In the case of the guy in Florida, I’ve read where he shot (or shot at) the neighbor’s chickens. I suppose if a call to the police didn’t result in punishment, the chicken owner could have just gone shoot, shovel, and shut-up on the guy.
And as absurd as that is in most places today, when DOES it get to that point? When the idea of law and order, and justice can’t be depended on? I’m thinking of the “Wild West”. Or modern day South Chicago or Detroit. Detroit might be the best example, where honest private citizens form armed patrols. Or a remote mountain community with the meth-heads warned time and time again not to steal. (I’ve heard from third-parties that they have a difficult time walking near the river and slip and drown.)
Although what these patrols in Detroit are doing is legal, and within the law. Hmm - reminds me of a freeper’s comment from days ago about a bunch of mom’s saying that if the school didn’t provide armed guards, the mom’s would arm themselves and patrol the school. (The school armed the guards).
We seem to be thinking in the same direction. The American press whines for more knee-jerk centralization of police and government. Meanwhile, we know that far-away, central authorities don't protect anything, except their own interests. Without real power and responsibility for it, local communities descend into chaos.