Nassau Shooting - Should I cancel the Hilton daypass?

[cyclenut]

Safety is such a subjective thing, until you are the one that is the victim of some sort of violence. Just because there are shootings every day where you live (or in Chicago as some have cited) doesn't mean those places are safe. I think it is wise to be diligent and understand the situation you may find yourself in when you travel. The OP had a concern and took steps to get more information and other opinions. That's a good thing. We should not become desensitized to the violence around us, but that does not mean we should live in fear either. Be diligent and watchful. Prepared, not paralyzed.

Some of you have been dismissive of the concerns. That's not OK.

I think the information that was shared about the nature of the shooting as well as the distance you'll have to walk are important information for you to consider. I think you will not have a problem.

 

[bumbershoot]

Ok, under the safety and security section. That is the site I view as well but truthfully I go to the cliffs notes version-I'm only concerned with warnings and alerts.

Just saying where I found it hiding. But there's no date at all. That makes me question it. But I questioned it even when it was in red a couple years ago. Without true info of what happened and where it was and how often, I just don't feel it's factual.

And remember, I don't care for Nassau all that much. I found their lack of sidewalks and street signs (while trying to get to the forts once away from the govt bldgs) disturbing.

The U.S. State Department rates Nassau's crime level as "critical". Click below for a detailed description.

https://www.osac.gov/pages/ContentReportDetails.aspx?cid=19192

That's not Nassau, it's Bahamas. The Bahamas are more than Nassau.

Some of you have been dismissive of the concerns. That's not OK.

You hear dismissive, we hear realistic. I have always found it ridiculous when any American worries about going to any basically normal (not war-torn or coup-filled) country.

My chance of being murdered in my sleep by a stranger in my suburb of Tacoma, or DH's chances of it while at work in Seattle, are higher than while touring most cities outside of the US. For us to be worried about such things is just silly.

 

[Shanti]

That's not Nassau, it's Bahamas. The Bahamas are more than Nassau.

If you take the time to read the advisory, you'll find that it focuses on New Providence Island and Nassau. The State Department doesn't publish separate reports on individual islands/cities, just countries, so naturally it's listed under the Bahamas. But the major area of crime concern is Nassau, as is described in the State Department's report.

149 murders in 2015 that's a normal weekend in Chicago.

Chicago has a population of almost 3 million people. The entire Bahamas (not even just Nassau or New Providence Island) has a population of less than 4 hundred thousand. Keep that in mind when comparing the number of shootings between the two places. Nassau has a much higher rate of crime than Chicago.

 

[Dug720]

My chance of being murdered in my sleep by a stranger in my suburb of Tacoma, or DH's chances of it while at work in Seattle, are higher than while touring most cities outside of the US. For us to be worried about such things is just silly.

Amen!!!

Of course, my whole theory on the whole thing is: When it's your time, it's your time. If you weren't where Plan A should have been, Plan B would have gotten you. (Plan A and Plan B being the universe's plan for your life.) If you "didn't get on that plane" that crashed and it was your time, you'd have been hit by a car or fallen down stairs or had a heart attack or something.

Which is why I try to live each moment like it could be my last - because it could. Even if I stayed planted on my butt in my apartment at all times. So I might as well live my life while I've got it.

(And because Chicago, NYC, and Paris ARE in fact high tourist areas, citing them IS relevant in a discussion about Nassau, another high tourist area. I know @bumbershoot didn't say that, but just pointing it out for the poster she had quoted.)

 

[Churchladychurchlady]

I felt perfectly safe in Nassau, but you know - after reading this, it's all perspective, and it's hard to judge anyone who has a different perspective. I live in Phoenix, and people are shot here daily. Daily. With some fun extras like people locked in car trunks and set on fire. So I guess it's no wonder a single shooting in Nassau sounds tame in comparison. But for people coming from small towns, who don't have that going on daily? Totally different reaction to this, I'm sure. I wouldn't cancel plans for this, but I also wouldn't blame anyone for canceling if they'll be worried the whole time and can't enjoy it at all!

Heck, we live in a small town and there are weekly shootings, drug raids and stabbings.

 

[kiapepito]

We visited the British colonial the day after Christmas and were lucky to watch their celebrations and parades. We felt safe with our two young daughters

 

[MillauFr]

The level of violence in Nassau pales in comparison to the number of deaths on US roadways. We tolerate 40,000 deaths every year on our roadways. We could easily cut it by 90% but it doesn't seem to register as a problem with most people.

 

[Tozzie]

There are many people that question going to Europe due to the terrorist attacks there, I have had to remind people more than once that the worst terrorist attack in modern history occured right here on US soil on 9/11 . With all that is going on would you rather die having fun or die in a fire in your house because you were to scared to go ouy I get that some people only watched it on tv but I didn't I was a 911 first responder and I have a lot of medical issues because of it but I refuse to let fear dictate my life and don't let fear run your life, be smart, be aware but go about your business and enjoy yourself. Life is too short and none of us are promised tomorrow so live for today.

 

[GrnMtnMan]

Nassau has a much higher rate of crime than Chicago.

Can you point me to your source for each of those rates?

According to that Cruse law blog, Nassau's rate is 30-40 per 100k:

"the murder rate of the Bahamas is over 30 per 100,000. Considering that the vast majority of murders in the Bahamas occur in New Providence where Nassau is located, the murder rate is probably over 40 per 100,000 for Nassau"

According to Wiki pages for Chicago and Baltimore, the rates there are 27 and 55, respectively.

I know these aren't the most reliable sources, so I'm genuinely asking if you have seen more reliable stats somewhere.