Lack of Armed Deterrent Ensures More Violence and Destruction

Korean men defending Koreatown during the 1992 LA riots.
You’ll notice where the attacks aren’t happening…

U.S.A. – -(Ammoland.com)- “Smash-and-grab thieves attack stores around the country, California security guard shot dead as crime rages.” Fox News reports. “A former police officer was shot and killed while protecting a news crew reporting on a smash-and-grab incident.”

Part of it, The Hill reports, is facilitated by circumstances arising from Covid, because “[w]ith a significant portion of customers isolating in their homes and shifting to online shopping … perpetrators of organized retail crime are seizing the opportunity to sell stolen goods to a larger audience.”

There’s another factor making this attractive to predators.

“[A]sset protection professionals and law enforcement officials believe shifts in how shoplifting and other nonviolent crimes are prosecuted are factors in rising in-store theft in recent years,” The Hill explains. “According to the document, a number of states have increased the felony threshold for shoplifting due to overcrowding in prisons, which the report says is ‘effectively decriminalizing’ robberies in some areas.”

You can blame a lot of that in urban areas on “Soros prosecutors” who, per National Review, “are refusing to charge criminals for shoplifting, vagrancy, and entire categories of misdemeanors… In cities where they’ve taken office, progressive prosecutors coddle even violent, career criminals, often agreeing to sweetheart deals and routinely circumventing three-strikes laws.”

Yet in a neat bit of gaslighting, the public is being told that pointing out such truths equates with “the demonization of George Soros”  and that any such criticism is “dripping with antisemitism.” That has the dual benefit of convincing much of the public that anyone who does is a hater and scaring most of the rest to just keep their mouths shut about it lest they be accused, ostracized and worse.

“Leniency” (that is, refusal to punish and excuse-making)  on perpetrators is further encouraged and even justified by social influencers who equate it with legitimate protest in pursuit of social justice. No less a source than NPR, partially funded by Department of Education and Department of Commerce “grant” money, that is, repurposed tax plunder, and by “progressive” foundations overseen by billionaire elites, featured a sympathetic profile on In Defense of Looting, a book that argues “rioters who smash windows and take items from stores … are engaging in a powerful tactic that questions the justice of ‘law and order,’ and the distribution of property and wealth in an unequal society.”

NPR is hardly alone—more like they are parroting a narrative media elites and cultural Marxist agitators have succeeded in making a dominant one. A simple Google search yields headlines from major influencers, like The New York Times, asking, “What Kind of Society Values Property Over Black Lives?” and The Los Angeles Times echoing the “justifications” of “protestors” including “We’ve got no other way of showing people how angry we are,” almost immediately refuted by a fellow marauder admitting “We’re doing it because we can.”

You bet. Part of that is because the police can’t be there in time to stop it, and when they can be, they’re paralyzed to use the requisite force to stop it because they know the same leftist prosecutors who refuse to go after the looters and pillagers will put them behind bars if they do, as city “leaders” throw them under the bus, pay multimillion-dollar settlements, and pray their cities don’t burn.

That’s no way to run a constitutional Republic, and the Founders wouldn’t have stood for it. And there’s the rub.

Not only has the Militia of the whole people been deliberately kept from being, but the right of the people to keep and bear arms is also something no longer recognized in places like New York and L.A., and increasingly throughout the land.

Still, as “the newspaper (that’s intentional because it’s deserved) of record” asks, what kind of society values property over life? Or as the gun-grabber groups advise, if someone is using threats of violence to rob you, just give them what they want!

Once a threat of violence has been made, it’s no longer about just property. As for giving predators what they want, too often we’ve seen them brutally take the lives of victims who were trying to comply, leaving the only conclusion that that must have been what they wanted.

As an aside, old-timers will remember the story about Los Angeles watch store owner and jeweler Lance Thomas, who successfully defended his life and business against armed robbers on multiple occasions (I had the privilege of meeting him when he spoke at the Westside Los Angeles NRA Members Council meeting back in the 90s). We’ll get back to the rest of this column in a few minutes, but let’s take a break and watch this:

Anyway, back to the big rich stores being plundered: Yes, the businesses have insurance (which drives everybody’s costs up). And most of the big ones are “woke” anyway. True enough. It’s tough to not feel the karma for rope-selling capitalists. As for the smaller ones, the bourgeoisie as the Democrat Socialists of America call them, they’d better wake up and realize what the plan is for them, and that there’s nobody coming to help them.

