Once dubbed as “The World’s Most Famous Beach,” it is now one of the most dangerous places in America. From South Nova Rd to Beach St, and between Speedweeks, Bike Weeks, and Spring breaks, Daytona Beach has earned an international reputation.
The world knows the name of this beach in Florida’s 6th congressional district.
Daytona is also home to headquarters of the LPGA, NASCAR, IMSA, International Speedway Corporation, and other larger-than-life businesses. And it’s the place where you can drive a car on the hard white sand alongside the 23-miles long beach.
But when it comes to personal safety, Daytona stops being all fun and summer games.
Daytona Beach is “Safer than 4% of U.S. Cities,” according to Neighborhood Scout. On average, people report 3,637 crimes per 100k each year. Walking down Beach Street puts you in a 1/87 chance of being a victim of murder, rape, robbery, or assault, with the latter two categories topping the list.
Compared to the rest of the State (1/247 chance), Daytona beach is 4 times more dangerous for everyday citizens and visiting tourists. The crime rate soars when it comes to property crime. Visitors and residents have a 1 in 24 chance of becoming a victim of burglary and theft.
The police force has started a controversial program to collect funds for the Police Explorer program in association with the Boy Scouts of America. You can buy a T-Shirt with “Scumag Eradication Team: Not in Our Town” at the police headquarters on 129 Valor Blvd to help fund the Blue cause.
However, the 241-member Daytona Beach Police Department (DBPD), headed by police chief Craig Capri, can’t do much to prevent the crime. The police can mostly find the perpetrators, but the damage has already been done at that point, sometimes unrepairable and unfixable.
In comparison, Daytona Beach is slightly more dangerous than Damascus, the capital of Syria. Even though the middle-eastern country is in an ongoing multi-sided civil war, the crime rate is lower than in Daytona Beach.
Many people visit Daytona with extra protection
Do you need a gun in Daytona Beach? This is a good question for many looking to visit or settle in Daytona Beach in Florida.
The city of Daytona Beach has been named one of the most dangerous places in America on many occasions. With so many violent crimes happening every day, it’s hard to argue against carrying a weapon for protection.
It’s not uncommon to hear about a home invasion or other violent crime if you live around beach walks.
Do you really need a gun? Maybe the answer is yes. Every time you walk down Magnolia avenue, there’s somebody with a rifle or a handgun in your vicinity.
You might be able to protect yourself from intruders and control your personal safety in emergency situations. You might even need it to protect loved ones.
If you’re an adult in Florida, you can buy a firearm:
- Without a permit to possess or purchase a handgun, shotgun, or rifle.
- With a license, that may set you back $70 if it’s your first time. Otherwise, it’s $60 to renew every 7 years.
You’d need a license but don’t need a permit. “The legislature of the State of Florida, in a declaration of policy incorporated in its Weapons and Firearms statute, recognizes that adult citizens of the state retain their constitutional right to keep and bear firearms for hunting and sporting activities and for the defense of self, family, home, and business and as collectibles.” — National Rifle Association’s website.
However, do you really need a gun in Daytona Beach?
If you’re walking around the street with a gun, your chance of using it in a spur-of-the-moment situation skyrockets significantly. Owning a gun changes your behavior.
“Do guns kill people, or do people kill people?”
This age-old question is yet to find a single answer. And America doesn’t want it. Dickey Amendment restricted federal funding for research in areas of gun violence In 1996. However, more than 30 years of studies point to guns being a public safety menace and personal hazard more than being a benefit of any kind. Guns are a personal choice rationalized through the paradigm of safety.
Daytona Beach outlawed thong at the beach but lets you drive cars and carry a gun. If the government lets more people dress freely, maybe the gun violence would drop, just saying. The problem might lie elsewhere, and buying more guns may just fuel the destructive gun violence we see in the news every week.