attempts of theft or bullying.

College campuses are like small cities, where students go from one building to another. Sometimes classes, student gatherings or parties take place at night and this is when it becomes crucial to have some sort of protection like a pepper spray, a stun gun or a taser which can prevent sexual assaults or thefts. A stun device such as a stun gun or taser are a little pricier than pepper spray, but each person has their particular preference. This is when you might want to ask your son or daughter what they would prefer. Many of these items come disguised as other things. Some pepper spray look like lipstick containers, some stun guns look like cell phones or pens....

Please keep in mind your child's safety as well as their education when sending them off to college!

Would You Ban Plastic Bottled Water?

A small town in Australia is doing just that. Residents of Bundanoon, Australia claim that it is not good for the environment, along with other complaints.

How far would you go if you knew for a fact that tap water was no less hazardous to drink than bottled water? Many experts claim that tap water is just as safe as bottled water and that most bottled water actually lack certain minerals that humans need to stay healthy. There also have been recent scientific studies showing that plastic bottles release a synthetic type of hormone that makes it easier for women to get pregnant! Maybe Bundanoon, Australia is on the right track...

We all know that food franchises such as McDonalds and others, discontinued serving their drinks in plastic containers and are now using paper cups. They were aware of the contaminants that leak out of plastic containers when heated... Many people still drink bottled water in their cars, after the container has been previously heated by the sun.

Many federal organizations in the United States have discontinued handing out bottled water in their meetings too. This is not because it is unhealthy but because it also wastes a lot of federal funds and taxpayers money, to make and transport bottled water. In fact over 60 cities in the US do not have bottled water in their city meetings and many cities in Canada are doing the same thing.

I think that if we must buy bottled water, that we at least request the bottlers to use glass instead of plastic containers. Same for milk and other plastic contained food manufacturers. Besides, it tastes BETTER!