Crime in the Bahamas

[Boatsb]

And you can't defend things with a gun. Only lives. If you shoot the guy Stealing your car he wins. If your wife's in it. You win.

 

[Walter P]

"But Sheriff how come the perp was shot 87 times..........Well, we ran out of bullets"

Walt

 

[Boatsb]

Polk county Florida.

Asked why they shot the guy 68 times, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd told the Orlando Sentinel … get this. “That’s all the bullets we had.”

 

[rourkeh]

I would agree that the Bahamas has gotten a lot more dangerous over the years. But so has every where else. I just read the violent crime statistics for western nations and the U.S. is the highest in the developed world. By a large margin. And you Americans have already had a DOZEN school shootings in 2018, does anyone realize how insane that is. I went to school in Nassau years ago and never worried about getting shot in math class. The Bahamians have never had a school massacre. I think I would be more concerned about cruising in America nowadays.

 

[Dan Mapes]

If your wife's in it. You win.

Sounds like Henny Youngman.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUil6T5dN6Y

 

[Avenger]

I would agree that the Bahamas has gotten a lot more dangerous over the years. But so has every where else. I just read the violent crime statistics for western nations and the U.S. is the highest in the developed world. By a large margin. And you Americans have already had a DOZEN school shootings in 2018, does anyone realize how insane that is. I went to school in Nassau years ago and never worried about getting shot in math class. The Bahamians have never had a school massacre. I think I would be more concerned about cruising in America nowadays.

Methinks your statistics are provided by people who are a little biased.

 

[Boatsb]

Talk about bad numbers..

Did they include photo shoots?

 

[Sharon Jean]

I used to carry weapons but came to learn this; honest people hesitate to shoot, crooks don't. After reading of decent people "defending" replaceable things and loosing their lives doing it figured "Who is right"?

I fully agree that losing your life defending something replaceable is not a worthwhile undertaking.

However, if you are ever forced into a situation of defending something that is not replaceable (your own life or that of a loved one),
I don't believe you would be better off if you had made the decision not to carry the tools that could give you a fighting chance.

 

[Boatsb]

Could you draw and fire without hesitating?

If not don't carry. Let others do it.

Id try to talk them down so I know I'm not the one to carry. My friends are a different story.

 

[GCSI]

I've been fishing / cruising the northern Bahamas for (I'm embarrassed to admit) over forty years. The relentless trend that I've witnessed is tourists are becoming prey. Before exploding, let me explain;

In the early years, a visiting cruiser/fisherman was welcomed as more of a diversion and or source of entertainment; someone other than another local to talk with. If you were polite, considerate and helpful (if able) it was easy to develop meaningful friendships with locals.

In the middle years as the area became "the" destination, the local populations began to appreciate the value of tourism in general. There was an active effort to protect the "brand". If a local did something that reflected poorly on the area, the entire community would push back. With the continual influx of more and more monied second homeowners, there started to be a subtle shift, with less regard for the "brand". Still could develop lasting friendships, but local population started to be more guarded with respect to outsiders.

In recent years, with the influx of innumerable multi million dollar second homes and the related short term vacation rentals of same, there has been a remarkable shift. Now, there is no respect for the "brand", it has been replaced by an attitude of permanent plenty; there is limited supply and huge demand with the feeling that if you're unhappy there's 50 more lined up behind you. When I visit now, Everyone has a hand out expecting to make a buck.

The "endless plenty" has, in my opinion, set up a very destructive dynamic. Now, the local population views tourists as prey. There is strong suspicion that even enforcement of property laws are somewhat lax because: "they are insured and can afford it". It's not uncommon to be overcharged for something as simple as the taxi ride from airport to the docks. My last trip the taxi driver asked why I was arguing over $20.00 when I could "obviously" afford it. Sadly, it was a legitimate question from her perspective.

Skipping forward to now, I try to limit my interaction with Bahamians when I visit. And I'm embarrassed to admit, the less involvement the smoother and more enjoyable the trip. I went from visiting at least five times per year for 1 week trips to maybe going every couple of years for maybe a week. To be honest, I've not gone for the last few years and don't miss it.

Please also note that my comments are limited to the northern Bahamas...

