Collierville, TN, is a quiet suburb of Memphis, with just under 50,000 residents in the far east of the county. It is very well policed, with over 100 police officers, a lot for a town that size, augmented by the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office. It is where Lynn and I lived until five years ago when we moved to Florida.
Today, an evil person shot at least 13 people, at least one fatally, at the Kroger supermarket right in the middle of town. Predictably, everyone was “shocked” that this could happen in a quiet, “safe” suburb. The truth is, one should not be shocked.
I have two students who were forced to shoot criminal attackers in Collierville in separate incidents. Another student’s wife was abducted from the Sonic in Collierville at high noon on a Saturday in front of 41 witnesses. She was taken to a rural area, beaten to death and dumped in a ditch, all because three teenage thugs wanted her car.
The simple truth is, you are not “safe” because you are in this geographic location or that one. Anywhere there are people there is a potential for violence. You are safe wherever you make yourself safe, by being armed, trained, and aware. No matter how well policed an area, no one can come in time to save you. You have to be your own first responder.