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Security

posted Monday, 24 December 2007
This article from the St. Paul Pioneer Press contains some bone-chilling quotes from Minnesota Vikings defensive lineman Pat Williams.   He was asked if the Sean Taylor tragedy had changed the way he approaches protecting himself.  The article doesn't waste any time, either -- this is the lead:

"Every time his doorbell rings, Vikings defensive tackle Pat Williams answers with his 9mm Glock holstered on his hip.

Williams' security concerns have increased since Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor was killed in his Miami home on Nov. 26 by intruders who reportedly learned of the Pro Bowl safety's wealth by someone who had been to the house.

"You never know," Williams said. "(Taylor's death) made me more aware. I don't trust nobody.

"I just can't."

Williams checks in with his wife and three kids more often, and he doesn't let anyone do any work at his house unless he is home. When workers arrive, Williams "breaks the rules down" to them.

" 'Get in and get out. Don't talk to nobody,' " Williams said. "If my wife is there by herself, they got to go. They stop until I come back."

NFL players are "targets," Williams said, because of people driven by jealousy.

"Dude didn't do nothing wrong," Williams said of Taylor. "They killed him for nothing."

Vikings left tackle Bryant McKinnie played with Taylor at the University of Miami and owns a home in the Miami area. Since the shooting, McKinnie has added security cameras to his home, and he is contemplating another purchase.

"I might get a gun in this offseason because of that (shooting)," McKinnie said. "(The assailants) had a gun, and (Taylor) had a knife."

Last summer, McKinnie hosted several barbecues, and he admitted he didn't know everyone there.

"People bring a friend of a friend," McKinnie said, "but that's going to stop."

Wow.  This is just fucking crazy.  A guy carrying a gun EVERY TIME HE ANSWERS THE DOOR?  Can you imagine living like that?  Some of these guys live like they are in a war zone every day.  It's really fucked-up that our country is like this.  Somehow, I doubt this reality represents the "sweet land of liberty" the founding fathers had in mind. 

At the same time, I can't think of anything that can be done about it short of a culture transplant.  

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