 

[Dan Mapes]

Bret I agree to some extent but there is another aspect to the attitude. The second home owners from the U.S. have pushed up the value of property so high the locals cannot afford a house anymore. That is unless they commute many miles using very expensive gas. We heard it first hand last week from a local we have known for quite a while.

The outer islands of the Abacos have become quite exclusive. Destination weddings frequently close down whole facilities such as Firefly, The Abaco Inn, the Hope Town Harbour Lodge etc..

As one friend put it "The Bahamians' idea of a perfect guest is one that gets off the plane, hands over a check and gets back on the plane.". We were just there for a week and things were fine for the most part. Many of the folks we have interacted with stopped their work to come over and give us a hug or shake hands.

BTW the new power plant took a nasty turn and has been shut down. It could be quite a while before rolling black outs across ALL of Abaco are resolved.

 

[Westfield 11]

This is off topic and related to the comments on the previous pages, but I have long wondered why if urban areas are so dangerous and "urban people" are so prone to violence, all of our mass killers and school shooters are white men and boys? And why does it seem like so many of these school shootings take place, not in poor areas, but in middle class or even wealthy places?

Has there ever been a school shooting by a black kid or one in a mostly minority school? I honestly do not know the answer, maybe there has and I just don't know about it.

 

[Boatsb]

Have you been to an urban school without armed security guards and metal detectors?

Plus most of the urban school shootings are between students on the playground or in the neighborhood. Half the kids ammo is wasted on the way there.


It's always the soft targets that get the worst outcomes. No security. No one expected a shooter because life in the sticks is different.

 

[Dan Mapes]

This is off topic and related to the comments on the previous pages, but I have long wondered why if urban areas are so dangerous and "urban people" are so prone to violence, all of our mass killers and school shooters are white men and boys? And why does it seem like so many of these school shootings take place, not in poor areas, but in middle class or even wealthy places?

Has there ever been a school shooting by a black kid or one in a mostly minority school? I honestly do not know the answer, maybe there has and I just don't know about it.

Wrong. The Orlando killer was a muslim.

 

[Boatsb]

Pulse in Orlando was a club not a school. And yes the shooter was a muslim.

 

[Dan Mapes]

As far as poor area shootings go, those kids are probably in families that cannot afford weapons.

 

[Westfield 11]

That's not been my experience, I grew up nearly poor with a lot of friends in school worse off than me and their families all had guns. Mostly long guns, it was the '60s, and back then gun ownership was all about hunting and wasn't so "tactical". IIRC my state didn't allow deer hunting with rifled arms, so everyone had a shotgun or two. Anyway it sure seemed that there was no shortage of firearms on the other side of the tracks. I don't see why it would not be the same today.

 

[ADOPO]

So the link is old but instead of providing more updated info you dispute what they say (Walt- can't say your stats lie as you don't provide any) or write more conjecture (Sky- I'd opine you would lose that bet).
Here are a couple more links that should satisfy you both. Per Forbes, Chicago isn't in the top 20. The Bismark Tribune not in the top 30.
Why is it so hard to admit your perception is divorced from reality?
https://www.forbes.com/pictures/mlj45jggj/1-detroit/#265ee16169d9
https://www.forbes.com/pictures/mlj45jggj/1-detroit/#265ee16169d9

What's so very sad is these cities have one commonality, and it's not the property or drugs. Ever see "The First 48?" For whatever reason, it's that way everywhere.Tell me why?

A good friend of mine had his brother and three friends beaten to death with a hammer in the Bahamas. Outstanding family, tore them apart. Guns save lives in the right hands, with the right training. Of course it takes courage as well, as was recently demonstrated in a negative way.

 

[Bugsy]

Or a bigger hammer? Or even a knife? Detroit News showed an exchange tonight between a robber and a woman and her daughter. Multiple shots fired at close range. Everyone survived.
Guess the victims of the robbery attempt or the perpetrator or all of them were lucky no one was armed with a hammer.

 

[diakon]

I think you answered your own question. No one can recommend going anywhere and be safe in today’s world. You cruise where you feel comfortable and carry a bigger gun with lots of rounds.

Seven, This is Diakon. Sorry to get off topic, but, I just purchased a 1973 53'Hatteras. Do you know how big the holding tank on your 79 is? I would assume they're about the same size. Thank you, Diakon