Quote:

you can't even count on the law to do something


Derek, you've brought up a very salient point and here is a copy of Peter Kasler’s article on police having no obligation to protect. Peter Alan Kasler was a gun rights activist, author and lawyer.

Here is an excerpt:

It is, therefore, a fact of law and of practical necessity that individuals are responsible for their own personal safety, and that of their loved ones. Police protection must be recognized for what it is: only an auxiliary general deterrent.

Because the police have no general duty to protect individuals, judicial remedies are not available for their failure to protect. In other words, if someone is injured because they expected but did not receive police protection, they cannot recover damages by suing (except in very special cases, explained below). Despite a long history of such failed attempts, however, many, people persist in believing the police are obligated to protect them, attempt to recover when no protection was forthcoming, and are emotionally demoralized when the recovery fails. Legal annals abound with such cases.

"Never underestimate the power of human stupidity" - Robert Heinlein