I think a lot of it is also based on fear of retribution. Killing someone is super hard to get away with when the dead guy is considered important. IE - nobody knows how to make a bullet untraceable, everyone has cameras on every doorstep, everyone has a tracker in their pockets and every search or keystroke you make is recorded. Even if someone ices an ICE agent in self defense, the courts will never take the defendant’s side, if it ever goes to court and the defendant isn’t found hanging from a tree about 2 days later.
Not only that, killing is hard. Shooting another human being, no matter how reprehensible they are, is difficult at best. People aren’t just scared of being killed, they’re scared of killing. A lot of people talk a lot of talk of being willing to defend themselves, their property or their family, but how many could will themselves to pull the trigger without hesitation? Because the agents sure don’t hesitate.
It’s something I’ve been thinking about a lot. I’ve shot living things before, never a person. Even then, it’s always been ‘something that has to be done.’ Either to end suffering or to cull a population. It still never felt good. I don’t know if I could ever do it to a person, especially if I could see their face or eyes.
I’d say it’s more fear of being killed. Which I get, I can relate, I’m a coward too - I just don’t brag about it. Thing is, even from a self preservation standpoint, they’re wrong. Trouble will find you. Capitulating will only make the situation worse.
I’d argue it’s a reasonable learned response to fear from an authority figure. Fight, Flight, Freeze, Fawn. Fawn is the only one that helps when accosted by a parent, teacher, boss, or a cop.
Punch your dad? You get the belt worse. Run from school? Truancy and inschool suspension. Freeze in front of your boss? You’re ignoring him/being defiant, you get fired.
Maybe this is just psuedopsychological posturing but it’s what makes the most sense when examining my own and many other Amerikans’ behaviors when relating to authority
I think a lot of it is also based on fear of retribution. Killing someone is super hard to get away with when the dead guy is considered important. IE - nobody knows how to make a bullet untraceable, everyone has cameras on every doorstep, everyone has a tracker in their pockets and every search or keystroke you make is recorded. Even if someone ices an ICE agent in self defense, the courts will never take the defendant’s side, if it ever goes to court and the defendant isn’t found hanging from a tree about 2 days later.
Not only that, killing is hard. Shooting another human being, no matter how reprehensible they are, is difficult at best. People aren’t just scared of being killed, they’re scared of killing. A lot of people talk a lot of talk of being willing to defend themselves, their property or their family, but how many could will themselves to pull the trigger without hesitation? Because the agents sure don’t hesitate.
It’s something I’ve been thinking about a lot. I’ve shot living things before, never a person. Even then, it’s always been ‘something that has to be done.’ Either to end suffering or to cull a population. It still never felt good. I don’t know if I could ever do it to a person, especially if I could see their face or eyes.
I’d say it’s more fear of being killed. Which I get, I can relate, I’m a coward too - I just don’t brag about it. Thing is, even from a self preservation standpoint, they’re wrong. Trouble will find you. Capitulating will only make the situation worse.
I’d argue it’s a reasonable learned response to fear from an authority figure. Fight, Flight, Freeze, Fawn. Fawn is the only one that helps when accosted by a parent, teacher, boss, or a cop.
Punch your dad? You get the belt worse. Run from school? Truancy and inschool suspension. Freeze in front of your boss? You’re ignoring him/being defiant, you get fired.
Maybe this is just psuedopsychological posturing but it’s what makes the most sense when examining my own and many other Amerikans’ behaviors when relating to authority