Mikes Shooters

Every law enforcement agency in the country encourages and supports neighborhood watch programs as a way to reduce crime. By stopping crime before it takes place, such programs make their jobs a lot easier. Neighborhood Watch groups give you the means to take a proactive, rather than reactive, approach to neighborhood safety, making an effort to stop crimes before they are committed rather than reacting to them once they've already occurred. One of the best ways for homeowners to collectively improve their home security is by organizing a neighborhood watch. Many areas with these groups also put up signs around the neighborhood advertising this fact, which can further reduce the crime[..]

When lands and grooves grab and spin a projectile, or bullet, moving down the barrel of a firearm, they also create cuts in the projectile. These cuts leave behind distinctive markings that are at the heart of firearms comparisons. Lands, or ridges, refer to the high parts made when the factory makes cuts into the barrel of a firearm to make grooves, the low parts. These lands and grooves create markings known as striations on the projectile. Striations are straight and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the projectile. One can see that striations are more prevalent on soft lead bullets than they are on metal or jacketed bullets. Silencers are gadgets that are designed to suppress[..]

You are suddenly caught in a surprise attack without your personal alarm, pepper spray, or stun gun? Your trusted stab-ready pocket pen is also missing. You feel the paralyzing grip of fear and helplessness coming over you. Here are seven basic self-defense moves most teenagers and adults can do to free themselves from attackers without much previous training. Some of them are derived from judo, kung fu, tai-kwan-do and other known martial arts. The first four listed below are done mostly when attacked from the front side, the last three, when attacked either from the front or backside. 1. Ear slap. With your fingers tightly closed and slightly cupped, slap both hands sideways atop both[..]

Drinking and driving is a serious offense that can have deadly consequences. In recent years the problem of drunk driving has gained nation-wide attention and caused stricter enforcement of existing laws, along with the inception of new laws and penalties for this dangerous crime. In the US each year, about forty percent of traffic fatalities are the result of drunk driving. Estimates from 2003 run as high as 17,013 deaths and 500,000 injuries in alcohol-related automobile crashes. The past twenty years has seen increases in the severity of penalties even for first-time offenders. Penalties vary by State but include license suspension, fines from $250 to $1000, up to six months in[..]

Do professional athletes commit more crimes than do the rest of us? The media spend a great deal of time and energy reporting instances of top athletes who have gotten into trouble with the law. When a sports start gets into trouble with the law, the story gets a great deal of attention from the print media and the electronic media. Perhaps this is because people seem to be curious about watching a star fall from grace. Some would say there is a media bias when it comes to covering crimes committed by professional athletes. This appears to be true. I do not believe that the incidence of criminal behavior among professional athletes is any higher than it is among the rest of the[..]

How safe is the neighborhood you are thinking about moving to? The local sheriff or police department can help so can numerous website with statistical data. Things can change that make vandalism more predominant in your neighborhood. They are mostly drug related and are all just a prelude to damage caused by vandalism. The maiming of property-called tagging-is usually done by spray painting, usually with gang logos and slogans, to mark off gang territory. Neighborhoods are next on the list with devastating results. Many years ago cities including Denver installed surveillance cameras in high risk areas to catch the bad guys. It worked back then with incidents of tagging dropping by as[..]

While processing a crime scene, everything that occurs is documented in the form of notes, drawings, photographs, and sometimes digital video. This documentation includes not only the scene and the evidence, but also the area around the scene, particularly the offender's possible points of entry and exit. An assigned note taker keeps an accurate account of all events in and around the crime scene. Sometimes a digital recorder is used, and the verbal notes are transcribed at a future time. However they are recorded, the notes must describe important details such as an overall description of the scene. This includes an accurate list detailing what each piece of evidence is. It must[..]

Dishonest individuals scamming senior citizens out of their money appears to be happening more often than ever before. Seniors are targeted most often by criminals due to the fact that it can sometimes be easier to gain the trust of a senior trust and also due to the fact older, retired people are more likely to have some savings set aside and therefore become a more lucrative target. It can be helpful to keep some of the following tips in mind to help you or your loved ones who are older protected against scams and frauds, especially when shopping or working online. Todays seniors say that staying in touch with family members and friends remains the main reason that they use the[..]

