# Would you want armed civilians that were non-police patrolling your neighborhood? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 13, 2013, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-armed-civilians-that-were-non-police-patrolling-your-neighborhood/663401 "2013-07-13T14:54:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-armed-civilians-that-were-non-police-patrolling-your-neighborhood/663401/42 "2013-07-15T02:01:29Z")
If we’re talking a volunteer group, no. Why would they need guns anyway? If they are doing their job correctly, THEY ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE INTERACTING WITH THE SUSPCIOUS ELEMENT. I put that in caps because I’ve been to CW meetings and they only tell you this like a million times. Armed security guards OTOH, who have ongoing training on a weekly/monthly basis would be fine. I saw an interview once with a SWAT instructor. He had been an instructor for 20 years. I can’t remember how, but he had hurt himself and was off the job for like two or three months. He said once he got back to the job, it took him at least as long as he was off to get his skill set back to where it was before he got injured. The take away from this was that being apt with a gun, especially in tense confrontational situations, isn’t like riding a bike. It takes an ongoing commitment to training. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-armed-civilians-that-were-non-police-patrolling-your-neighborhood/663401/43 "2013-07-15T02:14:12Z")
There is certainly nothing wrong with calling the police if you see something suspicious. Of course “suspicious” usually means “black or Hispanic person”. If some civilian comes up to me and questions me about what I’m doing, he can suck a dick. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-armed-civilians-that-were-non-police-patrolling-your-neighborhood/663401/44 "2013-07-15T02:55:01Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > There is certainly nothing wrong with calling the police if you see something suspicious. Of course “suspicious” usually means “black or Hispanic person”. > > If some civilian comes up to me and questions me about what I’m doing, he can suck a dick. If he looks like George Zimmerman, for your own safety, please cooperate. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-armed-civilians-that-were-non-police-patrolling-your-neighborhood/663401/45 "2013-07-15T02:58:01Z")
Given that my four-thousand people town has: - a local police department (ok, so it’s just six guys to cover as many villages), - a station of one of the national police departments, - the “state” police’s headquarters a mere 20km away, and that the OP states the police works, why the fuck are people patrolling with guns? No, I wouldn’t feel safer, I would feel like moving someplace else that people are sane! ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-armed-civilians-that-were-non-police-patrolling-your-neighborhood/663401/46 "2013-07-15T03:33:37Z")
Patrol all you want. Armed? Hell no. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-armed-civilians-that-were-non-police-patrolling-your-neighborhood/663401/47 "2013-07-15T05:40:27Z")
I voted “Safer without armed patrols” but the important words in the OP, for me, were “ **self appointed** ” - My neighbourhood is, in fact, patrolled by armed patrols which are _not_ the police, but those are professional security guards appointed by the CommunityImprovement District, and also armed response patrols from the alarm/security companies, _not_ neighbourhood watch. We have NW as well, but we/they are _not_ armed (except with Maglites, I suppose). ---
**Author:** ![computergeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e56c9b/32.png) [@computergeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/computergeek)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 9:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-armed-civilians-that-were-non-police-patrolling-your-neighborhood/663401/48 "2013-07-15T09:46:58Z")
I voted safer without armed patrols, but at the same time, I don’t want self-appointed yahoos. However, unless there’s been increased crime or a natural disaster where it makes sense, I don’t see the need for some self-styled local militia, which is essentially what the OP makes it sound like they would be. ---
**Author:** ![DrumBum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e79b87/32.png) [@DrumBum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrumBum)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-armed-civilians-that-were-non-police-patrolling-your-neighborhood/663401/49 "2013-07-15T15:42:39Z")
I voted “safer without armed patrols” although that is not a problem here. Our city back in California has a police force and I would much rather pay higher taxes for additional professional policemen to patrol the area instead of people like Mr. Zimmerman. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-armed-civilians-that-were-non-police-patrolling-your-neighborhood/663401/50 "2013-07-15T16:10:14Z")
I think the kind of person who would want to participate in armed civilian patrols is exactly the kind of person I do not want armed and patroling my neighborhood. ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-armed-civilians-that-were-non-police-patrolling-your-neighborhood/663401/51 "2013-07-15T16:12:26Z")