That’s why it’s instructive to remind them of previous “struggles for justice” and to point out whose businesses weren’t looted and burned to the ground. As Townhall columnist Kurt Schlicter advocates, “We should all be ready to do our duty as American citizens and, when duty calls, each of us should embrace our inner Rooftop Korean.”

And naturally, the left has seized on citing this as another example of “white supremacism.”

You know what? They’re going to do that no matter what, so Americans who have earned what they have may as well defend it and stop caring what parasites and subversives say to prove their ignorance and/or advance the goals of despicable masters who hold themselves above the fray.

Just make sure to be able to prove you had no choice and be ready to be the next Kyle Rittenhouse. Still, as the saying goes, better to be judged by 12 than carried by six…

Despite that, the truth obvious to all but useful idiots for the violence monopolists is, a strong deterrent will minimize violence and loss of life, not to mention bring about real “social justice.” As Thomas Paine noted (and as too many have either forgotten or deliberately undermined):

“Thus the peaceable part of mankind will be continually overrun by the vile and abandoned, while they neglect the means of self defence. The supposed quietude of a good man allures the ruffian; while on the other hand, arms like laws discourage and keep the invader and the plunderer in awe, and preserve order in the world as well as property … Horrid mischief would ensue were one half the world deprived of the use of them; for while avarice and ambition have a place in the heart of man, the weak will become a prey to the strong. The history of every age and nation establishes these truths, and facts need but little arguments when they prove themselves.”


About David Codrea:

David Codrea is the winner of multiple journalist awards for investigating/defending the RKBA and a long-time gun owner rights advocate who defiantly challenges the folly of citizen disarmament. He blogs at “The War on Guns: Notes from the Resistance,” is a regularly featured contributor to Firearms News, and posts on Twitter: @dcodrea and Facebook.

David Codrea

66 Comments
Most Voted
Newest Oldest
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
nrringlee

The Progressive New Left is pulling out all of its dirty, Alinsky inspired tricks to beat back a clear perception of reality concerning the collapse of urban America. First and foremost let us make one thing very clear: there is no more vehement and destrutive form of antisemitism than the self-hating former Jew. Soros was a collaborator with the Nazis in Hungary. My guess is he has not been to temple since an early age. Need I say more? First line of defense breached and over run. Next, the false equivalency between protecting life and property. Yes, our culture values… Read more »

Courageous Lion - Hear Me Roar - Jus Meum Tuebor

You mean it’s NOT rats and roaches that are the reason for the garbage and filth? Actually it is. The two legged rats and roaches that are infesting those towns due to the insane psychopathic control freaks costs that they have to endure and eventually give up trying.

“The two legged rats and roaches” no offense rats and roaches.

Vern

Excellent, couldn’t be better said. Those rats and roaches you wrote about, they are the two legged type, right?

Montana454Casull

More shop owners like Lance Thomas equates to less criminals committing violent crimes . To bad Kommiefornia gives more rights to criminals than to law biding citizens now days . San Francisco is proof of how this is all working out for them .

Wass

I don’t give a tinker’s damn about prison overcrowding. Pack them in like sardines if needed. Public safety should be paramount, not the comfort of convicts or detainees in jails.

Russn8r

If public safety was paramount, there would be no “gun free” zones, including privately-decreed “gun free” zones — at least not in Shall-Issue and “Constitutional Carry” states like Texas, Florida & NRA’s HQ state of Virginia — and massacres like Parkland, Pulse Nightclub, Virginia Tech & El Cielo Mall would either not have happened or been heavily mitigated.

Last edited 2 years ago by Russn8r
Wass

Of course, the side of the law-abiding has a lot of work to do.

