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Los Angeles, Going to the Dogs

Monday, March 13, 2023

Los Angeles, Going to the Dogs

La-la land: palm trees, swimming pools, movie stars, and hotbed of the follow- home crime surge,” in which victims in elite commercial and entertainment areas are tracked by criminal gangs to their homes or businesses.   

An analysis using publicly-available Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) data concluded that last year, overall crime in the city increased by 11.6% compared to 2021. Robberies were up, burglaries and break-ins increased by 15.4%, and there were more assaults reported in the city…than any year since at least 2010.” Another worrying trend was that certain crimes were more likely to be violent or involve the use of a weapon: 30.1% of all robberies in 2022 involved a gun, compared to 21.1% in the pre-pandemic year of 2019, and 41% of 2022 assaults were categorized as aggravated or assault with a deadly weapon.

Los Angelinos already jumpy about crime learned recently that the union for the LAPDs sworn officers was proposing that officers no longer respond to 28 kinds of 911 calls. While many of these could truthfully be handled effectively by non-police entities, the list also includes potentially risky calls about trespassing or loitering, non-criminal” individuals who appear drugged, intoxicated, or mentally disturbed, and so-called Code 30 Alarm Response” (alarms reported by an alarm company, other than robbery silent alarms).

The Los Angeles Times reports that some well-heeled residents are coping by acquiring the canine equivalent of James Bond – one or more high-performance protection dogs” that command eye-watering prices of upwards of $45,000 per dog. The animals are typically German shepherds, Belgian Malinois, Dobermans, cane corsos or a mix of those breeds.” A spokesperson for one security dog company describes their clientele as the upper 3[%] to 4% financially,” like pro athletes and other celebrities, top business executives, and the traditional affluent family.”

[H]omeowners who can afford it are being more proactive,” says the article. 

There’s reportedly no standard certification for dogs trained for personal security, though, and in any event, the article notes that buyers are encouraged to commit to ongoing “maintenance training” so that the dog remains appropriately responsive to threats. One supplier emphasizes that their German Shepherds (most expensive dog sold: $230K) “are good solid companions that take care of their family,” but are “not trained to kill – we don’t train killers – they’re trained to stop the threat.”

Others are opting for a different traditional method of proactive security. The FBIs NICS firearm background check numbers for California show a slight uptick in the first two months of this year (219,107) as compared to the same time last year (210,577). (NICS numbers dont correlate exactly to the number of firearms sold, but are broadly indicative of sale trends.)

Dogs are great, absolutely, but a reliable personal protection firearm is much less expensive than these high-end guard dogs. Upkeep for firearms is less demanding, and unlike a dog, theres zero chance that a firearm will run off to menace the UPS delivery man.   

For those who want the convenience of a machine that keeps the appealing doggy look, theres the quadruped unmanned ground vehicle,” a.k.a. Spot the robot dog (approx. $278K). On March 7, the Los Angeles City Council heard the publics thoughts on whether to accept the donation of a Boston Dynamics Spot robot for the LAPD SWAT team. The deputy police chief assured the council that Spot would, essentially, be a good dog. Under no circumstances would Spot be equipped with any type of weapon systems, whether lethal or less lethal, it will not be equipped with any type of facial recognition software, and will not be used for surveillance.”

While the police commission and the councils public safety committee were in favor of the move, residents at the meeting were largely opposed. This is not cute and friendly. Its just a killer robot,” said one attendee. The council decided to postpone the vote on the decision for 60 days, so that policies on the use of the robo-dog could be prepared when the items comes back on the agenda.     

Four-legged protection, mechanical or not, is certainly one choice for those that have the inclination and money. Others taking responsibility for their own safety can opt for a different kind of trustworthy companion.

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Guide To The Interstate Transportation Of Firearms

Gun Laws  

Thursday, January 1, 2015

Guide To The Interstate Transportation Of Firearms

CAUTION: Federal and state firearms laws are subject to frequent change. This summary is not to be considered as legal advice or a restatement of law.

Michigan: Anti-Gun Legislation Passed in the Middle of the Night Heads To Governor’s Desk

Friday, December 20, 2024

Michigan: Anti-Gun Legislation Passed in the Middle of the Night Heads To Governor’s Desk

With the sun setting on the 2023-2024 legislative session, yesterday the Michigan Senate held a marathon session lasting over 24 hours. While citizens were sleeping, anti-gun lawmakers were able to pass two pieces of legislation, ...

Here We Go Again: Anti-gun States Simultaneously Sue Law-Abiding Gunmaker

News  

Friday, December 13, 2024

Here We Go Again: Anti-gun States Simultaneously Sue Law-Abiding Gunmaker

Last week, the anti-gun attorneys general of Minnesota and New Jersey filed nearly simultaneous lawsuits against firearm maker Glock, essentially claiming the company was violating the laws of those states by making guns that are too easy to illegally ...

Concealed Carry Permit, Gun Sale Numbers Stay Strong in 2024

News  

Monday, December 16, 2024

Concealed Carry Permit, Gun Sale Numbers Stay Strong in 2024

The Crime Prevention Research Center (CPRC) has released the latest in its series of annual reports on trends in concealed carry permits in America.

Michigan: Final Push to Limit Gun Rights as Session Clock Runs Down

Wednesday, December 18, 2024

Michigan: Final Push to Limit Gun Rights as Session Clock Runs Down

With only a few days left in the session, anti-gun legislators are doing everything they can to pass additional legislation restricting the Second Amendment rights of Michigan citizens. The legislation below could be taken up ...

Gun Control Activists Cite “Loopholes” in CEO’s Murder, Ignore Facts and Law

News  

Monday, December 16, 2024

Gun Control Activists Cite “Loopholes” in CEO’s Murder, Ignore Facts and Law

Predictably, gun control activists are citing the cold-blooded Manhattan murder of health insurance executive Brian Thompson to call for more gun control, particularly in the hot-button areas of “ghost guns” and “3D printed firearms.” 

Maine: Prepare for Progressives to Attack Your Hunting Rights

Wednesday, December 18, 2024

Maine: Prepare for Progressives to Attack Your Hunting Rights

While 2024 may be winding down now, the 2025 legislative session is about to heat up, and radical anti-gun progressive politicians are already planning new ways to strip you of your fundamental rights.  

NYC Subway More Dangerous Than the Gridiron?

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Monday, December 16, 2024

NYC Subway More Dangerous Than the Gridiron?

Violent crime in New York City has been a growing concern over the last few years.  

Canada Announces New Gun Bans, More Gun Control on the Horizon

News  

Monday, December 9, 2024

Canada Announces New Gun Bans, More Gun Control on the Horizon

On December 5, at a late afternoon press conference in Ottawa, Canada’s federal Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc announced that 324 additional makes and variants of rifles would be added to the 2020 list of ...

Federal District Court Strikes Down IL’s “Assault Weapon” and “Large-Capacity Magazine” Bans in NRA-Supported Case

Saturday, November 9, 2024

Federal District Court Strikes Down IL’s “Assault Weapon” and “Large-Capacity Magazine” Bans in NRA-Supported Case

Today, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois struck down provisions of the Protect Illinois Communities Act (PICA) that prohibit “assault weapons” and “large-capacity magazines” in an NRA-supported case, Barnett v. Raoul.

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NRA ILA

Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the "lobbying" arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.