A Houston law firm has tarred Amarillo with a designation that I think many of us who live here would dispute.

The Darrow Law Firm says Amarillo is the fifth-most-dangerous city in Texas.

No. 5 in the state! We live in a dangerous community, the firm declares.

http://www.newschannel10.com/story/31953135/amarillo-ranked-no-5-most-dangerous-city-in-texas

These surveys sometimes are hard to stomach, particularly when they portray your community in less-than-flattering contexts.

According to KFDA NewsChannel 10: “The Darrow Law Firm looked at three factors for their ranking: Crime, police, and community. Out of 34 cities in the state, Amarillo ranked 3rd highest in crime, 14th-lowest in police investment and 24th-highest in community risk, per capita.”

West Texas A&M University criminal justice professor Harry Hueston disagrees with the findings. He told the station that studies such as this tend to paint communities with too broad a brush.

I am sure that a recent crime victim might agree with the assertion that Amarillo is a dangerous place. We’ve been fortunate in that regard, so we see the study in a different light.

I know this: I am not going to take any extra-special precaution to guard against someone intent on doing harm.

I’m cautious enough as it is.

Here’s the study. Take a look.

http://www.houston-criminalattorney.com/most-dangerous-cities-texas/

Don’t be scared.