Girl grabs flasher's zipper - and yanks up

[Diva]

VIRGINIA BEACH (http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0404Flasher-Zipper-ON.html), Va. - A 12-year-old girl confronted by a flasher in a Virginia hotel elevator this week came to her own defense - she grabbed his zipper and yanked up.


Investigators believe the youngster's quick thinking will help them find the suspect.

Police spokesman Mike Carey says the incident happened in an elevator at a Virginia Beach lodge Monday night. He says the man was injured, and the girl ran out of the elevator and found her stepfather. The stepfather found the suspect running from the building, and the two men fought - but the suspect broke free and ran away.

Carey says the suspect may have suffered injuries serious enough for him to seek medical treatment. If caught, he faces a felony charge of taking indecent liberties with a minor.

Good girl! I hope she severed the little pecker. She is very lucky. The are so many children who don't get that chance... or freeze when that chance arrives.

I saw a camp that teaches young children how the defend themselves in an abduction. They had teachers grabbing them to teach them how to kick and scream and writher out of the grasp, throwing them in car trunks to teach them how to pull out rear lights, pulling them off of bikes to teach them how to hold onto the bike and make it more dificult to grab... Frankly, it terrified me.

Do you think these are good things to have? Self defense is good, but at what cost to the child's innocense?

[SysLord]

I have no kids of my own but I would not be in favour of these camps. Too often it's a matter of the parents wanting the kids to go, kids being unhappy for a couple of weeks and in the end nobody wins. If there is something to be taught to kids then it is up to the parents or school to do it.

[Diva]

I believe in making your child aware of potentially dangerous situations but this was more like training for guerilla warfare. They grabbed this boy and threw him into a trunk. He ad to pull out the back part of the car and get to the light so he could make it 'blink'. I would be afraid of the nightmares.

Would you send a child to this camp?

[dc]

I think you might change your mind if you had kids?

Just a guess, mind you.

[Diva]

I know the children need to be made aware of dangers. I know they are trying to protect them from harm... But I cried watching them going through it anyway. Why do we have laws to protect innocense? We are showing them the real world anyway. My dad was my protector. I felt safe with him. He was my shield even when he wasn't there. These kids are taught that they are on their own. I think that's what bothered me.

[SysLord]

Originally posted by Diva

I know the children need to be made aware of dangers. I know they are trying to protect them from harm... But I cried watching them going through it anyway. Why do we have laws to protect innocense? We are showing them the real world anyway. My dad was my protector. I felt safe with him. He was my shield even when he wasn't there. These kids are taught that they are on their own. I think that's what bothered me.

I have to agree 100% with Diva here. Yes, make your kids world-wise but not at all cost. And how effective would that self-defence be? Obviously a man with his trouser snake hanging out is in a vulnerable position but what if the assailant is armed and prepared for any type of struggle?