This thread is of relevance, for the way we feel when out on the street, if we feel safe, feeling that justice prevails. I have thoughts about that, and state them. which will not say that I am correct after they are analysed.sapphire wrote:Merlin,
I'm astonished by this and perhaps I shouldn't be. I do remeber the debate here in the US about trained folks using their training to ward off an attack. In fact I recall the debate from the 1950s.
Over the years, I've lost track of how this issue was resolved.
Seems like an upside down world doesn't it?
But at least we know that if our retirement funds run out, we can always revert to crime to get a place to live and meals to eat.
Sapphire
Your last statement, you are jesting, but it may be truer than at first thought! Although I would NEVER want to see the inside of a prison as an inmate.
By the way, I believe being successful in martial / self defence acts may even be held against you, being looked apon as a lethal weapon.... when used successfully on an attacker, being used against you...
But better tha attacker in jail or dead, than you being wounded, or worse.
As to the death scentance, those who deserve not to be part of this world by way of their terrible deeds, have accepted when doing those deeds, ANY punnishment resulting from that. Yet when caught and tried, of course a humain punnishment and captivity is proclaimed. Unfortunately sometimes innocent people are put in to custody. If that were not the case, that would make treating criminals more justly by the nature of their crimes much easier.
The question is really "what do you do with people who have done such TERRIBLE things? I really don't want to even pretend to have any answers. The answer is very difficult, but more shocking than answers to that question is what help do the victims if still alive recieve for the rest of their lives? Criminals get a lot of attention, victims generally have life sentances with little or no compensation or help. So if it has to be a choice, remove the worst criminals from this planet, and spend the costs otherwise spent on the criminal on the victims.
"Punnishment doesn't work". Not punnishing them is encouraging more crime, "they need rehabilitation" ( what about their victims?) giving them rehablilitation is in some way rewarding crime, their victims have recieved a life scentance, they should be the ones getting rehabilitation. And if that is no detterant to extreme crimes, then death is a good option, after all the criminal has made his choice, forfeited all his humane rights when undertaking the crime. After the crime they seem to get more attention than the victims. There is just so much we can do to keep people off the streets, with a very practical thing being the immense cost overall of keeping that scum contained.
With regards to self defence, do you have the time to react? certainly criminals don't want to warn you of what they are to do, and if they do so, what can you do then? Only in some cases you may make good your escape from harm. In the rest it's too late. Reacting preventative to a threat is actually being the culprit yourself, as the other has not done anything to you, because you prevented that.
Also I would imagine if the threat is a deadly threat, and initially all attacks are just that, immobilising the culprit is of great importance. And being of a state of mind to go all the way as far as needed AT THAT crucial moment is I think of great importance. Possibly needing to kill the other being the only option at that crucial moment, therefore although you weren't injured (we hope) you may find yourself on the accused stand. Once you have been actually attacked, fight for your life and do everything needed to survive. One situation I Never want to find myself in.
The best self defence is getting bullies and crimi's as known, taken off the streets.
Otherwise to functionally defend yourself, you should treat EVERYBODY near or far as a threat.
That certainly is not the way I want to live. When bullies. and other criminals are caught, they must get the message that such behaviour is not accepted. Meanwhile the public MUST be protected from the criminals as long as possible. As to death, there is always a chance that some one innocent is sentanced, so with regards to that, there should be no death sentance, BUT when there is a 101 percent sureness about being guilty of terrible crimes, perhaps for them the death penalty. That will be an ever ongoing discussion.
After vieuwing documentarys of US prisons, with all the murderers, gang members, etc I think all truly guilty of terrible crimes should be put to death. There is no place for the upkeep of them and no place for them in any normal community after the end of their scentance. Their victims have all recieved a life scentance, they criminals get only sometimes a few years. But that is also a discussion that will never be fully answerable, all circumstances being unique.
It is mostly not the case, but when wearing a skirt we know we may possibly be more readily targetted than others, that makes it even more reason not to "defend" your self preventatively, as being a man who wears a skirt may be seen as a provocation, drawing negative attention by some with the intent to draw them in to a confrontation to do them bodily harm.
There is never a winner when targetted by a bully or other criminal minded person. Just hope we are never targetted ourselves.
Peter v.
. With alternative power now so trendy, 
what about bringing back the 19th century treadmill, this time connected to a generator? 