It's Getting Rough Out There

[Allan R]

American tourist slain on sailboat in Venezuela

CARACAS, Venezuela – An American tourist was shot and killed, and a friend wounded, in an apparent robbery attempt aboard a sailboat on Venezuela's Caribbean coast, police said Monday.

Kenneth Dale Peters, 55, was shot by armed men who boarded his sailboat to rob him and his passengers Saturday night, authorities said.
Peters apparently tried to defend himself with a gun and wounded one of the attackers, who got away, regional police chief Gustavo Palacios said.
Also wounded was Stephen Davis, 63, a friend of Peters. Police said he was recovering at a hospital.

Peters was visiting Venezuela on a tourist trip along with his wife, Palacios said. Authorities were making arrangements with the family to return his body to the United States.

Peters' sailboat, "Chill," was anchored off a small island in Mochima, a national park along Venezuela's northeastern coast. It was unclear if the intruders stole anything from the boat.

He and Davis had planned to leave in separate boats that night to return to the United States, Palacios said.

Details about the victim, including his hometown, weren't immediately available. The U.S. Embassy confirmed the death of an American but did not release any additional information.

Palacios said at least three suspects used motorboats, one of which was found and seized by police.

Tourists and fishermen have complained that a lack of coastal patrols is making the area around the park unsafe.

A French tourist was killed Sept. 15 aboard a sailboat off Vargas state, near Caracas.

 

[Capt. Ed]

Until the locals take control of this ,sailors should avoid the area . When the lost income affects them they will get the message .

 

[ITMaster]

Yes It Is

It is also rough right here in the US of A. This is a very controversial topic and one that there is no right or wrong answer to.

I prefer to be armed, yet I also would like to think that I could use intellect to outwit those that would do harm to me or those that I am responsible for, however there are very evil people in the world that can not be reasoned with and unfortunately, there are times when the use of force is required.

Accordingly, I am always very well armed and will shoot to kill if necessary, not maime someone that could harm me in the future. My theory is that the best solution to a problem is to eliminate it in a permant fashion.

The VietNam Vet in me knows that by keeping my head low and by being a better shot than my foe was is what got me back alive. I have had to use a weapon to defend myself here in the US as well, and without it, I would not be able to be here to discuss this. Many times I anchor where there are unsavory types on the water and there is no law enforcement available for 45 minutes or more, and I will die taking someone down with me instead of die doing nothing to defend myself.

For international use, I have always relied on knowing that my flare gun will work just as good as my Colt .45 Mark IV does, but for here, since I can legally carry it with me, I do.

This will turn into a lively thread I am sure.

Knowing that Chavez is not friendly to us, I would think that cruisers should consider Venezuela as they would consider Lebanon or downtown Baghdad, someplace very unsafe and they should boycott it. There are too many other places to go to that are more welcoming.

 

[Franklin]

Knowing that Chavez is not friendly to us, I would think that cruisers should consider Venezuela as they would consider Lebanon or downtown Baghdad, someplace very unsafe and they should boycott it. There are too many other places to go to that are more welcoming.

WORD! I don't think anybody should be going to Venezuela on a boat. If you have a boat, you are looked apon as having money and people who have money are the devel in Venezuela.

 

[Tim R.]

If he had just given them some cash, he would probably still be alive. Don't get me wrong, I totally believe that an individual has the right to defend himself but those pirates were likely not there to kill anyone. It is not like in the US where law enforcement actually investigates. They know that leaving plenty of eye witnesses is not a problem. They usually take their loot and quietly leave.

ITMaster, I get where you are coming from but shooting first when you are clearly outnumbered(like this guy was) will get you and your family/friends killed.

And it was not because it was Venezuela. It was because there were greedy people who wanted what they had. People like this exist all over the world including here.

 

[Benny]

Stay out of the area for your own safety. Unfortunately the entire contribution to their econmy from cruising sailors is a drop in a bucket to this oil rich country. If you want to hurt their pockets stop buying their oil.