Tackleberry

Prior to the 1900s, most felonies in the US were capital offenses. Stealing a man’s horse was a hanging offense. The modern-day-equivalent would be a car thief. Bring capital punishment back down to most felonies and then limit appeals. Couple it to the sentence being carried out on public gallows and your prison overcrowding quickly evaporates. To say nothing about recidivism…

Last edited 2 years ago by Tackleberry
Browner

I see no problem with 9 men to a room hot bunking, 8hrs bunk time, 8hrs on work detail and 8hrs yard time.

nrringlee

The vast majority of property loss and loss of life in these riots happened to black business owners and black people who had to live in places like Compton and Bell. The term you seek is ‘criminal.’

CaptainKerosene

For those who don’t remember, most of the Korean men on that roof were armed with paintball guns.
Riots stop when rioters aren’t having fun.
Swift deterrence dames lives and the businesses where people work.

JSNMGC

If only we could hire people to enforce laws against arson, robbery, murder, attempted murder and expect them to do that job when needed.

OlTrailDog

LOL, I don’t believe I am going to LOL at one of JSNMGC’s comments, LOL. Thumbs up.

JSNMGC

I’m fairly certain there is a tremendous amount of overlap in your policy stances and mine. Cheers.

swmft

sad to say might be given to fire dept ,as no one else seems to want the job, or sanitation

Laddyboy

YEP! The “lawyers” with their “sweet oratories” have destroyed the LAW AND ORDER of many American States, Cities and Communities!! These TYRANTS MUST be removed from all Public Representative Offices.

Courageous Lion - Hear Me Roar - Jus Meum Tuebor

Just think how much more time they would have to dedicate to REAL crimes if they weren’t out running around enforcing BULLSHIT “crimes”.

Careful, by pointing out a certain percentage of them follow orders to enforce bad laws and they follow orders to not enforce good laws, you will be labeled a “cop-hater.”

Tionico

Ever travelled as a non-tourist in Latin American cities? Nearly every shop has an armed security guard standing outside, or wandering about in the area. They are friendly guys, but stand for no nonsense. There seems to be a code of honesty amongst them. The lightest hint of disloyalty or compromise will result in news travelling amongst the shoppwners who will then never hire the suspicious one. Folks are polite and friendly in and about those businesses. More so than at places like Home Depot, Fred Meyers, Safeway, Best Buy……

Courageous Lion - Hear Me Roar - Jus Meum Tuebor

WHAT? I’d say that is bunk. EVERY picture I’ve ever seen of the Koreans had guns that shot lead not paint balls.

Finnky

Had no idea. Thanks for that tidbit. Though for now your statement is at “internet rumor” level, I intend to look for confirming data.
i wouldn’t have the balls to stand against rioters with a paintball gun – if I absolutely have to shoot, I’m giving them lead.
Guess in a group, a few paintballs provide a less-lethal tool – if nothing else i5 would alert looters to armed resistance on the roof. Not much deterrence if they don’t know you are there. Paintballs first – to separate the determined looters and spare those who flee.

Tionico

Accounts I’ve read from the time of that action had at least some of them firing live rounds onto the tarmac in front of the gang of hooligans approaching that neighbourhood that had thus far survived being burned to the ground by the whole block. As the rioters approached, cockily, in their group (one photo I saw showed what seemed tobe between 50 and 75 individuals with torches, sticks, clubs, cans of petrol, molotov cocktails……. they were ordered to stop, they ignored the comand. A few more seconds of advancing, some of the rooftop protectors fired live ball, boucing them… Read more »

Tionico

There is solid bibilcal basis for more or less equating life with property. think about it… we are proscribed thetaking of BOTH life and property. WHY is property so importand, or valued, in GOd’s eyes? Simple…. Honest folks, in order to get property, expend life. THey work for weeks and years to earn the monty to buy stuff, or they wpend weeks and years making withtheir own hands the stuff instead of buying it. You steal something I worked for ten years to get, and I now no longer have that stuff, you have in effect stolen ten years of… Read more »

Finnky

Absolutely agree with equating property to life. Explained same thing to my family when they said “it’s only money.” When they discounted value of property, they effectively discount value of my life which i’ve been trading for ability to support them. As for moving business, a large part of the value owner has worked to build is in the form of reputation. Repeat customers can be critical. That said, would think he could give forwarding info to best customers. I am thrilled he was able to successfully defend himself. Robbers decided chance to steal property was worth more than risk… Read more »

Tank

Catch & release provides exactly what consequence for personal responsibility for anyones actions/choices from committing another crime ?

