Honestly, I'm generally sympathetic to the idea that employees who aren't trained in security shouldn't escalate the situation by using force. We don't want petty retail theft to turn into death or serious bodily injuries, especially for innocent people. However, this only works if the police aggressively pursue thieves and DAs aggressively prosecute them. If they don't, store owners and sometimes their employees are going to take the law into their own hands.
I am of the view that vigilantism is bad, but it's better than disorder. If local authorities refuse to enforce laws, the citizenry will and are justified into doing so. Does that mean every police failing justifies vigilantism? No, but a systemic and deliberate choice by authorities to NOT enforce the law does. It's the only tool left in the shed.
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Agree x 1
Last edited: May 25, 2023