The Criminal Paradigm

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Michael Brown

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Let's look at who your opponent(s) is:

Criminals in modern society who will victimize individuals as opposed to simply taking their property fall into a suprisingly narrow paradigm. This does not include personalities like serial killers or the mentally/emotionally disturbed.

1) Male.

2) Young, usually late teens to late twenties.

3) Raised in and accustomed to violent culture.

4) Unaware of, or undisturbed by, consequences.

5) Usually armed in some fashion.

6) Works and travels in groups regularly.

7) Physically at his peak.

8) Personally experienced in criminal behavior.

9) Predatory by nature.

10) Relishes personal conflict and conquest.


A pretty disturbing picture if you ask me.

Let's look at ourselves as their opponent.


1) Probably male with some exceptions.

2) Older or middle-aged.

3) Raised in responsible culture.

4) Very aware of and deterred by consequences.

5) Possibly armed.

6) Usually travel with family who are dependants not allies in a struggle.

7) Past our physical peak at best. In horrible condition at worst.

8) Likely very little personal experience with criminal behavior.

9) Affable and helpful by nature and choice.

10) Dislikes and avoids personal conflict.

With that in mind, how do we stand a chance?

By training harder than they do. Are you really? If you aren't how do you expect to prevail?

"Train more than you sleep." Mas Oyama

As a police officer, I live for the days when I can be the one to stand between you and violent crime. Its why I took this job.

As a realist, I can tell you that I won't be there and the only one who will be there for you is YOU. You are the only one responsible for your own safety. Nothing will feel worse than you or your family being victimized and you not being able to do anything about it because you didn't prepare effectively.

Are you really preparing for it?

Don't wait. Make a concious decision to start right now.

Michael Brown
 

aabokla

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Michael,

While many criminals would seem to fit into the profile you described, I'm curious about three issues surrounding your assessment.

The first issue is that I noticed that you made no mention of any socio-economic placement. While common sense would seem to favor that those most without would be the first to see crime as a viable option, have you found that to be true in your experiences? Is a poor person really more likely to commit a crime than someone from the middle or upper class? Even those in the middle class can look with considerable envy towards others who have more than them. Also, do criminals tend to go after other people within their own socio-economic group or do they tend to concentrate their crimes on persons appearing to have more wealth who by happenstance venture into their field of view?

My second issue concerns those persons with emotional and/or mental instability or disability. I'm very curious to know how often TPD is called out to handle this sort of issue.

My final question, concerns the predatory nature of criminals. Are most crimes commited spur of the moment based on opportunity or are they thought out and planned?

Adrian
 

Michael Brown

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aabokla said:
Michael,

While many criminals would seem to fit into the profile you described, I'm curious about three issues surrounding your assessment.

The first issue is that I noticed that you made no mention of any socio-economic placement. While common sense would seem to favor that those most without would be the first to see crime as a viable option, have you found that to be true in your experiences? Is a poor person really more likely to commit a crime than someone from the middle or upper class? Even those in the middle class can look with considerable envy towards others who have more than them. Also, do criminals tend to go after other people within their own socio-economic group or do they tend to concentrate their crimes on persons appearing to have more wealth who by happenstance venture into their field of view?

My second issue concerns those persons with emotional and/or mental instability or disability. I'm very curious to know how often TPD is called out to handle this sort of issue.

My final question, concerns the predatory nature of criminals. Are most crimes commited spur of the moment based on opportunity or are they thought out and planned?

Adrian

There's a lot of overlap reference the issues you bring up and it probably bears discussion.

My experience is that the have-nots are the most likely criminal predators because they are the most likely to be familiar with violent culture and have personal experience with it. They are also less-dissuaded by consequences because the loss to them is so much less than to someone in the higher economic strata.

The reason socio-economic factors were not part of the paradigm is that violent culture is a far better descriptor than socio-economic class as there are plenty of sociopaths from all classes. Kids who have familiarity with violence like spousal abuse or child abuse which cross all economic lines are very likely to be violent and a certain percentage will turn to criminal violence.

The choice of target is not consistent as some of these types are more logical and cunning than others. Some work in their own neighborhood because its convenient. Some seek greener pastures where there is a soft target-rich environment and no one personally knows them.

