Ban men!!

[Gob]

Men should be banned from being outdoors after 6pm to 'make women a lot safer' after the abduction and suspected murder of Sarah Everard in London, a Green Party peer has suggested.



Baroness Jones made the comment in a discussion in the House of Lords during a debate on domestic violence.

The issue of women's safety has been again thrust into the spotlight following the disappearance of 33-year-old Ms Everard as she walked home to Brixton from her friend's home in Clapham, south-west London, on March 3.

Met Commissioner Cressida Dick revealed last night that human remains were found in the week-long search for the marketing executive in woodland near Ashford in Kent.

A serving Metropolitan Police officer, Wayne Couzens, has been arrested on suspicion of murder and abduction and is being questioned by detectives.

It prompted scores of high profile women, including Home Secretary Priti Patel, to speak out on the issue of women's fears of being the victims of crime at night.

But amid demands for action, Baroness Jones went a step further. Speaking in the House of Lords last night the 71-year-old mother of two daughters, said: 'In the week that Sarah Everard was abducted and, we suppose, killed—because remains have been found in a woodland in Kent — I argue that, at the next opportunity for any Bill that is appropriate, I might put in an amendment to create a curfew for men on the streets after 6 pm.

'I feel this would make women a lot safer, and discrimination of all kinds would be lessened.'

[ex-khobar Andy]

I hope that she was making some sort of ironic point, although it's difficult to be sure. Bearing in mind that a serving Metropolitan (London) Police officer has been arrested - although not AFAIK charged - in connection with her disappearance, maybe it would make more sense to ban police from the streets after 6.

[Sue U]

She's not wrong, but who's going to enforce it?

A serving Metropolitan Police officer, Wayne Couzens, has been arrested on suspicion of murder and abduction

[Sue U]

maybe it would make more sense to ban police from the streets after 6.

[Big RR]

And what if the initial conclusions are wrong and it turns out she was killed by a woman?

[MajGenl.Meade]

It makes as much sense as banning women from wearing sexy outfits which are an inducement to crimes!

i.e. no sense at all

[rubato]

We can't help it. It is biology that makes us that way. It's like blaming women for the effects of menopause. Hookers and free beer might help. Worth a try, I say.


yrs,
rubato

[Guinevere]

Here are just 34 things women do to “stay safe(r).”

1. Walk with our keys grasped between our fingers in case we need to use them as a weapon.
2. Making sure to have the correct key out and ready before we get to our door
3. When someone is walking closely behind us on the street, we stop to pretend to make a phone call or otherwise occupy ourselves to allow them to pass in front of us.
4. Walk past our destination, particularly if it’s our home, if someone has been trailing us for a while.
5. Scope out potential safe havens if someone appears to be following us.
6. Stay in well-lit areas at night even if it means taking a longer route.
7. Switch up our running routes to avoid potential stalkers learning our route.
8. Change direction if a car appears to be following us while we’re walking on foot.
9.Run outdoors with only one earbud in to keep the other on our surroundings.
10. Pretend to listen to music while walking by men who attempt to engage with us.
11. Change the locks when housekeys are misplaced.
12.Take alternative routes to avoid areas we know we are likely to face street harassment.
13. Cross the street when we see men who look like they might be drunk.
14. Late at night, cross to the other side of the street when anyone is walking towards us.
15. Avoid eye contact with men trying to get our attention.
16. Decide the cost of a taxi is worth it.
17. Avoid entering stairwells or elevators occupied by only one other person who is a stranger.
18. Text a friend before going out for a run or on a date with a stranger.
19. Avoid social situations if a man whose prior advance made us uncomfortable might be there.
20. Decide not to open Facebook messages from unknown men, who could see the message has been “Read” and become hostile and harassing.
21. Never open the door for someone we’re not expecting and stay still until the doorbell stops ringing.
22. When bringing heavy bags and packages into the house or apartment, locking and unlocking the door with every trip.
23. Avoid sleeping naked in case of an intruder or on-looker.
24. Buy pepper spray: for the purse, for the car, one for the home.
25. Make sure we’re not the only woman on the subway car or bus.
26. Avoid getting off at our bus or train stop if a man who has been staring exits at the same time.
27. Check our mirrors frequently while driving, noting characteristics and license plate numbers of cars trailing close behind.
28. Driving in a circle if we sense we might be followed.
29. Park next to a light post when it’s dark outside.
30. Wear a hoodie when driving late at night to appear male to other drivers.
31. Check for an official city medallion number when entering a taxi.
32. Never leave a drink unattended at a party.
33. Run outside in baggy clothes, even if it’s hot, to decrease the chances of unsolicited commentary on our anatomy.
34.Making sure we have enough cell phone battery life before leaving one location to last until we get to another.

I’ve done a lot of these things, and more, have you?

[datsunaholic]

Well. I have.

[Big RR]

I have as well. Those actions just make sense.

[MajGenl.Meade]

33. Run outside in baggy clothes, even if it’s hot, to decrease the chances of unsolicited commentary on our anatomy.

Well, if one must run outside to avoid commentary on one's anatomy from ones family . . . that's sad.

[Joe Guy]

28. Driving in a circle if we sense we might be followed.

28a. Drive only on wide streets in case this becomes necessary.

[ex-khobar Andy]

I'm not minimizing the point in any way: but the corollary is that a man walking on his own after dark might have to cross the road if he sees a woman in front of him so as not to give her the heebies about being followed. Happened to me many times.

[Econoline]

More than half of those things would be common-sense precautions for men to follow—at least sometimes, in some circumstances.

[Jarlaxle]

1 is a bad idea...much easier to have keys in your pocket, and your hand free to draw your pistol.

[Bicycle Bill]

1 is a bad idea...much easier to have keys in your pocket, and your hand free to draw your pistol.

Countless studies and tests have shown that, unless you are within ten feet of your target or have spent a good deal of time throwing lead down the lanes at the practice range, you aren't going to do anything more than make a lot of noise shooting holes in the air — especially if your assailant sees the gun and takes off running.

In fact, the average person is more likely to
1) freeze up and end up being shot dead themselves before they can even make the decision to pull the trigger, or
2) have such an itchy trigger finger that they shoot first, spray bullets all over the place until the weapon is empty, and wind up hitting God-only-knows what else besides (or instead of) the bad guy.

-"BB"-

[Jarlaxle]

If the assailant sees the gun and takes off running...that's good. If not...aim at center mass and fire until the threat is neutralized.

[dales]

What a tuff guy.

[Gob]

[MGMcAnick]

27. Check our mirrors frequently while driving, noting characteristics and license plate numbers of cars trailing close behind.

I check my mirrors frequently because that's why they exist, not because I might be followed. Checking for a tag number, backwards, is especially difficult in states without front license plates, and almost as hard in the dark.

The states not requiring a front license plate are Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia.

States not requiring darkness are, wait a minute, there aren't any.

Remember to set your clocks forward for daylight saving time tonight if you live in a state that uses DST.