Is anyone thinking DC may be too unsafe to stay in?

[Anonymous]

All my Iranian and Venezuelan friends are happy what has been happening lately.

[Anonymous]

We can control our own personal choices to prevent death, but we can’t control the choices of others who may cause it and there is no point in overthinking it. I don’t stop driving just because there are drunks on the road or stay in the house because of mass shootings. I can’t control it so why bother thinking about it.

[Anonymous]

I think about it all the time. I’m so ready to get out of here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If DC is unsafe, our country and region have much bigger problems.

I grew up in DC and figured we would be in the crater if a nuke hit. Same for any potential terrorist activity, though with Trump dismantling the FBI and much of our security apparatus, who knows. It isn't something I am going to lose sleep over.

That's not the right thinking. LA and NYC are the targets. Even east texas oil fields would be bigger targets. DC is just nothing but paper

An attack in DC would be largely symbolic. However, those are often the ones with the most impact.

There's no symbolism in DC. Vegas had more symbolism than dc

Then why does every movie about an attack on the US show DC's monuments being attacked.

I get that you think DC is some podunk town, but that doesn't mean that attacking it wouldn't be symbolic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If DC is unsafe, our country and region have much bigger problems.

I grew up in DC and figured we would be in the crater if a nuke hit. Same for any potential terrorist activity, though with Trump dismantling the FBI and much of our security apparatus, who knows. It isn't something I am going to lose sleep over.

That's not the right thinking. LA and NYC are the targets. Even east texas oil fields would be bigger targets. DC is just nothing but paper

An attack in DC would be largely symbolic. However, those are often the ones with the most impact.

There's no symbolism in DC. Vegas had more symbolism than dc

Then why does every movie about an attack on the US show DC's monuments being attacked.

I get that you think DC is some podunk town, but that doesn't mean that attacking it wouldn't be symbolic.

By all means, let’s base our irrational fears on what we see in the movies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If DC is unsafe, our country and region have much bigger problems.

I grew up in DC and figured we would be in the crater if a nuke hit. Same for any potential terrorist activity, though with Trump dismantling the FBI and much of our security apparatus, who knows. It isn't something I am going to lose sleep over.

That's not the right thinking. LA and NYC are the targets. Even east texas oil fields would be bigger targets. DC is just nothing but paper

An attack in DC would be largely symbolic. However, those are often the ones with the most impact.

There's no symbolism in DC. Vegas had more symbolism than dc

Then why does every movie about an attack on the US show DC's monuments being attacked.

I get that you think DC is some podunk town, but that doesn't mean that attacking it wouldn't be symbolic.

By all means, let’s base our irrational fears on what we see in the movies.

Someone did fly a plane into the Pentagon and had plans to fly into one into the White House. It's not completely farfetched that monuments would be attacked. However, it's more likely we would see attacks against public transportation, like Japan or Israel.

[Anonymous]

Honestly, I am in DC for the long haul because the city is going to stay pretty much as it is. The suburbs and country side are too easily preyed upon by corporate greed. Think data centers .... No suburban/rural area is safe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:After Venezuela, the abandonment of so many former allies and now Iran, I am now seriously considering moving my family out of DC and into one of the burbs given the increased risk of a retaliatory attack on the White House and the Pentagon.

I have to imagine our children would be safer from counter and domestic terrorism living 10 miles from the White House instead of two.

I wish I were joking in writing this post.

Grateful to know how other parents with DC-area roles and/or family nearby that you want to stay neat are evaluating this.

I grew up in DC hearing my Dad say often, if DC is hit, we won't even know what hit us. I stand by this. I'd rather be dead without even knowing it was coming than live in Gaithersburg or Fairfax and have to live though the aftermath.

Haha, me too, I am not made to suffer the apocalypse. I had enough hardship growing up.

[Anonymous]

I don't mean to jinx anything, but it has literally been nearly 25 years since 9/11 (a day when there was no actual terrorism committed in downtown D.C., either), and there's really been nothing like what OP is concerned about. If this is the kind of thing that you're centering in your thinking about where to live, you're way overestimating the actual risk.

[Anonymous]

I've always considered myself lucky to live here. A great place to raise my kids and a great launching pad for them as they moved into adulthood. It's an advantage that kids who grow up in more remote locations don't always have. I'm not moving. Really hard to predict what terror cells would target.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If DC is unsafe, our country and region have much bigger problems.

I grew up in DC and figured we would be in the crater if a nuke hit. Same for any potential terrorist activity, though with Trump dismantling the FBI and much of our security apparatus, who knows. It isn't something I am going to lose sleep over.

I moved from another major violent, high crime city to the DMV over 30 years ago. I used to think nukes were the biggest threat to DC and the surrounding area. IMHO the bigger threats are lone wolf actors and random sleeper cells doing random attacks for the cause of our enemies.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for the comments thus far.

Of course, if DC is nuked, moving to the burbs will be of no help. But if the White House, Pentagon, and Congress were targeted - and maybe personal residences of Congress people - I would think being 10 miles away would be safer.

And yes, I do wonder if I need therapy. Living here and reading the news daily has become existential distress. But I still wanted to ask the question to understand how others think of the risk.

No, there hasn’t been a big international terrorist incident in the US since 9/11, but the US wasn’t provoking before the way that the crazy and cruel DJT administration is now. He is poking so many bears and inviting terrorism.

[Anonymous]

There was a shooting in Austin this past weekend that barely made national news. College kids were killed. I'm much more worried about concealed carry and open carry than I am about nuclear bombs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:After Venezuela, the abandonment of so many former allies and now Iran, I am now seriously considering moving my family out of DC and into one of the burbs given the increased risk of a retaliatory attack on the White House and the Pentagon.

I have to imagine our children would be safer from counter and domestic terrorism living 10 miles from the White House instead of two.

I wish I were joking in writing this post.

Grateful to know how other parents with DC-area roles and/or family nearby that you want to stay neat are evaluating this.

You are nuts. You have much greater chance of being killed by an out of control driver as motorists have license to kill with impunity in DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If DC is unsafe, our country and region have much bigger problems.

I grew up in DC and figured we would be in the crater if a nuke hit. Same for any potential terrorist activity, though with Trump dismantling the FBI and much of our security apparatus, who knows. It isn't something I am going to lose sleep over.

I moved from another major violent, high crime city to the DMV over 30 years ago. I used to think nukes were the biggest threat to DC and the surrounding area. IMHO the bigger threats are lone wolf actors and random sleeper cells doing random attacks for the cause of our enemies.

Which, like a nuclear attack, has not happened here.