The reason its not part of the paradigm is that its just not a consistent enough factor to prepare for.

Reference the second question, EDP's/Mentals are one of the most likely calls we get. We deal with them several times a night in all areas of town.

Regarding planned or spur of the moment ciminal activity, its once again not a consistent enough factor to be specifically prepared for. That said, prepared for violence is obviously the most dangerous thing most people will encounter. Those are the people we must train for.

Michael Brown
 

green country shooter

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A very good post, Michael, and I would add a set of ideas that led me to stop carrying my Kel-tec P32 and makes me think twice about my 5 shot snubbie .38. The Glock 26 is sure more comforting when thinking about two or three strong, anti-social young men trying to hurt me. Of course, air support would make me feel even better, but I don't have a radio to call in the warthogs right now.
 

skyydiver

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Civilian air support, huh? Hmm. Okay, figure out a way for me to make a living hop'n and pop'n with an AR strapped to my rig in the good ole US of A (unfortunately I'm to old, fat and wimpy to be of use to Uncle Sam now) and I'm in hog heaven!
 

Michael Brown

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skyydiver said:
Civilian air support, huh? Hmm. Okay, figure out a way for me to make a living hop'n and pop'n with an AR strapped to my rig in the good ole US of A (unfortunately I'm to old, fat and wimpy to be of use to Uncle Sam now) and I'm in hog heaven!

Bounty Hunter. :wink2:

"You mean to tell me there is a loosely regulated, quasi-law enforcement organization and I have not been made aware of it?" - Dale Gribble

Michael Brown
 

skyydiver

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Okay, so SOME similarities MAY exist between myself and the oft-misunderstood Mr. Gribble. However, I cn assure you that the 25% Native American blood in my children comes FROM my wife, and not her migraine healer. I just saw one I hadn't seen where Gribble had a vision that he had Indian blood. I fell out. Sorry for the hi-jack. My mind wanders.
 

Michael Brown

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skyydiver said:
Okay, so SOME similarities MAY exist between myself and the oft-misunderstood Mr. Gribble. However, I cn assure you that the 25% Native American blood in my children comes FROM my wife, and not her migraine healer. I just saw one I hadn't seen where Gribble had a vision that he had Indian blood. I fell out. Sorry for the hi-jack. My mind wanders.

No worries. My best friend was clearly the model for Dale Gribble. He died two years ago and it does my heart good to have a chuckle about the character in the show.

Michael Brown
 

Crosstimbers Okie

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Excellent discussion. Too bad everyone isn't lucky enough to be blessed with sensible law enforcement. From "The Enlightened Ones":

http://www.isp.state.il.us/crime/saconfronted.cfm

If You Are Confronted...


Before you fight

Fighting for your safety may be necessary. However, if you start out fighting you cancel any other options that might be open to you. Since many attacks on women are not sexually motivated, and are designed to degrade and humiliate, talking your way out of it may be easier.

There is documentation of assailants that left a would-be-victim alone after she told him that she was pregnant and it would kill her baby. (Some case were women that were too old to even have a baby.)
Telling an attacker that you have VD or AIDS can discourage him.
It may sound disgusting, but putting your fingers into you throat and making yourself vomit usually gets results. (This method is not often used except as a last resort.)
Use your imagination and you can think of others.

The above methods are particularly important if your assailant has a gun or knife, or there is more than one attacker. (Fighting would probably be futile.)

If you must fight

Use of a firearm to protect yourself or property is not recommended.

Guns stolen from residences are a primary way of getting guns into the hands of criminals.
Half of all the women that fire a gun trying to protect themselves shoot someone they do not want to, i.e. friend, neighbors, relatives, etc.
Be aware of those times and places where there is a potential for attack and be prepared to defend yourself.
parking lots
walking at night
waiting for a bus
elevators
other you will learn to recognize

Articles common to your handbag that make useful defense weapons.

nail file
rat tail comb
teasing brush
pens and pencils
keys
anything rigid

Concentrate on these areas only when combating an assailant.

groin
eyes
ears
nose
throat

You should not swing at an assailant. Roundhouse or overhand blows are easy to deflect or evade. Your movements should be made with all your strength, and should be straight jabs. Remember that screaming may be just as important to your defense as any weapon.
 

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