The property.
Arson, even of property, is attempting homicide. Potentially murder
Not a valid set of choices. The crime of arson does not demand ones life as punishment.
I've been saying the same thing, that people live above and next to those stores. I've also been saying that if the police were able to place snipers, they should shoot to kill anyone running up to store with molotov cocktail in hand. Problem is, the Mayors would never permit it, and the arsonists coming out of nowhere, doing their horrible deed and disappearing back into the crowd.
Until the NG walks down the street in mass, locked and loaded, this isn't going to end. That's what it took to end the days of Los Angeles burning when the police were told to back off by the acting Police Chief. They could have stopped it at the flashpoint at a liquor store. I watched that fiasco from beginning at that intersection to the end.
No brainer.
Yep - horse thieves were hanged because they were robbing a person of livelihood - should do same today.