re: the gov't won't protect you...

Troy MI

Description

We have the highest incarceration rate in the world. Our incarceration rate is 4-5 times higher per capita than most of Europe (650-700 per 100k vs 130-170 in Europe). I hope you are on the side of "let's actually rehabilitate these people instead of locking more people up for even longer, creating even more hardened criminals when they finally do find themselves out of prison and can't adapt to life on the outside", but I sure don't get that impression. Not to mention, only about half of those incarcerated committed a violent crime. That's almost 1% of our population CURRENTLY incarcerated! What more do you want? You want to lock even more people up? Meanwhile, if a new prison opens up down the road from you, are you going to celebrate that, or are you going to scream "not in my backyaaarrrrd!" ? I also don't agree that undocumented immigrants are the menace you think they are. "Compared to undocumented immigrants, U.S. citizens were twice as likely to be arrested for violent felonies in Texas from 2012 to 2018, two-and-a-half times more likely to be arrested for felony drug crimes, and over four times more likely to be arrested for felony property crimes". Only a small fringe wants to defund the police, the right has been using that phrase (often out of context) as a scare tactic to get votes. Some kind of police reform, however, is long overdue. I personally think that means not allowing people with minimal training/education, or behavioral issues from entering the force, and placing SOME limitations on qualified immunity. Maybe we even pay them more to attract better, smarter people to the job. By all means, stay armed if you can use your weapons responsibly (in the case of self defense, only after de-escalation has been ruled out). That does not mean going out looking for trouble. "0.9mm"? That's awfully small! 7.62x54r is more my style. But...my impression from all this is that you're trying to create an impossible utopia without crime, like that silly movie with Sandra Bullock and Sylvester Stallone. Meanwhile, anyone who suggests investment in green energy or any kind of environmental or social cause is shut down as someone seeking an "impossible utopia". The sky isn't falling. Everything isn't terrible. Turn off the TV. Chill out. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to use the 3 sea shells...