Eight counts of rape of a child. Three Counts of indecent assault and battery of a child under the age of fourteen. Five counts of indecent assault and battery on a person over the age of fourteen. Posing a child in a state of nudity. These are the charges brought against Philip Duffy, a deaf middle aged Medford man, according to Middlesex County District Attorney Gerry Leone, when Duffy was sentenced to life in prison, plus ten to twelve years after his life sentence in August of 2008. District Attorney Leone commented on Duffy's actions. "Philip Duffy preyed on two young, vulnerable children, and horribly changed their lives forever." He then went on to explain that the two female victims were targeted because they were "young and extremely vulnerable." One of the victims has been abused by Duffy since she was twelve years old to almost four years later.



District Attorney Leone is adamant about the safety of children when he said, "There are no more disturbing crimes than the abuse of our children, and this life sentence is reflective of the devastation that this defendant inflicted on these children and their families."

"Young and extremely vulnerable." Just because a child has not been around as many years as an adult does not mean that child has to be completely helpless toward attackers. Take a look at the elementary school in your city. What if it were one of them that got attacked? Or the neighbor's son that plays basketball in your cul-de-sac every Friday afternoon. Is it hitting home yet? Too many people are hiding behind the attitude of, "No, these kinds of things are just in the media. It would never happen to me." Those two little girls that Duffy attacked ? those two little girls are somebody's daughters. What if it were your children?

Self defense training is not just for adults. Dr. Ignatius Piazza, founder and director of Front Sight Firearms Training Institute near Las Vegas, Nevada, offers a variety of self defense courses ? including one for children and one for youth. The course for child safety is designed for children ages five to ten. In the course, children learn in an age appropriate environment how to identify people that could be dangerous, how to avoid harmful situations, how and when to run for safety, how to yell for help and how to be mentally aware of their surroundings. They will also learn the Children's Color Code of Mental Awareness. Youth from the ages of eleven to fifteen will learn the Teen's Color Code of Mental Awareness, about peer pressure and how to resist it, how to recognize and defend themselves in dangerous situations and how to identify and avoid internet predators.

Although Front Sight is known for gun training, Dr. Piazza understands the importance of a full range of self defense training. Everyone deserves a chance to be confident and defend themselves, not just adults. Your children may be young, but they do not have to be "extremely vulnerable." One of the girls that Duffy raped has been being raped for almost four years. Four years. Imagine what was going through her mind during that devastation. It could have been anyone's child.