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Koenig Murder Raises Questions About How to Protect TeenagersProfessionals say talking to children about safety is vitalRelated Content
ANCHORAGE - The murder of Samantha Koenig has raised many questions, including an important one for parents: What can we do to help keep our children safe, especially our teenagers who often believe that nothing bad can ever happen to them? Anchorage family therapist Susan La Grande said the murder has raised issues parents may want to discuss, particularly with their teenaged daughters. She said the best place to raise those difficult topics is somewhere neutral like the dinner table or family car. “[You might say], ‘You know we've heard now in the news that this girl's body has been found,’” said La Grande. “That way you are kind of opening up the subject matter ever so gently. See if your daughter or your son or anyone at the table starts to bring the conversation up so there's a natural conversation. Then, I think the most important thing for parents to talk to their daughters about is how vulnerable this makes us all feel.” The idea, she said, is not to frighten, but to listen to fears that teens may have and talk about ways to stay safe. Anchorage Police Crime Prevention Specialist Anita Shell has some specific safety tips that conversation could cover. One of them is simply keeping car doors locked. Shell said teen drivers don’t often think about personal safety inside their vehicle, but they should. “One of the safest things you can do in your car is keep your doors locked when you are inside. When you are at a stop light or a stop sign if those doors are unlocked it's a very easy target for somebody to jump in your car and say ‘drive!’,” said Shell. And while daughters in particular may be hesitant to share information about whom they are dating or spending time with, someone needs to know. “Daughters need to tell their family or a friend who that person is. What is their name? Where do they work or where do they attend school? If any criminal activity happens that may be a person of interest and the more information that police have to go on the better.” And, in a worst case scenario if someone becomes a victim of an abduction, Shell said do whatever it takes to get away, even if they have a weapon. “Whether it's trying to break free of your captor or trying to reason with your captor, don’t be afraid to use force to get away, because whatever you do to that person pales in comparison to what they have planned for you.” It’s chilling advice that could save you or your child’s life. |
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akmediascope said on Tuesday, Apr 3 at 7:04 PM
Good advice for anyone to avoid a car jacking. I have never developed the habit of locking car doors and I have an old style car with manual locks. Someone needs to mention that although the larger majority of abductees are females boys need to learn personal safety just as much as girls do.
86378616Anonymous said on Tuesday, Apr 3 at 7:06 PM
In plain and simple words, even if you are afraid FIGHT, do something to bring attention to yourself and what's happening, if someone it trying to harm you they don't want anyone else to see what is happening, FIGHT, MAKE NOISE, SCREAM , DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO GET ATTENTION. It is better to have people make fun of you or laugh at you than becoming yet another victim.
86378716Anonymous said on Tuesday, Apr 3 at 7:07 PM
IF YOU SEE SOMETHING HAPPENING, TAKE ACTION, HELP, DON'T STAND BACK AND WATCH, GET INVOLVED IN THE END YOU AND THE PERSON THAT YOUR HELPING WILL BE THANKFUL.
86378754AKMom said on Tuesday, Apr 3 at 7:59 PM
I use to work at a bank and the advice we were given was always fight... do not under any circumstances let anyone put you in a car... fight with everything you have. Because your chances are very slim once that happens...
86381965smeal said on Tuesday, Apr 3 at 8:19 PM
Good advice, But do you all think that all teenagers are going to read this and some do not have parents that teach these things and some parents simply don't care.So there is no real answer to protect all teenagers. Sad to say it but it is true.
86383066fish said on Tuesday, Apr 3 at 9:08 PM
Not only the state but the world is going to get worse and worse. There are good efforts to protect people but these things will happen. There is no real answer to this growing problem and that is the sad truth. Don't mean to be so forward but it's the truth.
86385154Alaska Parent said on Tuesday, Apr 3 at 10:18 PM
You stressesd females on the news tonight, but we also need to make sure our sons are safe, and where they are, who they are with, and they need to lock their doors as well. Males are not always safe, just because they are male.
86387325Oldalaskanfart said on Tuesday, Apr 3 at 10:31 PM
Especially females at graduation from high school should be instructed on armed self defence and armed.Would be alott less rapes and maybe deaths.If this isn't proof what is.
86387826Amom said on Wednesday, Apr 4 at 8:35 AM
We have take a close look at how you are raising your boys! Sad to say, but this type of crime is almost exclusively committed by males. We ignore this, things never change, and females continue to live in fear where ever they go.
86425503ak dad said on Wednesday, Apr 4 at 9:08 AM
all these kids in these coffee stands should have a gun and know how to use it. everyone should have a gun and know how to use it.
86429233AK Gun owner said on Wednesday, Apr 4 at 10:02 AM
Hey AK Dad, Great idea. We should arm everyone and we can all just shoot it out when we need to solve problems. We know teenagers are known for their sound decision making so the best idea is obviously to load them all up and let them decide who gets it. Stop simplifying an overall complex social issue and horrible tragedy because you refuse to, or are unable to think beyond the quickest gut response you can belch.
86435463lock down said on Wednesday, Apr 4 at 10:28 AM
Call your daughters or have them call you every hour ,ceck in, also a way to teach kids to lock doors is to have 'them' lock the doors everytime you go somewhere.Show them good habits when they are young and do it yourself.
86438215Raven33 said on Wednesday, Apr 4 at 11:48 AM
Don't forget... You are REQUIRED to retreat/flee if at all possible. We did not pass the "Stand your ground" law here in AK. So all of you wanting to arm people to defend yourself, you are opening yourself up for criminal charges. Sucks doesn't it!
86446315Anonymous said on Wednesday, Apr 4 at 3:07 PM
Fire...fire...fire...grew up on the East side...that was the code for a problem...everyone stops,looks,and listens...
86462594Calif Mom said on Wednesday, Apr 4 at 4:38 PM
My daughter & I had this discussion when she was a teenager. I told her that I would not ever leave with someone trying to abduct me. They could shoot me dead in the store parking lot first because I would want my family to know where I was. And once someone takes you, they will do horrible things to you before they kill you. Better to take your chances in public. My daughter agreed with me that standing & fighting is so much wiser than going without a fight. I am NOT victim blaming at all. Who wouldn't be afraid of a gun & some people might think they can talk their way out of a frightening situation. Mostly though, it ends badly.
86468736Israel said on Wednesday, Apr 4 at 11:38 PM
Let me ask you something, what if you are alone and force to do something you don't want done. You can't prevent anything and all you could do is just protect yourself or even try to hang out with as much people as you can. There really is no book about this.
86488346Anonymous said on Thursday, Apr 5 at 4:50 PM
we can pack guns and defend ourselves in our homes, Raven33 is right...if out of house...out of law..lol. fricken Alaska...all that money and no sense at all!
86563366LinLew said on Thursday, Apr 5 at 9:38 PM
No one,male or female, should work at an isolated job with out protection.It's too tempting for the monsters out there looking.I read a story of a 4 yr. old girl that was being abducted by a sex offender in a store and she kicked,screamed and fought.The creep dropped her and took off running but was caught.Thank God. Make a scene and risk it,but do not let them get you alone or in a car.Good advice is just that ..words,but you never know what may prevent a bad situation from going bad to worse.there is crazies out there and it's getting worse every day.we have to come up with solutions to stop this from happening to our children.
86579204Big Dan said on Tuesday, Apr 10 at 8:19 PM
I was staying with friends in Juneau last week, and a man was assaulted by three other men less than a block from the house. My host asked me why I kept a loaded 45 by the bed, I told him because, it is silly to shoot twice. I never leave the house/car in Juneau without my trusty 45. God created man, Sam Colt made us equal!
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