An Armed Society

obtuseobserver · Sep 29, 2010

Just some brief comments about the benefit of armed and law abiding citizens.

Given a rational robber/thief/burglar: the law breaker is more likely to prefer easy targets to difficult targets. If a potential target announces their enhanced difficulty they create a deterrent for the criminal. This is not a complicated or confusing prediction of human behavior. However, the premise will not always hold. Some thieves will be irrational. Some thieves will believe the risk is justified by the reward and some will be unaware of the risk. However, as a general proposition, making the criminal aware of the heightened degree of risk will in many cases deter the criminal who will then seek a less troubling target.

myp · Sep 30, 2010

This idea has been supported by many studies that show even putting up a home security sign (one of those, "This house is protected by [insert company name]" signs) reduces the likelihood of being robbed regardless of whether or not you actually have the service.

obtuseobserver · Sep 30, 2010

Yes.

The simplest form of the argument is that criminals are lazy and prefer esay victims to difficult victims.

myp · Sep 30, 2010

obtuseobserver said:
Yes.

The simplest form of the argument is that criminals are lazy and prefer esay victims to difficult victims.

Well that's a generalization and I wouldn't say it's necessarily true. I would say however that some criminals are lazy and prefer easier victims- it still reduces the number of criminals targeting you, but probably won't rid of all of them.

obtuseobserver · Sep 30, 2010

Yes, it is a generalization. And you're right, it isn't necessarily true. But it is generally true. That is to say that all other things being equal the proposed result would be most common.

We're not talking about ridding the world of all criminals. I am saying that a criminal will most likely pick the easy target rather than the difficult one. Erecting deterrents decreases the odds that one will be a victim. Conversely, removing impediments will increase the odds. Why? Criminals don't want to work too hard.

danstevens80 · Oct 1, 2010

If they were looking for hard work and challenges, fewer of them would have turned to crime.
Deterrence has been an effective countermeasure in my case. I've taped some of those "Protected by Madden Security" stickers I bought (10 for a buck) on my windows, and guess what? 7 successful\semi successful break-in attempts in the neighborhood, and none even close to my place.

obtuseobserver · Oct 1, 2010

Detterence has helped me too.

Even when I have wanted to sell my children fear of jail has prevented it.

I kid.... the offers weren't large enough

danstevens80 · Oct 5, 2010

LOL. Why would you want to sell the mastermind behind Origami people?

AK_ID · Oct 5, 2010

myp said:
Well that's a generalization and I wouldn't say it's necessarily true. I would say however that some criminals are lazy and prefer easier victims- it still reduces the number of criminals targeting you, but probably won't rid of all of them.

No, it won't rid us of all of them. But generalizations of this type are (ahem) generally true. Cripes, I spent nearly five years living in New York, where a citizen is required to retreat to the utmost of his ability in his own home, and crime was plentiful. In states where there is no requirement to retreat, invasion crimes are less common. Anecdotal evidence is of some value.

obtuseobserver · Oct 5, 2010

danstevens80 said:
LOL. Why would you want to sell the mastermind behind Origami people?

Good price?

The problems we've been experiencing with all these Origamibacks?

It is only a matter time before she comes up with an idea that will destroy civiliazation as we know it.

danstevens80 · Oct 11, 2010

I just hope to read about in on ObtuseObserver before that actually happens

Give us a heads up, will ya?

An Armed Society

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