Anytime you don’t hold law breakers -criminals accountable for their actions your promoting Anarchy & Chaos deliberately that erodes the fabric’s glue & stitching that holds the order in any society.

Last edited 2 years ago by Tank
my44gun

The problem is that anyone who decides to make a stand against the communist takeover of this country ultimately ends up standing alone. The “progressives” (communist/ socialists/ marxists/ et. al) will and do work together to destroy any opposition against their agenda. They are strong because everyone on the side of rights and freedom has a strong belief in individualism. I have left facebook and all other similar sites because of the obvious tilt to the left of those who run those sites. Sooner or later, we will have to decide to stand together and rid this country of those… Read more »

Courageous Lion - Hear Me Roar - Jus Meum Tuebor

“Not only has the Militia of the whole people been deliberately kept from being, but the right of the people to keep and bear arms is also something no longer recognized in places like New York and L.A., and increasingly throughout the land.” Yes, we can thank the Dick Act from 1905 for the lack of militias. Can you imagine this crap going on if we had them? Can you imagine the government control freaks pulling the SCAMDEMIC off with them in force? You can see what happened when an UNORGANIZED militia of Korean shopkeeper got together to stop their… Read more »

bondmen

Quick, we must find any statues of that white, privileged extremist Thomas Paine and immediately take them down, remold them via fire into today’s vaunted heroes like Che, Castro, Mao, Obama or Maxine Waters. There now isn’t that better?

Courageous Lion - Hear Me Roar - Jus Meum Tuebor

I can see a statue of Maxine Waters with pigeon shit all over it. It would look fantastic. Especially if the creep was dead.

OlTrailDog

Does None mean no brains at all? You are not welcome anywhere around where I live with you racist rant you POS. I am determined to remain somewhat civil, but you are a racist POS and thanks for making that obvious so that I can chose to have nothing to do with you. There were a lot more than just black people involved in the rioting across this country. I’m not opposed to protecting life and property, but I am opposed to racist POSs. Get your mind right.

Matt in Oklahoma

You can’t just gun down bad guys if they are one race and your another these days. They’ll crucify you

nrringlee

It depends upon who the ‘they’ is and where you live. In normal communities reason can still prevail. In Progressive New Left communities ideology (failed) prevails.

OlTrailDog

Is that the twilight zone music I hear?

Albeit, I will concur that JPM is traitorously evil.

Laddyboy

Replace the word “n—-r” with THUG or CRIMINAL — then you would have my UPVOTE!!!!

3l120

He’s just channeling his inner Jussie S.

Browner

Mayor Lightfoot of Chicago just put the blame on store owners for not doing anything to stop the flash mob thugs. So now when the citizens they hired to protect the stores and their customers start shooting and killing these thugs, she is going to blame the stores, the guns, gun owners and demand justice by the police department she defunded then make more stupid gun laws that are not enforceable, then allow another riot when things don’t go her way
But that’s just my opinion

JSNMGC

So much more to the rooftop Korean story.

They had to defend themselves because they were abandoned by hundreds of enforcers.

The enforcers followed orders to retreat and protect the wealthy areas of the LA area which were not being attacked.

By the way, one of those rooftop Koreans went on to become a famous firearm rights hero.

JSNMGC
JSNMGC

Downvoting a hero. Will/TEX/FORD Will, that is low. Are you mad because a person who was never a military lawyer has better credentials than a Lieutenant Colonel who is proud of his credentials, but never went on to be a judge and fight for the firearm rights of “civilians?” All-American hero. As a young “civilian,” he put up a defense against violent criminals on the streets of America using a semiautomatic rifle when the paid enforcers followed orders not to defend private businesses from a fiery riot. Sounds familiar. Then went on to be a judge and fought for the… Read more »

Russn8r

He’s mad because Doctor Bill’s late with his evening banana.

