Tag Archive for homes

On Harrison Ford, Small Airports, and Housing

March 6, 2015 Comments Off on On Harrison Ford, Small Airports, and Housing

The Harrison Ford plane crash on Penmar Golf Course in Venice, CA, has spotlighted again the dangers of living close to a small airport.  We have the same situation here, in my hometown of San Jose, CA.  People are upset by the nearness of the municipal airport to their homes.

This baffles me.  In our case, the small-aircraft airport was built, then housing built up around it later.  In the case of Penmore, it appears that the airport and some homes were being built at the same time and others built later around it.  My question is, Why build homes in an unsafe area?  Or, in the case of people having homes where an airport is proposed, why not fight it harder (Venice is NOT a poor area).

Fast forward to today from 1962, when Penmore was built, or from 1937, when our Reid-Hillview Airport had its ground-breaking.  Houses have changed hands many times.  Why did people buy them, choosing to live so close to what they’re now calling a big danger?  Even if air traffic for light planes has increased over the years, a reasonable person whould have foreseen that.

I don’t mean to minimize people’s fear for their families’ safety in their own homes, although damage and injury from planes in such an area is quite rare.  But I do expect people to think before they act and, once they’ve made the decision, to respect the rights of others who use or work at the airport.  In other words, they should live with their decision or move.

 

 

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Bostonians Should Have Been Armed

May 6, 2013 2 comments

Boston should have been better armed, says the NRA. All households should have had guns to protect themselves from the escaping bombers.  They would have been safer and not as fearful or nervous.

I agree, but only with a few provisions during an actual incident: 1) The family’s designated shooter (Guardian) must have completed formal training in handling and shooting the specific gun he’s armed with.  2) The Guardian must have taken courses (e.g., meditation) to learn to calm himself in extremely stressful situations and focus his attention and vigilance on his Guardianship role.  3) The gun must be registered so that if it is wrested from him in a scuffle with the perpetrators it can be returned to him when it’s recovered. 4) The family must all be home and stay in a designated safe-room so that they don’t startle the focused Guardian, possibly causing him to shoot a loved one. They must stay there, no matter how many hours or days it takes, until the perpetrator is captured and announced by the authorities as in police custody. 5) All doors and windows must remain locked until capture is announced.  6) No pets will be allowed outside to relieve themselves, as noise that they make may cause a neighbor-Guardian to panic and waste bullets on the family dog.  7) The police must notify the homeowner in advance of storming his home or property so that a shoot-out between them and the Guardian doesn’t accidentally occur.

With these seven simple provisions, a community can be ready for any threat it may face. Its people can relax in the safety of their own homes, as is the American way.

 

 

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