This post is partly in response to the recent tragedy in Puerto Plata where an Austrian man lost his life defending his home from a well known local robber.
I am grateful for the sacrifice made by the Austrian in taking out this trash, even if it was an unintentional sacrifice. The situation has given me to reflect on the following.
OK first of all, I do not own a gun. The reasons are varied, I suppose the biggest one is that I have never gotten around to getting one, I loathe paperwork and all unnecessary dealings with DR officials. (so hard to wash the grime off afterward) But it hasn't been a top priority for me because I consider my wits to be my best weapon, certainly one I have learned to use effectively, while a gun may be a more decisive and effective tool I simply lack the experience and training to be behave in any predictable manner with a gun in my hand.
I have spent countless hours killing millions of tiny people (and evil aliens and monsters, as well) in computer games but something tells me this may not count.
Aside from this fact about myself I think it is important to point out two important factors about life in the DR and how it differs from a functional first world society as far as the availability and effectiveness of police protection.
1) The DR is very much a developing country, and most first world amenities are do-it-yourself and bring-your-own. For many this may mean owning and using a firearm. Particularly if you enjoy a standard of living that is likely to be enviable by the locals it is most likely wise to own a gun, and to make it known that you own one. Criminals are cowards and they want your stuff but they don't want to die for it.
Personally I am in favor of people everywhere owning guns, but I concede that there is ample room for debate on this topic in functional, advanced societies, here in the wild west however it's another matter entirely, those who do not wish to handle a gun should at least hire armed guards or a security company to watch their homes and businesses, as I do.
2) Apprehending a robber in your house involves a layer of complexity that I only thought of this weekend.
There are really no secrets on this island, at least not for long. If there are robbers and thieves operating in an area you can bet the police know who, where and when. The DR is one-stop shopping when it comes to things corrupt, you've got your police, military, government, and crime syndicate all in one neatly wrapped package.
So, if you find a robber in your house, chances are he's in business with the police, and they are getting a cut. If you think you are going to hold him at gunpoint until the police arrive and take care of him, guess again. The police are most likely going to shoot him at the first opportunity to prevent him from publicizing his past dealings with them, and he knows this. So you are basically cornering a dangerous amoral predator with nothing in the world to lose. If you're one of few people prepared and equipped to deal with a situation like this, good for you. If not you might want to think along the lines of survival, because that's what your intruder is thinking about.
I am grateful for the sacrifice made by the Austrian in taking out this trash, even if it was an unintentional sacrifice. The situation has given me to reflect on the following.
OK first of all, I do not own a gun. The reasons are varied, I suppose the biggest one is that I have never gotten around to getting one, I loathe paperwork and all unnecessary dealings with DR officials. (so hard to wash the grime off afterward) But it hasn't been a top priority for me because I consider my wits to be my best weapon, certainly one I have learned to use effectively, while a gun may be a more decisive and effective tool I simply lack the experience and training to be behave in any predictable manner with a gun in my hand.
I have spent countless hours killing millions of tiny people (and evil aliens and monsters, as well) in computer games but something tells me this may not count.
Aside from this fact about myself I think it is important to point out two important factors about life in the DR and how it differs from a functional first world society as far as the availability and effectiveness of police protection.
1) The DR is very much a developing country, and most first world amenities are do-it-yourself and bring-your-own. For many this may mean owning and using a firearm. Particularly if you enjoy a standard of living that is likely to be enviable by the locals it is most likely wise to own a gun, and to make it known that you own one. Criminals are cowards and they want your stuff but they don't want to die for it.
Personally I am in favor of people everywhere owning guns, but I concede that there is ample room for debate on this topic in functional, advanced societies, here in the wild west however it's another matter entirely, those who do not wish to handle a gun should at least hire armed guards or a security company to watch their homes and businesses, as I do.
2) Apprehending a robber in your house involves a layer of complexity that I only thought of this weekend.
There are really no secrets on this island, at least not for long. If there are robbers and thieves operating in an area you can bet the police know who, where and when. The DR is one-stop shopping when it comes to things corrupt, you've got your police, military, government, and crime syndicate all in one neatly wrapped package.
So, if you find a robber in your house, chances are he's in business with the police, and they are getting a cut. If you think you are going to hold him at gunpoint until the police arrive and take care of him, guess again. The police are most likely going to shoot him at the first opportunity to prevent him from publicizing his past dealings with them, and he knows this. So you are basically cornering a dangerous amoral predator with nothing in the world to lose. If you're one of few people prepared and equipped to deal with a situation like this, good for you. If not you might want to think along the lines of survival, because that's what your intruder is thinking about.