When it comes to home security, most of the available options are meant for homeowners, not renters or those who are residing in a dorm room, apartment, or hotel. For example, a renter or someone staying in a hotel room for the weekend cannot install a security system or surveillance cameras. No matter where you live, at some point in time it is possible that someone might try to break in. This possibility exists whether you live in a rural mansion or a tiny apartment on the fourteenth floor of an apartment building. While some areas do have higher crime rates than other areas, no area is immune to crime. Even though you don't own the space, there are several invaluable methods you can[..]

A small cell of the notorious fake check scamming ring from Nigeria were caught last week. I am sure some of you have been victims or almost victims to this popular scam ring. The scam would involve a seller and a buyer. The seller is the victim and buyer is the scammer. The buyer sends you a check as payment for an item you sold. You deposit the check in your bank. You think "all is well" because the money clears. Until about 30 days later when your bank finds the error. Then your bank accuses you of depositing or cashing a fake check. That's right, what a terrible thing to do to someone. There have been cases of people selling cars or property and falling for this scam. I read about[..]

If you have been indicted on a federal crime and wish to know how much federal time you'll have on your proposed sentence, should you lose the trial, there is an easy way to calculate how long your sentence will be. The algorithm used is not so complex as some may think and can be figured in mere minutes. The first step is get the publication for criminal offenses (this publication is located on the site listed below). Knowing what you are charged with you simply look up the "base" number and add any additional circumstances. This "base number" ranges from 1 to 43; 1 being a tiny crime and 43... well... that's a major infraction of the law. Now, knowing your criminal history is the next[..]

Evidence can be direct or circumstantial. What is the difference? Direct evidence refers to evidence that establishes a fact. A good example of direct evidence is statements or confessions made by the witnesses. Circumstantial evidence, on the flipside, requires that a judge and/or jury make indirect judgments, or inferences, about what transpired at the scene of a crime. For instance, if fingerprints or hairs found at the scene are consistent with that of a perpetrator, jurors may infer that the print or hair definitely belongs to the defendant. Since fingerprints or hairs were found at the crime scene, those pieces of evidence links the defendant to he scene. Circumstantial[..]

Would you know where to look for arrest warrants If you have an warrant for arrest you will find that it's far from an amusing situation. You will be even less happy if you didn't do anything wrong and the warrant is some kind of error. Warrants are bad news and at best they can cost you money and worst case land you in jail. So do you want to know how to find an arrest warrant? If you want to do something about a warrant before it turns into an even bigger problem for you than it already is then you need to know that you have one. This isn't always obvious especially if you are not guilty of the offense. There is now an easy solution to looking up warrants that you can use in a flash.[..]

Police gear is fundamental to daily police life. Without this equipment, our streets would be a more dangerous place. The gear that can be found in many outlets can be of a high quality and includes belt equipment such as pouches, holders and belts as well as police apparel including trousers, shirts, base layers, outer layers and boots. There are many other necessary pieces of kit such as ASP batons, police torches and handcuffs and keys. When writing about police equipment it is well worth discussing belt equipment! This equipment includes torch holders, duty belts, notebook pouches and pen holders. Some famous brands include Price Western Leather (PWL) and ASP who manufacture amongst[..]

Pepper spray pens are among the most popular form of spray used for self defense. These disguised weapons look just like a regular pen. Even when carried in a shirt pocket or placed on a desk, it can easily be mistaken for a pen. Using such a disguised weapon gives you the element of surprise when fighting back against the attacker. The pepper spray contained in such a device is strong enough to disable any attacker for at least five minutes, giving you plenty of time to get away safely. The best part about carrying disguised self defense weapons, such as pens, is that they can be left right out in the open, making them one step easier to use. Just grab your pen, flip the safety, and[..]

* Never text while walking, your attention needs to be on your surroundings and alert to anyone following you. * When walking, stay close to the street and away from thick bushes, dark doorways, alleys and access doors to vans. Watch for cars driving slowly behind or just in front of you. They may be waiting to grab you off the street. Try to go into a lighted building with people, or evade them in some other way, if possible. * Avoid threatening situations altogether. If you see a person or persons around that look threatening cross to the other side of the street or go into a public place. Remember, do not ever look scared. Stay confident, walk with a sense of purpose, and keep to[..]

