Monday, June 21, 2010

Typical.

Remember my blog post about the artist who recently got shot in a trendy Cleveland neighborhood?

Well, the police are fully engaged...dedicating themselves to stopping violence and helping the neighborhood feel safe again. They suggest that "whatever you do, comply with what the robbers want because whatever you have is not worth being shot over."

Lie back and think of England, ladies.

UPDATE: Joe Huffman, via email, says the cops are giving the worst possible advice to avoid injury - and has the stats to prove it! (of course.)
Having a gun is consistently the safest course of action when someone is confronted by a criminal. Research by academics such as Gary Kleck and Larry Southwick have used the National Crime Victimization Survey, which surveys about 100,000 to 150,000 people each year, to directly measure how different types of victim reactions impact the probability that they will be injured by the attack. The data from the 1990s indicated that the probability of an injury after self protection with a gun is 3.6 percent; for running or driving away, 5.4 percent; screaming, 12.6 percent; threaten without weapon, 13.6 percent; and passive behavior, 55.2 percent.
(Source here)

18 comments:

Jay G said...

I fully intend to give them what they want.

They rob me, obviously they want a sternum full of 230 grain hollowpoint goodness.

Borepatch said...

Fortunately, the product liability laws will ensure that they will be held financially accountable for their bad advice. Oh, wait ...

Kristophr said...

Yep.

Safest course of action in a violent crime is to silently pull a firearm and empty it into the perp.

Everything else, including verbal challenge with a firearm in hand increases your risk of injury tremendously.

From what I remember, the most dangerous option was unarmed verbal resistance ... exactly what you would expect some dumbass lefty to try.

PPPP said...

Sure, you can have my wallet. It's right here in my right hip pocket (no, it's actually in the left hip pocket, the gun is on the right side). Oops! Did my gun just go off and punch a few holes in you? Gee, sorry about that.

Anonymous said...

PPPP: "Oops! Did my gun just go off and punch a few holes in you? Gee, sorry about that."

My mother taught me to be polite, too. BLAM BLAM BLAM sorry BLAM BLAM excuse me BLAM BLAM pardonBLAMme. *click click* *swishclick* BLAM BLAM BLAM BLAM please and thank you BLAM

Midwest Chick said...

It's my stuff and I'll make the call as to what it's worth. If more people defend themselves then the bad guys will need to make the decision if MY stuff is worth THEIR life. I'm never going to lie back and think of England should someone attack me.

Newbius said...

"whatever you do, comply with what the Jihadist Terrorists want because whatever civilization you have is not worth being blown up over."

Similar sentiment, slightly different context, same failed message.

I like this approach better: "Shoot them until they stop threatening me."

Whether it is robbers or Jihadists, THIS will be my response.

Joanna said...

The police were thinking of England, anyway ... Unfortunately, it was as a policy example.

Anonymous said...

Clearly, what I want is less important than what a violent criminal wants. So I'm, officially speaking, less important than the predator who victimizes innocent citizens while costing us money?

That doesn't fit the liberal "Everyone is special" viewpoint, though. It just...does...not...compute.

Unknown said...

If that is such a good freaking policy, why dont they lead by example? stupid badge wearing colostomy bags.

Bubblehead Les. said...

Is Cleveland. Is Cleveland cops. Is Cleveland cops following orders from Cleveland politicians. You want something better, leave Cleveland. Is simple. You climb over Berlin Wall, claim asylum from People's Republic of Cleveland, live in new, free country.

Jonathan Bartels said...

Yea leave Cleveland and find another home in the rust belt near your family, but free of crime and corruption, like Youngstown or Akron.

Rather than rolling over and leaving town, do an open-carry-art-walk. Keep the issue in the public eye. Remind the artsy crowd that while we would all very much like to not have to be armed and prepared, the muggers and thieves won't allow it. Remind them that gun owners are responsible, law abiding citizens, that have the finances to drop a few hundred on a gun so we can afford to buy your art too. Let the Cleveland PD that they can concentrate their patrols on another part of town that night because, for some silly reason, there probably won't be any muggings during an OC event.

NotClauswitz said...

The Cleveland Cops are talking to the wrong people, they should be telling the crooks: "Whatever you are trying to steal is not worth being shot over."

sobriant74 said...

Thank God I live in Columbus. I have a couple of friends who are Columbus PD, and both say you should carry a concealed weapon whenever possible. They point out the police are five minutes away and will only get there in time to clean up the mess.

Bubblehead Les. said...

Well, sometimes you can live on the outskirts and get some self-protection, like here in Lake County. But since I'm taking classes at Akron U., well, it's amazing what one can stash in one's book bag....hypothetically, of course.

Anonymous said...

Crappy advice indeed, but not necessarily THE crappiest. The crappiest would be to resist if you are not armed with a lethal weapon. Resisting with pepper spray is roughly equal to not resisting at all. Resisting with less than pepper spray is suicidal.

Unknown said...

My least favorite line from the Surrender for Dummies handbook is:

"Your wallet's not worth losing your life over."

Sorry, kids, but the person pointing a gun or a knife at me, demanding I have over my wallet has already determined that it is, in fact, worth the taking of a life.

Shooting the assailant is simply following the terms and conditions he's already brought to the table.

Zendo Deb said...

I think the idea that if you cooperate you will be safe is insane. See Cooperate with Criminals for a start.

And exactly what should a woman confronted by a rapist do?