Personal safety is the mission - everything else is a task

This column is about personal safety. It is about providing critical information to remind the reader to be safer around other humans. Certainly, it would be nice if the world was not like this. It would be nice if people could live in harmony. It would be nice if people would respect each other. It would be nice if people could resist the urge to act out violently against others. It would also be nice to win the lottery.

But these are wishes and not reality. The reality is potentially dangerous people are around us every day. Yes, the majority of people do the right thing and most American’s try to adhere to the nation’s Rule of Law. But some do not, and preparation is needed to act decisively if and when a situation arises.

This mental and physical preparation is highlighted in the famous quote: “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.”

There is a video that went viral several years ago that makes the point. It involves a couple leaving their home one day and a camera on their front porch that captures the scene. They open the door, close and lock it, and walk to their car. Completely oblivious to the brown bear who is also on the porch. The camera captures the bear as he hears the door begin to open. The bear stops, places all four paws on the ground, and waits. The bear waits to see what comes out of the door. The bear assesses the couple to see if they are a threat to his safety. The bear prepares to respond (Fight, Flight, or Freeze) based on the couple’s ability to inflict damage to him. The couple never sees the bear and never moves toward him. The bear watches until they leave the area and he goes on with his day.

The bear and the couple have the same reality, but the bear knows it. The bear knows that any day could be the last and his eternal vigilance is required. The people are not vigilant, they are not aware, they do not realize how close to injury or death they were.

Recently another young woman was assaulted on a mass transit system as she sat and looked at her phone. This time it was Chicago, and the victim was set on fire by another passenger – a stranger. The reporting indicates the subject had a lengthy criminal history with more than 70 arrests, was currently on probation, and was required to wear an ankle monitor.

This did not deter him.

The mission will always be personal safety, everything else is just a task, daily events like riding in a bus or subway, leaving home, walking to the car, going to the grocery store, eating in a restaurant, attending a worship service. These are all tasks. The overriding mission must be personal safety.

James Hamilton is a nationally recognized executive protection expert and former FBI Supervisory Special Agent. With 18 years at the Bureau, he created its Close Protection School, served on the Director’s detail, and continues to advance protective security worldwide.