Thread regarding restraining orders, begs the general question, can the police protect us from crminials?

What I mean by that is we know that crime exists and it continues to exist in every society despite the police having access to new technology and new laws. We may or may not believe that the police are doing their best to stop crime, but assming, for the moment, that they are, is it possible?

If it is not possible for the police to stop crime or protect the law-abiding from criminals, what does that mean for society?

-- Jeff

__________________
"Government is not the solution to our problem, government is the problem." --Ronald Reagan

you said yourself: "Lets face it, by the time the police get a call, it is likey too late if the violator wants to do harm."

It means for society that the main reason government was created to begin with, i.e. security, has lost it's intention and needs to find an alternative unless they wish to live w/o the liberites they've sacrificed for no security in return.

__________________
<---Click on it

law enforcement is really important, but if movies and dramas are based on real life, then it shows that police does not do much, unless if it is a very serious crime.

I... vote.... AN-AR-CHY!!


seriously though, what good is a government that can't protect it's citizens? that's like scissors that can't cut, a balloon that won't inflate, or a gun that can't fire. It's lost it's function, it's purpose- it's impotent...it's useless.

Though if the police began to fail miserably at stopping 80-100% of crime then wouldn't martial law kick in? and if so then would the country still be able to defend itself adequately in war?

__________________
<---Click on it

This government is better than nothing. Atleast they are doing SOMETHING instead of NOTHING like anarchy.

__________________

Some people are like Slinkies.. They're not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.

Would have to agree.

__________________
SEX IS NOT A SIN!
LICK IT UP


GIGGLES

Interesting replies, I won't quote them, but here's something to consider.

In my humble opinion (ok stop laughing about me being humble), I believe that the police have three very important jobs.

1) Respond to calls
2) Investigate Crimes
3) Arrest Suspects

These three tasks can be done by any police department. They are effectively the only things they can do consistently. The police cannot prevent something like the incident at Colombine without knowing the thoughts of the people involved. They cannot prevent someone from going into a convenience store and robbing it unless they somehow know it is being planned. Further, some crimes are spontaneous, how could a police force possibly prevent that? Crime prevention is not something the police can succeed at. As such, protection is also something they cannot succeed at.

That isn't to say that the police cannot do anything to help prevent crime. They can have a presence which will act as a deterrent. Most criminals aren't likely to rob a convenience store if there is a police cruiser in front of it (but some will). Most criminals aren't likely to do certain things if they know they will be caught (some will), or killed (again, some will). This deterrent effect is one reason that governments call for larger police forces. The fact is, however, that a police officer at a given convenience store will mean that there is another store somewhere that isn't covered. They can't be everywhere at all times.

So if they cannot, who can? Who should be responsible for protection and prevention of crime?

-- Jeff

__________________
"Government is not the solution to our problem, government is the problem." --Ronald Reagan

Easier said than done since it's freaking illegal to try to administer any form of anarchy... and no, nothing is better than government, esp. this government.

------------------
God can. Let's just vote for Jesus in 2008 and get this democracy ball rolling into a full-blown theocracy

__________________
<---Click on it

When Police is with the crooks. all hell breaks loose. Then you have bribery etc. Like in poor countries, there is basically no law.

Just go kill every government official. Mass uprising. Then we kill each other and do anything we want since there's no more officials administering the law. Complete chaos.

__________________

Some people are like Slinkies.. They're not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.