We need to learn about self defense because crime happens, even in the safest of neighborhoods. It's good if the person doing the crime will kill you in less than a minute (so less pain) but for the past days or so, I have been reading real crime stories of which a lot of victims have been brutally killed-- raped, maimed, hacked, tortured, burned...and the pain lasting for quite a while.

You wouldn't want to be in a position where you're at a mercy of a predator. Killers don't have any mercy at all.

When you're old, you're at a risk. That's coz you look weak. When you're young and pretty, you have the highest risk of being kidnapped, raped and killed. It's so hard to understand why people could do certain things at times, and why their mind is so twisted they're like monsters living amongst us normal people, just waiting for an opportunity to attack.

Every one of us are probably positive these things will never happen to us, but what if it does happen to us, or to someone we love? Nobody has ever thought bad things could happen to them---but it happened to them.

What should concerned parents do?

1. What we need to do is learn how to defend ourselves and teach our children how to defend themselves.We could enroll in courses, buy self-defense dvds or maybe find some information on the web on how to defend ourselves and share that with our loved ones.

This is especially useful for teens who will be living by themselves for college, those going to school by themselves and spouses who are left alone with the kids.

2. Always have a clear communication with your kids and teens as to who they could go home with and who they can't.

3. Tell them to avoid an adult asking them for help in search for something, especially if in the course of helping, they'll have to leave their peers.

4. Tell them it's ok to say no. If they are attacked tell them it's ok to fight and scream and hurt that person with all they have to defend themselves and run away.

5. Tell them to never ever ride with somebody just to make the other person happy or out of fear. The more they fear, the more they need to stay away. Once they're inside the car and taken to a faraway secluded place, they may never get back alive, so he/she better learn to fight where help is just a scream away.

6. They should especially avoid anyone trying to give them money or gifts just for them to follow the person somewhere. Tell your youngster that these gifts/money are like lures and they are like fish. Once they bite or follow the lure, they could be killed.

7. As soon as your child is able to, teach him or her these self defense techniques. However, don't rely on this too much to keep your child safe.This might give them a false sense of security which makes them take more risks. Avoiding dangerous situations is still the key to being safe. The predator could have a gun, there could be two, there could be a knife and so forth. Make sure they know enough self-defense techniques before giving them a bit of independence.

When our children are too young to learn about self defense, we as parents need to keep them away from situations that could make them into a target. Predators live amongst us. If we don't keep an eye on our children, the predators will.

Below, the video has children whose death could've been avoided had parents known what to do to safeguard them. Unfortunately, hundreds of these happen everyday. It just doesn't get publicized by the media.

1. Form a community watch group. Make sure somebody is watching the kids while they play. If nobody is watching them, chances are somebody evil will. See Samantha Runion's story.

2. Kids that don't know how to defend themselves shouldn't be allowed to walk by themselves to and from school, to and from a neighbor's or grandpa's house or even just around the neighborhood. If you need help, try to work things out with a trusted neighbor to take turns bringing the kids to where they should be. See the story of Betty and Mary, Teresa Cormack and Holly Piirainen on the video,

3. If nobody could watch the kids play outside, or if you can't walk with the child in your neighborhood, keep her safe at home.See Destiny Norton's Story.

4. Lock all the doors and windows at night. Make sure there is a lock that the young ones can't reach just in case they tries to after hearing a knock. Install window guards in the kid's room that rings when the window has been openned. Read the Polly Klaas story.

5. Make sure you have thick curtains on every window and glass doors in your house. Keep them locked at night. Predators could see everyone inside the house when it's dark outside, while you can't see them. You wouldn't want predators to know it's only you and your little one inside. Read Danielle Van Dam's story and Jessica Lunsford's story.

6. There have been numerous cases where a step-dad (Mom's boyfriend) "accidentally" killed a child not his own. If you will bring another man to your house, understand that there is a potential risk there. The risk is higher if the man is unemployed than those with a good paying job. Leave the child with her grandma or a female neighbor you've known for a while and not with this stranger who could view this child as somebody you've made with another man. It doesn't matter if the man says he loves you. Many men will say anything for sex. Read the Kelsey Briggs Story.

7. Keep guns locked up and keys hidden from your kids. Make sure you know what your teens are buying online. See Kayla Rolland's story,