[mcbobbington]

>I'm not surprised that someone who asserts that the police shouldn't enforce the law gets downvoted

Virtually nobody on HN thinks federal marijuana laws, (and i would guess immigration laws) should be enforced. You have a double standard here on "enforcing the law". If you think cops need to be called over a scratch or being grabbed, you have either lost your mind, or you just don't understand what getting the cops involved means. It's like arresting somebody and telling them they can't drive for 30 days and need to go on probation because they sped 5mph above the speed limit, and if they speed again, they won't be able to drive again for the rest of their life. What's more in some states, the penalties stack. So if you scratch 2 people in the course of your entire life, you are now a felon will spend a year behind bars and can't vote. For a scratch. This is beyond absurd. Also if you get one deffered adjudication you can never touch a gun again, not even 20 years later to go hunting. It doesn't matter if your spouse was just telling you they really enjoyed having sex with your boss - if you even cause a scratch you are a criminal, will be thrown out of your own house. If your spouse divorces you, you will lose custody because you are a "batterer".

Domestic violence issues are mainly propaganda and fear-mongering. They use it for political purposes, just like they use terrorism. When cops get involved, like I said before, it often leads to murders because the real batters are unstable people and calling the police just makes them angry and likely to murder.

[greglindahl]

Like most people, I view laws about violent attacks different from laws about drug consumption that doesn't hurt anyone. I totally think the cops should be called when someone is assaulted.

[mcbobbington]

First, thank you for acknowledging that your previous point was moot, and that you do have a double standard. Now I will show why calling the police any time any small assault has occurred is the wrong choice.

If you think that you need to call the cops over somebody grabbing your arm, you are far worse than the guy who grabbed your arm. Instead of turning the other cheek and forgiving, as the guy who scratched you should have done, you do the same thing: revenge. How are you any different? Simply outsourcing your revenge to the cops makes you a better person? No, you are the same - you feel wronged and that you have the right to retaliate, only your retaliation is far more severe.

If somebody is truly posing a threat to life or limb, then calling cops may be appropriate. But in most small cases, calling the police is both foolish and wrong.

An eye for an eye and the whole world goes blind. Especially in families, forgiveness and love and overcoming evil with good are much better choices.

[greglindahl]

I did no such thing, and smarmy statements like this are not a "discussion".