In the 1990s the crime rate in the U.S. dropped dramatically in all significant categories, including violent crime and property crime. Some experts attribute this drop to the strong economy that existed throughout most of the decade, when the per capita income increased by as much as 30% and the unemployment rate dropped by 2%[1]. These numbers have pushed many experts in the field to speculate on the potential effects that today's recessed economy will have on the crime rate for the foreseeable future. There is no doubt that a strong economy encourages a lower crime rate, for many reasons. While many experts could not directly attribute the drop in violent crime to the increase in[..]

What kind of powder is used when CSI's embark on the search for fingerprints at a crime scene? In this article, I will attempt to explain the various types of fingerprint powders that investigators use to find prints left behind by an offender. What do fingerprint powders do? Fingerprint powders stick to moisture and oils of the residue in a latent, or invisible, print and thereby reveal the pattern of the friction gyri, or ridges. Fingerprint powders come in a variety of types and colors. Criminal scientists use the color that gives the highest amount of contrast with respect to the background surface. Black powder, which is made from charcoal or carbon black, and gray powder,[..]

Handcuffs have been used for centuries as a safe and effective way to restrain someone. However there are some people who can manage to escape from handcuffs using a variety of methods. Here are some of those methods and the solutions law enforcement personnel can take to successfully confine a suspect. In not only the United States, but also in Canada, Great Britain, and Latin America one universal key opens almost all handcuffs. Recently, a patent was even requested for a standard key that would fit behind an officer's badge. While this is useful for law enforcement personnel that need to loosen tight handcuffs or transfer a suspect to another jurisdiction, it also means that many[..]

Historically, real estate agents have felt safe and secure while assisting the general public with a search for a new home or property. Unfortunately, times have changed in recent years and crimes against Realtors has risen with more agents being attacked, raped, robbed and even murdered during the showings of homes and other properties. The rise in these brutal crimes has prompted many real estate agencies to implement a safety plan for their agents. The following is a list of safety tips that are designed to greatly decrease your chances of being a victim of a criminal attack and to increase your confidence while performing your job as a real estate agent.o Verify your customer's[..]

Every year during the summer months a number of Chicagoans get killed because of gang violence. The politicians are always called upon to do "something." The most "media friendly" thing to do is to blame it all on gun ownership. The media had a great time this month covering all the anti gun marches. They were staged by, none other than the "King of Political Correctness," Rev. Jesse Jackson, aided by his comrade, the pastor of Saint Sabina Church, Father Michael Pfleger. Chicago's Mayor, Richard M. Daley, threw in some anti gun rants of his own, while TV cameras rolled. On one occasion Jackson and Pfleger marched on Chuck's Gun Shop in Riverdale. According to several sources, Father[..]

Pepper spray is the most widely used self defense weapon in the world. It has been successfully used by military units and law enforcers for decades. Pepper spray or OC spray as it is called as become hugely successful in the civilian community. Part of the reason of course is because the successful track record that it has over the years and because it is so cost-effective. OC spray is made of oleoresin capsicum. It is immensely hotter than habenero chiles. When it touches the face particularly the eyes nose and mouth it causes tearing of the eyes, swelling of the eyes, intense pain and makes it difficult to see and to breathe. The effects of defensive sprays can last as long as half[..]

Suppose a dead body was found and crime scene investigators are called out to the scene to investigate. One of the few things they find left behind on the victim or in the back seat of a car is human hair. What is so special about hair to the criminalists? In this article, I will discuss the anatomy of human hair and what part of hair is the focus of a forensic investigation. Hair grows out of the skin from a hole containing highly specialized cells called the follicle. There are three things that make up the shaft of human hair. The forensic scientist can use any of these three things to find a match between hair taken from the victim and unknown hair taken from the back seat of a[..]

Whenever a person dials 911 to report a crime, it is imperative that the first officer to arrive at the scene detain the person making the call and forbid the individual from entering the crime scene. Anybody who calls in to report a crime may have been a witness to the incident or may have seen or heard something out of place. However, because the officer has no way of knowing if the person who dialed 911 to report a crime is a witness or a suspect, allowing the individual to access the scene of a crime can risk losing or contaminating the evidence. After all, an offender may: - Believe that reporting an incident removes him from the focus of a subsequent investigation - Try to[..]

