[CaptWillard]

I'm sure they were.

You acknowledge the rise of organized crime in a power vacuum, but doubt the utility of self-defense in that environment?

[swiftcoder]

Individual self-defense against organized crime syndicates is not terribly effective. You shoot one guy, the capo shows up with 10 men to shoot you.

A broad organized militia may be able to monopolize enough force to keep organized crime in check... and congratulations, you've just reinvented policing from first principles.

[CaptWillard]

> you've just reinvented policing from first principles.

Yes, in the absense of government protection (scroll up)