"Don't take the law into your own hands."

"Call the police. Let them handle it."

Law enforcement and politicians have spoken the words time and time again, warning us of the dangers of unchecked vigilantism. Social activists take every opportunity to warn us about OK-Corral-style shootouts and streets running with blood should the public be encouraged to take responsibility for their own protection.

On February 15, a seventeen-year-old girl in Deland, Florida was shot in the head by her ex-boyfriend, who then shot himself. Natasha Hall and Clay Coffner both died of their injuries. The shootings took place at Natasha's home.

A friend of Natasha's described Clay Coffner as "jealous and abusive". Natasha had called the Deland police many times because she was afraid that Coffner might try to harm her in some way.

In the news write-up, Natasha's mother, Sherry Hall, reported that back on January 15, "The police officer said if you call us one more time on him, I'm going to arrest you both. So, the day she died, she knew she couldn't talk to police. So, she handled it herself."

Ten different United States Supreme Court rulings have concluded that the role of police in the United States is not that of personal security guard (unless you happen to be one of those politicians who decries the dangers of unchecked vigilantism), the most recent in 2005. Yet law enforcement, politicians and social activists go about the business of warning citizens against self-protection as if these rulings never happened.

What could possibly be the purpose of such ignorance?