Robert Siciliano Personal Security Expert

While information security is always top of mind, my first passion has always been personal security. There always has been, is, and always will be predators stalking their prey. Unfortunately this is the natural order of life. Predators are a part of many of life’s species. Growing up my dad sat me in front of the TV and made me watch documentaries on animal behavior. “In the animal world”, he pointed out, and then he specifically pointed towards the lion and said “there are predators and their natural prey”. The lion hunts and stalks other animals and kills, then eats them. He explained that it’s normal for the lion to kill, its OK, it might not be nice of the lion, but that’s just the way it is.

He went on to say that in the human world, it’s the exact same thing. That there are human beings that act exactly as the lion, and its normal. Its not OK, its not nice, buts that’s just the way it is. Lots to digest when you are 12.

The fact is, dad was right. And some humans even eat others. Some rape, some steal and some torture. And that’s just the way it is.

Some may know the story of the “Frog and the Scorpion”; Scorpion asks a frog to take him across the river on his back. Frogs like, no way dude you’ll kill me. Scorpion says “hey man, I won’t kill you, if I did I’d drown too” Frogs like, “OK man, sounds reasonable lets do it”. Frog gets halfway across the river and the scorpion stings him! Surprised, the frog asks why, because now they will both drown, scorpions says, “Stupid frog, I’m a scorpion, its what we do”. Predators are predators by nature.

There are over 500,000 registered sex offenders in the US. There are thousands more that aren’t registered and many more that simply haven’t been caught.

Mercury News reports in a surprise visit to sex offenders Jose Gonzalez’s hotel room, the 49-year-old child molester was placed under arrest, headed back to jail for violating his parole. A team of officers from the Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement — or SAFE — Task Force had found alcohol and pornography in his room, two red flag items that are not allowed while the registered sex offender is on parole.

120 registered sex offenders were visited by six-member teams of the task force, from Palo Alto to Gilroy, and 21 of them were arrested. Some had violated the conditions of their parole or probation by having adult or child pornography, alcohol and drugs or a weapon. And some haven’t been arrested yet because they weren’t living where they said they were.

It unfortunate they cant just be kept in jail forever, executed or castrated. But this is the land of the free and the brave and we have rights. Event the child molesters have rights.

So here’s the deal. If you live in a house (which most if us do), chances are there are sex offenders near where you live and work. Its jot enough to know that there are bad guys out there looking for their next victims. It’s important to do something about it. Take a self defense class, bone up on your eye gouging, and teach those you love how to protect themselves. There are lots of screwy things going on out there. Remember, once a scorpion, always a scorpion.

Intelius offers some great resources to keep you informed. 2 products work great to keep you informed:

Property & Neighborhood Report

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Robert Siciliano personal security expert discussing Serial Rapists on CBS Boston