The more I read the Zimmerman trial pit thread, with people claiming their right to punch complete strangers without cause, the more I think I’d like armed patrols around me. At least if I live somewhere near those people. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-armed-civilians-that-were-non-police-patrolling-your-neighborhood/663401/52 "2013-07-15T16:27:08Z")
I am curious what “CCW/CHL/whatever” has to do with anything. Except in some particular urban areas, a person can walk around with a pistol visible on their hip without any special dispensation or license from the state. If a person can buy a gun, they can wear it about. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-armed-civilians-that-were-non-police-patrolling-your-neighborhood/663401/53 "2013-07-15T17:25:35Z")
It would be ok, however, if armed Black Panthers started patroling Zimmerman’s neighborhood and following him around. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-armed-civilians-that-were-non-police-patrolling-your-neighborhood/663401/54 "2013-07-15T17:40:29Z")
I have guns of my own. I don’t need untrained assholes like George Zimmerman, who in a just world would be rotting in jail for the rest of his goddamned life, deciding that to shoot me because I look dangerous,. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-armed-civilians-that-were-non-police-patrolling-your-neighborhood/663401/55 "2013-07-15T17:42:21Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > If he looks like George Zimmerman, for your own safety, please cooperate. I thought you had a problem with treating people differently based on what they look like. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-armed-civilians-that-were-non-police-patrolling-your-neighborhood/663401/56 "2013-07-15T17:47:54Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > I thought you had a problem with treating people differently based on what they look like. > > Regards, > Shodan Clearly he meant someone who may BE George Zimmerman. You know, the guy who murdered Trayvon Martin. And before you say “He was found innocent,” I don’t give a good goddamn what the jury said. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-armed-civilians-that-were-non-police-patrolling-your-neighborhood/663401/57 "2013-07-15T17:56:41Z")
He wasn’t found innocent. He was found not guilty. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-armed-civilians-that-were-non-police-patrolling-your-neighborhood/663401/58 "2013-07-15T18:00:52Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > He wasn’t found innocent. He was found not guilty. Yes, the precise phrasing is exactly the point. He got away with shooting a young black man for being a suspicious-looking young black man. No, fuck that shit. He got away with shooting a young black man for being a surly nigger. I’m more than a little offended by that, ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-armed-civilians-that-were-non-police-patrolling-your-neighborhood/663401/59 "2013-07-15T18:02:18Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Clearly he meant someone who may BE George Zimmerman. You know, the guy who murdered Trayvon Martin. Right. And he is deciding whether or not the person is like Zimmerman, apparently, based on how he looks. So if you appear white, you are a racist, cop wannabe, potential murderer. If you appear black, you are a racist, gangsta wannabe, potential burglar. If there is a difference between these two attitudes, I don’t see what it is. > [@](#): > > And before you say “He was found innocent,” I don’t give a good goddamn what the jury said. Well, if you don’t care what the jury said, and you apparently aren’t basing your opinions on the evidence, then what is it? Zimmerman shot a black kid who attacked and tried to kill him. Why should he go to prison - because he is white/Hispanic? [QUOTE=Really Not All That Bright] He wasn’t found innocent. He was found not guilty. [/QUOTE] I don’t think it matters. **Skald** apparently thinks Zimmerman shot Martin because he thought Martin looked dangerous. Maybe he’s right about that - I am sure Martin looked different from underneath while he was trying to smash Zimmerman’s head in. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Andiethewestie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ba9def/32.png) [@Andiethewestie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andiethewestie)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-armed-civilians-that-were-non-police-patrolling-your-neighborhood/663401/60 "2013-07-15T18:03:21Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > He wasn’t found innocent. He was found not guilty. And he wants all blacks to apologize to him. [http://www.politicususa.com/2012/07/18/george-zimmerman-african-americans-apologize.html](http://www.politicususa.com/2012/07/18/george-zimmerman-african-americans-apologize.html) ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-armed-civilians-that-were-non-police-patrolling-your-neighborhood/663401/61 "2013-07-15T18:11:05Z")
> [@Andiethewestie](#): > > And he wants all blacks to apologize to him. > [http://www.politicususa.com/2012/07/18/george-zimmerman-african-americans-apologize.html](http://www.politicususa.com/2012/07/18/george-zimmerman-african-americans-apologize.html) Do you have a cite where Zimmerman said he wanted all blacks to apologize to him? Regards, Shodan [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-armed-civilians-that-were-non-police-patrolling-your-neighborhood/663401.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-armed-civilians-that-were-non-police-patrolling-your-neighborhood/663401.md?page=4)