sturmruger
Member
All of the threads that we have here on THR about criminals getting shot in the commission of their crimes has made me think what steps we can take to lower crime even further. I think the key to lowering to crime is Deterrence.
Deterrence is a very real crime fighting tool that could be better utilized. Deterrence is a naturally occurring social change that can be hard to track. Here is the definition of the word.
Meriam Webster Dictionary Online
Main Entry: de•ter•rence
Function: noun
: the act or process of deterring :
: the inhibition of criminal behavior by fear especially of punishment(or harm)[I added that last part]
: the maintenance of military power for the purpose of discouraging attack
The deterrence we are talking about is the natural tendency for criminals to avoid situations where they could be in contact with an armed citizen. We saw hard evidence of deterrence back in the 90s when FL tourists were getting robbed at an alarming rate. To combat the attacks on visitors the State of FL did pass a law allowing tourists to apply for a CCW. From what I have read the huge upswing of crime against tourist slowly subsided.
My plan is this. Why not start an aggressive education campaign in states like Texas to educate the masses to the very real possibility that if they decide to commit a crime they have a very good chance of meeting a citizen with a gun. There could be signs on busses, billboards, fliers on telephone poles, and PSAs on the radio. This type of campaign would be a huge benefit. Not only would we see criminals who are afraid to rob the 7 Eleven, but we would see a change in public attitude towards the right to self defense.
If you asked the normal person on the street in TX if it was legal to protect their property with a gun many would say “Noâ€. They assume that it is illegal. Many people don’t know that they don’t have to be victims anymore. They don’t know that the great State of Texas allows them to protect their property even with deadly force.
Criminals are even more ignorant of the law. If they realized that for stealing your car you could legally shoot them. I think many would be robbers would think a little harder about what crimes they are willing to commit. I also think it would be good to educate BGs to the actual number of permit holders in TX. If criminals knew there are 236K people with the right to carry in TX I believe that would make them rethink any planned crime sprees. Recently there was a thread authored by P95Carry asking Preacherman what the attitude of prisoners is towards firearms. The good Rev’s overalls consensus was that criminals are basically bullies, if they think you have evened the odds by having a gun they will do whatever they can to avoid a confrontation. I think there would be a rise in crimes where criminals are reasonably certain they will not encounter a law abiding citizen.
In closing I am sure there are some holes in my theory. It is possible that we would see a rise in shootings that are borderline legal or possible gray areas. I am sure the first time a black teen gets shot by a white middle age man there would be a feeding frenzy by the press. I don’t think this would solve all crime, but I think it would start to change the balance especially in neighborhoods that are under siege by drug related crime.
I welcome your comments. I think it would be interesting to see some ad work by the THR members here. Make a hypothetical ad it can be Print, Radio, or TV.
Ad for the side of a bus
Setting: empty Park with jogging trail and a small pond with ducks swimming around
gray haired women who looks to be in early seventies.
Grandma is sitting on a park bench with her purse in her lap. She is pulling out of her purse a Stainless Ruger Super Blackhawk.
Caption: “I am not a victim!!!†one of 236,907 Non Victims in TX
Deterrence is a very real crime fighting tool that could be better utilized. Deterrence is a naturally occurring social change that can be hard to track. Here is the definition of the word.
Meriam Webster Dictionary Online
Main Entry: de•ter•rence
Function: noun
: the act or process of deterring :
: the inhibition of criminal behavior by fear especially of punishment(or harm)[I added that last part]
: the maintenance of military power for the purpose of discouraging attack
The deterrence we are talking about is the natural tendency for criminals to avoid situations where they could be in contact with an armed citizen. We saw hard evidence of deterrence back in the 90s when FL tourists were getting robbed at an alarming rate. To combat the attacks on visitors the State of FL did pass a law allowing tourists to apply for a CCW. From what I have read the huge upswing of crime against tourist slowly subsided.
My plan is this. Why not start an aggressive education campaign in states like Texas to educate the masses to the very real possibility that if they decide to commit a crime they have a very good chance of meeting a citizen with a gun. There could be signs on busses, billboards, fliers on telephone poles, and PSAs on the radio. This type of campaign would be a huge benefit. Not only would we see criminals who are afraid to rob the 7 Eleven, but we would see a change in public attitude towards the right to self defense.
If you asked the normal person on the street in TX if it was legal to protect their property with a gun many would say “Noâ€. They assume that it is illegal. Many people don’t know that they don’t have to be victims anymore. They don’t know that the great State of Texas allows them to protect their property even with deadly force.
Criminals are even more ignorant of the law. If they realized that for stealing your car you could legally shoot them. I think many would be robbers would think a little harder about what crimes they are willing to commit. I also think it would be good to educate BGs to the actual number of permit holders in TX. If criminals knew there are 236K people with the right to carry in TX I believe that would make them rethink any planned crime sprees. Recently there was a thread authored by P95Carry asking Preacherman what the attitude of prisoners is towards firearms. The good Rev’s overalls consensus was that criminals are basically bullies, if they think you have evened the odds by having a gun they will do whatever they can to avoid a confrontation. I think there would be a rise in crimes where criminals are reasonably certain they will not encounter a law abiding citizen.
In closing I am sure there are some holes in my theory. It is possible that we would see a rise in shootings that are borderline legal or possible gray areas. I am sure the first time a black teen gets shot by a white middle age man there would be a feeding frenzy by the press. I don’t think this would solve all crime, but I think it would start to change the balance especially in neighborhoods that are under siege by drug related crime.
I welcome your comments. I think it would be interesting to see some ad work by the THR members here. Make a hypothetical ad it can be Print, Radio, or TV.
Ad for the side of a bus
Setting: empty Park with jogging trail and a small pond with ducks swimming around
gray haired women who looks to be in early seventies.
Grandma is sitting on a park bench with her purse in her lap. She is pulling out of her purse a Stainless Ruger Super Blackhawk.
Caption: “I am not a victim!!!†one of 236,907 Non Victims in TX
