Resident: “Turn yourself in to police”
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To the Editor,
News of the September 28th attack on a woman by the pedestrian bridge triggered memories of my own escape from an assailant when I lived in Thunder Bay, Ontario. I managed to escape my attacker only by running underneath a train car.
Golden and Thunder Bay have a lot in common. They are both surrounded by miles of wilderness, they are both railway towns, and they are both on the Trans-Canada highway. It is for these reasons that, despite the cities’ disparate population sizes, I have never walked the streets and trails of Golden completely at ease.
I recall a conversation with a friend while out walking one day. She said she felt uncomfortable walking alone due to the threat of wild animals. I told her I feared only the men I might encounter along the trail.
I do sometimes walk the streets and trails of Golden alone, but always with the knowledge that I may have to fight for my life. I walk alone because I refuse to be house-bound and I refuse to be cowed by my experiences.
Now a message for the “approximately 18 year old” assailant of September 28th: you are young; you have a chance to retain your humanity. Turn yourself in to the police. If you know that your anti-social urges are beyond your control, take the steps you need to ensure you do not hurt or terrorize another human being. These might include house arrest, chip implantation, or psychological counselling. Only you know what you need to do. If you fail in this, you can only become a monster.
Sincerely,
Cat Gibbs
Golden, BC
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