Craigslist Killer - Let's Discuss

[allingeneral]

So, by now, most of you have probably heard of the "Craigslist Killer". He has been arrested and charged with the murder of an escort-type woman that he picked up on Craigslist. The murder was apparently committed because the woman that he was robbing was bound by zip-ties in the hotel room and he was tired of her resisting his robbery attempt, so he shot her multiple times. He is accused of robbing at least two other women at gun-point in a similar Modus Operandi.

[ Full Story Here ]

So, I'm sure this will be another story that the Anti-gun nuts will try to use in the media to warp your neighbors' minds and make them think that taking guns away from us all will fix this problem.

My opinion is quite to the contrary. I just purchased a GPS from a guy 2 hours away on Craigslist. I drove to the marina where he was keeping his boat to meet up with him and purchase the GPS. He turned out to be a nice guy and we chatted for awhile about boats and GPS's and the like, but it could have just as easily been the opposite. I'm glad that I have my Concealed Handgun Permit (CHP), as it made me feel much more secure in the situation. Just knowing that I had a method of defending myself in case this guy's intentions weren't to sell me a GPS was a relief. The fact that I had my wife and kids with me (I can't go anywhere without them!) made it even more imperative that I be able to provide protection if things went south for some reason.

I've made several purchases on craigslist and eBay. Several times it was a large item such as a boat or a motorcycle or a truck. Before I owned a firearm, I always felt slightly uneasy meeting a stranger to complete these transactions. This time, having a firearm concealed on my hip made for a much more pleasant experience.

[OakRidgeStars]

I've bought and sold numerous car parts on Craigslist over the years without a problem. But this guy was out looking for something else... an illegal act. I know they call it a "massage", but let's call it what it really is... prostitution. It doesn't take long to find an ad on Craigslist that seems to be a little more than the ad implies. Kind of like this seemingly harmless ad http://norfolk.craigslist.org/ths/1133486217.html

I wonder how much extra for a happy ending?

I think everyone that wants to post an ad like this on Craigslist should be required to read this news story first. Maybe that will make them think twice.

[alby]

Anybody who gets into the sex trade in any way, shape, or form, is bound to cross paths with
the shadiest of people. You just never know in this world today. From a buyer's standpoint,
you never know if the girl you just bought online will be showing up with her MS-13 gangsters
to rob and kill you while your pants are down. From the seller's standpoint, you never know
when some wacko is looking for the next "murder to order" via the internet. You show up,
the door locks behind you, and that is it.

Now granted 99% of these exchanges likely yield in the desired transaction/trade. But given the
nature of the business, your chances of something bad happening are increased verses just going
to church and meeting somebody. Although I will say, you gotta watch out for some of the nuts
at church too. lol

[allingeneral]

I agree that the nature of the "Sale" for these people lends them to deal with people of questionable character. The chances of something going wrong at one of these encounters is clearly much higher than for some guy going to a marina to buy a stranger's GPS. However, there are crazy people with GPS's too!