Californians Had Better Arm Themselves If They Don’t Want To Be Victims Of Crime

[Kamaji]

Californians Had Better Arm Themselves If They Don’t Want To Be Victims Of Crime

Californians need to look at self-defense given authorities’ failures to address increasing crime in the state.

BY: CONNOR VASILE
SEPTEMBER 06, 2023

After another surge in crime across the state, it’s time for California to finally stop its crusade against legal gun owners and make it easier for Californians to defend themselves against violent crime. But based on recent recommendations made by officials in one of the state’s most dangerous towns, that’s not likely to happen anytime soon.

This summer, California headlines constantly told of egregious crime sprees in Oakland, California. Ranked by NeighborhoodScout as the 40th most dangerous city in America in 2023, Oakland is currently experiencing a violent crime rate of 12.57 assaults per 1,000 inhabitants, with a total of 5,452 violent assaults a year. According to a report by the Oakland Police Department in June, violent crime was up 15 percent compared to last year. Residents are scared, and they have good reason to be.

The city is a shell of its former self: Many commercial properties are abandoned, ATMs have been gutted, store windows are boarded up, and even the police department’s precinct is barricaded, with no clear entry point. Meanwhile, criminals and thugs assault and kill people for their belongings. Residents, alongside Oakland’s NAACP branch, have demanded the city council provide protection. In response to this plea, city police have recommended that people carry air horns with them at all times, in order to deter would-be criminals and to alert neighbors.

To add insult to injury, Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price joined a community forum where she effectively downplayed residents’ concerns by emphasizing the Oakland Police Department’s recent arrest record: “We’ve charged over 7,600 cases, including murder and serious violent felonies.” Unfortunately, these arrests can’t keep up with violent crime trends.

Price also criticized residents’ desire for police enhancements in the vein of increased patrols, better security equipment, and heightened investigations: “Because they require longer sentences, they force us to invest in prisons. Enhancements have been at the heart of incarceration. It is absolutely essential that we stop using them.”

At least she understands the concept: If we increase our law enforcement efforts, there will be fewer criminals out in the open. Apparently, that will cost the county more than citizens’ safety is worth. Unsurprisingly, there is currently a recall effort to oust Price.

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Source:  https://thefederalist.com/2023/09/06/californians-had-better-arm-themselves-if-they-dont-want-to-be-victims-of-crime/