Originally Posted by
workingonit
Regarding the situation in Australia, what do we put that down to? Gun control? No large numbers of desperately poor (descent minimum wage)? Suppression of addictive drugs? Social security benefits (society will support you if you support society)? General mentality of the population (that it is unfair to bring a gun to a knife fight - joke)?
Off-hand it seems guns are generally used by crims against each other to warn or kill, or used in major robberies - illegal guns are just that bit more expensive and hard to get. There are the exceptions like Monis, or civvy who is licensed and shoots his family, a farmer who shoots an inspector etc.
So, more police more responsive and sympathetic, better trained and equipped, with a better support system for them and the aggrieved. Improved assessment of those wishing to own guns, weeding out pyschos and domestic villains. More money to customs to cut illegal arms coming in.
Just postulating, in our society, are the odds in your favor that the villain facing you is unlikely to have been be able to get a firearm? OK, he's got a knife! If it's robbery, give them what they want. If its intent to kill you with the knife then run, and in desperation out with the mace - there's no predicting whether someone will use their mace, but one would expect when you buy it there should be defense classes you attend.
So, a society with hard to get illegal firearms. Your general thug uses knives. How effective is a knife against a cloud of mace (trained person care to comment)? Arms race? Thug now uses mace or taser because it is more effective on victim and less danger to himself, and lesser sentence if caught. Thug gets his way, but you are not stabbed!? Aggression still exists, but mode of expression is less fatal.
Original post, would suggest restraining order, and group support. Hassle authorities if order in anyway breached and get media focus if necessary (re any lack of action by the authorities, focus on resources).