How to Stay Safe as a Section 8 Landlord?

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I'm truly willing to do whatever it takes to become a massive Section 8 landlord over the next 5-10 years, as long as I'm not risking my life.  Once I accumulate enough properties, I know that I'll be able to hire a manager, but starting out, I'm probably going to have to be very involved with the management process.  As a white kid from the suburbs, I realize that I will be in very unfamiliar turf as I begin my career as a landlord.

So, other than buying a gun that I carry at all times, never going to the properties at night, and screening tenants beforehand to make sure they don't have serious criminal records, what else can I do to ensure that I stay safe while managing these types of properties in bad neighborhoods?

[Judy Parker]

This question sounds like a "set up" from another VICE.com Reporter.