perhaps kevlar was suggested in humor, but, in all seriousness, if the man is potentially armed, a vest is not a bad idea. Also good items to have if you are alone would be a taser/or pepper spray (bear repellent is best, but depending on the regs where you live, you may have to explain why you used it on a human). A fantastic compliment to either of those two deterrents is a good set of handcuffs.

Although some people never go down, those tactics can still prevent the assailant from getting a clean shot off. Best case scenario, an assailant would only be neutralized for a short time with either option, and when they come to, you want to make sure you're in control. Cuff em.

i know i probably sound about as unstable as the guy you're dealing with, but these are actually some realistic things to consider, imo.

 

if he is armed, and has this mental illness. Im willing to bet he does not have a concealed weapons permit. I would not wish anyone losing their job, but it may be for the best to inform his boss of his stability issues. Since you are already visiting the police, make sure they are aware that he is armed, if you havent already. A lot of good advice for you here. Take care and be safe, Happy holidays.

 

I had the officer listen to the messages on my phone and while they did sound alarming to him, he said there was nothing he could do, more than just calling him and telling him to stop being an **** (he had the same thought, might ____ him off more). He suggested the anti-harassment thing on Tuesday also.

I explained to him that I think he carries a gun... that I think, based on more than speculation, that he's ill... his prior instances of abuse to carriers and such and it just doesn't matter, until he breaks the law with me.

The police officer, this time, wouldn't even call his name in and hear his record. He said he couldn't not tell me about it and he was talking in to his not-so-private shoulder radio.

Tonight, besides being out on my route 2-3 hours earlier than him (my husband and I split the Sunday route), we'll be having the boys stay the night with my grandmother and my father will come out on the route with me, who does the Jason side of the route.

Tomorrow, they day where we'd normally be passing each other, over and over, down dark deadended roads, my husband will do the route with my step father, who has a concealed weapon's permit and concealed weapon.

After that, I don't know. Step father is really heavy on us owning a gun, father hates guns and wants us to get a taser. Ugh. I'm hoping for a miracle and that Jason somehow expresses sincere apologies, from a distance, somehow. My husband hasn't really admitted it, nor would he, but I can tell he's quite "put-off" (for fear of using a unmanly word like scared) by this situation and would like a gun too.

CherryBox, I've been going through that with my family, all today. I hate, hate, hate guns but today is actually the first time I've half considered it. Tasers and spray, I'd have to get a certain ways close to him. I really don't know what to do. I almost would rather quit my job and pray I can find something else in quick order, than to have to own a weapon and worry about our safety like that.

I keep backing off on worrying about the worse case scenario but then I think of my children and how I couldn't imagine them dealing with one of us seriously hurt or dead, because of a paper route. I think about those messages he left and wow, he speaks as though he's very, very off in the head and wishes us harm.... can't wait to give us harm.

I'll have these messages saved on my phone for a very long time if any of you wish to hear them in the future, lol.

Thanks for the concern and help, I really appreciate it. I'm really fretting over this, as is my husband and he, too, has been reading this thread and taking your words to heart.