I know that before I was pretty adamant about being unarmed, but in light of some recent issues with stalking and nearly being mugged several times, I've given in and had a relative buy me a vial of mace. I haven't needed to use it yet, but feel like it's a good thing to have. For me I feel like it's the perfect weapon; it's not (generally) lethal, I don't have to get very close to a potential assailant to use it, and after a quick spray I can just run like hell and everything should be okay.

It sucks though, because it feels like my neighborhood has been getting so much worse lately. There was apparently a fatal shooting down the street from me a few weeks ago, and I've started to hear gunshots maybe one to three times a month and witness drug deals on the streets a few times a week. I've lived in this area for almost three years now, and don't like the way things are going... I can't wait until my lease is up, so I can hopefully move to a safer area. Back when I moved here it was so safe that I could carry my laptop with me at night and never have to worry. Now even walking down the street after dark scares me...

That's awful and I hate the idea of you feeling unsafe.

I hope your lease is up very soon and you can live somewhere where you can go out and have peace of mind and feel safe

I'm lucky in that I live in a little Welsh seaside town and the most exciting thing that happens is the annual Victorian Extravaganza!