Sitting in your home, watching a video is so, so, so safe. Video watchers pride themselves on their objectivity, how carefully they examine the action, identify this and that, and judge the threat. However, video watchers are so hooked on action, and judgement, they never notice the demeanor of the target.

The target of a stranger’s hate-filled rants is terrified because we have NO idea if this stranger is carrying a gun, a knife, brass knuckles, or a baseball bat. We have NO idea if this stranger is mentally ill and if so, we don’t know if he/she is delusional, in the midst of a psychotic break, high on drugs or has a history of violence.

If a man like this targets you, you never feel safe your own home again. An undercurrent of hypervigilance runs through you all the time - anxious, nervous, worried, distrustful, you look over your shoulder, peek out your window, stay out of your own front yard, and feel on edge.

If a man or woman like this, attacks you in public, you cannot go back to that place without the anxiety returning.

Targets often try to ease their fears and regain a sense of safety by buying guns. I already owned rifles and I am one heck of a good shot. Unfortunately, I learned that by the time someone is on your porch like this guy was, you need a hand gun – so I bought one.