Protecting Yourself - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

Protecting Yourself

Even with today's news, the fact is that our state's violent crime rate is quite low.

But it's not zero.

And that's a good reason to be prepared to deal with whatever might come your way.

Alysia Huck reports that just being aware of your surroundings can make a big difference.

An attack...while unlikely, it can happen to anybody, at anytime and anywhere. As one assault victim can attest, it's something you never think of happening to you...

(Assault Victim) I never would have guessed I would be put in a predicament that my family would be put in danger or in a situation of having to think what would I do to protect my family"

And what to do in an assault situation is not something the average person thinks about.

(Assault Victim) Really I never had a plan as to if I was put in a situation what I would do. The instinct of protecting my family overcame.

Chief Olson from the Minot Police Department says instinct is a big part of protecting yourself...

(Chief Jason Olson - Minot PD) "If you feel there is a risk or getting red flag, pay attention to those instincts you have."

While it's a good idea to always be cautious, officials say high profile attacks are not common, despite the increase in population.

(Chief Jason Olson - Minot PD) "Those types of attacks are very rare, we have had a couple of instances recently, but statistically it's extremely rare and we still have very low crime numbers in our community."

And the question remains, what do you do if you are attacked? ATA Martial Arts Owner Dan Merck says simply, don't be a victim.

(Daniel Merck - ATA Martial Arts Owner/Chief Instructor) Defending yourself is the most important thing, not being a victim. If you're willing to fight, then a bad guy wants to leave you alone, a bad guy wants to find somebody who is not going to fight and is just going to be an easy victim."

And, as past assault victims have proven, defending yourself and not leaving with your attacker is crucial.

(Chief Jason Olson - Minot PD) "Never want to go with an attacker, if they want to take you someplace, always do what you can to resist that"

So how should you protect yourself? That boils down to personal preference. Whether it be martial arts, or you choose to have a firearm or stun gun...

(Chief Jason Olson - Minot PD) "If do choose to go down that route, whether it's a firearm or stun gun, that they be prepared to use it. It's not enough to just purchase a weapon and not have training or mental preparedness to use it in a circumstance."

The possibility of an assault is always there...but if you wind up a situation, finding a way to move on is key...

(Assault Victim) I wake up everyday telling myself another day, I can make it through this. I am safe where I am and know I can have the normal life again."

In Minot, Alysia Huck, KX News.

According to officials, if you choose to keep a weapon in your home for protection, statistically you are much more likely to have that firearm used against a family member than you are to use it against a stranger.