From: pschleck@cwis.unomaha.edu (Paul W Schleck KD3FU)
Subject: CB Radio (was Re: Mace, Pepperguard, etc.)
Followup-To: alt.feminism
Organization: University of Nebraska at Omaha
Date: Tue, 6 Oct 1992 17:06:49 GMT

oneil@cwis.unomaha.edu (Sharon O'Neil) writes:

>bluelobster+@CMU.EDU (David O Hunt) writes:

>>Tear-Gas Concentrate:  Highly recommended!
>>Pepperguard:  Recommended.

>    Here in Omaha, tear gas and pepperguard have just about sold out.  
>Two weeks ago two eastern Nebraska women were abducted.  One was found dead
>last night.  Still another women has been missing for about three months.
>And in the surrounding states, two women have been found dead.  After the
>last young woman was found dead, my dad went out and bought me a tear gas
>keychain.  It's got a dye in it that is supposed to last several days as
>well.

At least one other individual has stated this, but it bears repeating:

If you carry a weapon, be prepared to use it decisively, to kill or to
seriously maim or incapacitate.  If you don't, you will either further
enrage the attacker, or he might even use the weapon against you.  Even
more bizarre, the criminal might use the "justice" system to sue you for
assault and physical/emotional distress.

Although a bit ungainly for street use, the best home defense is the 18
1/4 inch 12 guage "riot gun."  No careful aiming required, and just the
sound of the plunger says, "get out!"  Again, be prepared to use it *TO
KILL* or it's only a liability.

>    What's really scary to me is that the dead Omaha girl was abducted right
>outside her high school right as classes started.  I mean, whoever got her
>got her in the daylight as she was just going about her business.  It's really
>stressful when you consider that you're not even safe during the daytime.

>    I'm not so sure that carrying around this keychain is going to make me
>feel all that much better, but it will probably give my dad some peace of 
>mind.  

I think the incidents are very serious and merit careful attention.
However, I think one can whip oneself up into a paranoid state to the
point that they are afraid to go outside at all.  Don't take stupid
risks, be careful, and the odds are generally in your favor.

>    I am considering getting a CB radio for my car though.  One of my friend's
>parents got her a cellular phone, but I think that a CB radio would be less
>expensive.  

Sharon, you should have asked me first.  I thought you were my buddy! :-)

Seriously, Citizens Band has several drawbacks that you need to be aware
of:

1.  The police probably aren't listening.  Even if they say they do,
it's probably a CB in the dispatcher's station with the squelch turned
up and the volume turned down.  Let's face it, they have a lot more
distractions to worry about with higher priority than listening to CB.

2.  Range is very limited.  Especially those portable "emergency CB's."
If you are more than 5-10 miles away from a metropolitan area, you are
not likely to be heard.

3.  CB is populated with a lot of shady characters.  The police may not
hear your call, but some criminal might.  In this context, calling for
help is broadcasting, "I'm a stranded women, please come and rob me."

CB is cheap and unlicensed, but you get what you pay for.  If you're
lucky and you're in a metropolitan area, something like Douglas County
REACT (a volunteer CB emergency service in Omaha, Nebraska) *MIGHT* hear
you and get help before others "help themselves," but why take chances?

Your best bet, thought expensive, is cellular phone.  I'd recommend one
of their "evening" calling plans for reduced rates (remember, you are
paying for both calls made and calls received).

I'm kind of biased on the subject, but I recommend to anyone who wants
some communications security and can't afford a cellular phone to
consider becoming a "ham" (amateur radio operator).  The service offers
much better communication bands and better range.  Hams are also able to
provide "phone patches" which are automated base-stations that will
allow you to make a telephone call via radio using touch-tones.  The
amateur service is also populated with a much higher class of
individuals (this also means that they are more traditional - read
sexist - but I see this as more of a stimulating challenge than a
drawback :-).

For more information, please don't hesitate to drop me some E-mail, or
check the FAQ's for either rec.radio.amateur.misc or rec.radio.cb (both
cross-posted to news.answers).

Paul W. Schleck

pschleck@unomaha.edu

Newsgroups: alt.feminism,soc.men,soc.women