JSNMGC

Can you imagine what Judge Lee went through duriing his life? Parents, who didn’t speak English, came to America after a military coup in South Korea. Got accepted to Harvard, had a great career in the private sector, and then went on to be a judge and fought for firearm rights.

Not many lawyers are heroes – Judge Lee is one of them.

swmft

most are criminals trying to destroy rights
My lawyer was shocked to learn i have a machine gun in a gun trust said NO ONE should have that (then when shit went down last summer he asks if i would protect him)

Last edited 2 years ago by swmft
Courageous Lion - Hear Me Roar - Jus Meum Tuebor

I hope you told him no. Or better yet, charged him double what he charges to screw you over in court as an person who is beholden to your adversary via the “bar”.

JSNMGC

That’s not very civil. Just an observation.

JSNMGC

[snort]

swmft

he is a bit of a Don Quixote figure, second amendment advocate in comifornia. His heart and mind are in a good place ,

JSNMGC

Yes – he’s done great work.

Unfortunately, some in the firearm community want to do what the politicians and LE haven’t quite been able to do.

There are a few who want no firearm sales in California.

Courageous Lion - Hear Me Roar - Jus Meum Tuebor

How about shooting rioters and looters no matter what color they are? Or are you going single out the “niggers” for your treatment but let the white thieves go on about their actions?

Last edited 2 years ago by Courageous Lion - Hear Me Roar - Jus Meum Tuebor
JSNMGC

Folks, why so few comments on this story? I believe we may have at least two SMEs who post here that very well may have been on the LAPD at the time of the Rodney King riots. Can you give us a play by play as you retreated to Beverly Hills (just following orders)? Did you wave goodbye to the rooftop Koreans (who were actually some of the finest Americans we have) as you drove away? Did the Beverly Hills servants bring you lattes and croissants as you leaned against your cruisers outside their gates? Did they bring you dinner… Read more »

JSNMGC

Will/TEX/FORD Will,

Oops – was that wrong?

Russn8r

You just don’t understand, cop hater. That wasn’t a retreat, It was a retrograde advance! PROTECT AND SERVE! BACK THE BLUE!

JSNMGC

I’m a mountain bumpkin. I can barely read and write. I have no credentials and haven’t accomplished anything. I’m consistently wrong about everything.

Why are you so mean to me?

Russn8r

Because I realized that if I killed everyone who’s smarter and cleverer than I am, who calls me out and has more credentials & accomplishments, then I would be the smartest, most qualified, most accomplished person on earth!

JSNMGC

Strategery.

Courageous Lion - Hear Me Roar - Jus Meum Tuebor

Hmmm….we may be related by blood because my DNA tells me the same exact thing. Except there isn’t anyone smarter and cleverer then I am.

Good one, LOL

OlTrailDog

Why does it seem that when someone touches a firearm it magically reveals who the wingnuts and lugnuts are among us? I have living proof right here in this thread. 😉 Next article perhaps?

Courageous Lion - Hear Me Roar - Jus Meum Tuebor

Could you possibly spend a bit more keyboard time and be more specific?

Russn8r

So you actually think it’s Jewish practice to sacrifice Christian babies to use their blood in rituals? Do you even know any Jews? I mean personally?

Finnky

I know a few Jews, and if time comes to channel our inner rooftop-Korean – can think of few I’d rather have at my side. Particularly a certain jewish-scientist who immigrated from Israel. He hits several of your sore points: scientist, Jewish, and immigrant. OTOH he’s an honest, hard-working man with integrity and military experience in a hostile environment.

Russn8r

He hits several of your sore points: scientist, Jewish, and immigrant.”

What the hell are you talking about? I have no problem with any of those.

Finnky

@Russn8r – Not sure how I hit reply to you rather than to @PS. His posts have exhibited that he is anti – anyone in any of those groups. Your post above was the exact opposite.

Russn8r

Roger. Understood. It happens when someone deletes their comment, then it looks like you’re replying to someone else. All the best.

Tionico

maybe I have more impotand and productive things to do than examine the ietary habits of a strange group of whom I know not one member.

I’ve also read lately that some dood born a few decades ago is THE antichrist, and will soon make himself known to the fear, norror, and amusement of many.

Russn8r

Translation: No, you don’t know any actual Jews.