The central character in many fictional stories is an average man turned hero. On TV, in films, and in books, you'll see people "just like you" saving the day by surviving extreme situations, rescuing helpless children, or standing up to attackers or bullies. As a nation, we value self-reliance and self-sufficiency, and this is reflected in the heroes portrayed in the media. Nevertheless, there are some areas of real life where it won't pay to be the hero. In fact, trying to be a hero in these situations can be quite dangerous; it may even get you killed. When it comes to defending yourself, it is critical to know when to walk away, when to fight back, and when to wait for help. As a[..]

Even though many colleges are out for summer vacation, there are those students who choose to take summer classes and reside in the dormitories on campus. Those students should exercise security measures during this time of year as they should during the normal course of the school year. Burglary and property theft can happen to a student when he least expects it. The #1 Mistake Perhaps you are familiar with this already. Most dormitory burglaries occurring on a college campus involve entry being made through an unlocked door. Even if you are just going a few doors down from your room or apartment, or even next door, always lock your door. It is a fact that most residential[..]

Too many people who purchase pepper spray stow it away in convenient locations and then forget about it. It is crucial that you replace your defense spray every few years, or it will lose effectiveness. Can you think of anything worse than pulling out your pepper spray in a self defense situation, only to find that it no longer works as it should? Defense spray that was purchased five or more years ago should not be relied on to stop an attack. If you can't remember when you bought it, it is probably time for a replacement. Like any other aerosol spray product, the ingredients allowing the pepper spray to come out of the can in a fine mist break down over time. If you try to spray a[..]

Did you hire a new teenage babysitter to watch over your baby while you and your spouse are out on the town? Do you not feel comfortable with her yet? Perhaps you want to know what is going on with your babysitter while you are away. A nanny cam is a perfect tool to use to keep a close, watchful eye on her. A nanny cam is simply a hidden camera. In general, the camera is hidden behind a dark class plate or plastic face plate of a stereo boom box or alarm clock. You can position this camera anywhere in your house, and usually the stereo will work normally in case the nanny wants to turn it on. The stereo boom box is advantageous in that is can operate on batteries with no direct[..]

Whenever a crime scene involves the death of a person, a coroner or medical examiner is called out to investigate. In some jurisdictions, a coroner and medical examiner are one in the same. However, there ARE differences between the two. In this article, I will attempt to explain the differences between a medical examiner and a coroner. I will also discuss what each of their job duties entails. Across the nation, there are two kinds of forensic investigative systems: the coroner system and the more modern medical examiner system. Most jurisdictions are pushing for the medical examiner system. What is a coroner? A coroner is an elected or appointed official who has no background in[..]

Crime amongst young people is on the increase. It means doing something that is against the law and can lead to serious consequences, such as a prison sentence. Fear of becoming the victim of crime is also on the increase and is often a contributing factor to young people getting involved in criminal behaviour. This often involves carrying knives or other weapons and becoming members of gangs for protection. This often creates further difficulties, as young gang members may be forced to engage in other forms of criminal behaviour such as taking or selling drugs, vandalism, shop lifting, burglary and physically assaulting members of the public or rival gangs. Gangs put a lot of pressure[..]

The second amendment of the United States Constitution gave citizens of the United States the right to "keep and bear arms." Various organizations have their own interpretations of this amendment but there is no mistaking the fact it does allow a citizen who has not been convicted of a felony to legally purchase and have a gun in their house for gaming or personal protection. Keeping a gun in your home can be dangerous One of the biggest problems someone having a gun in their home is there is a greater chance they will use it against a friend, relative or the gun's owner than as a means of self-defense against an intruder. Children must understand the risks of guns in the house One of[..]

While in the process of installing a fence Plano TX, Parks and Recreation discovered something very sad. It seems that the specific park being worked on had become a favorite target among a group a vandals. In Plano fences can be used to create a type of deterrent to thwart the activity of vandals, yet a simple enclosure cannot wipe away the entire problem. In the area of Richardson fence building around parks would be likely to decrease vandalism but by itself would not provide a significant reduction in the activity. Perhaps your community is currently seeing a marked increase in park related vandalism. Perhaps you are a community leader, an active volunteer, or just a concerned[..]