
“You can get much further with a kind word and a gun than you can with a kind word alone.”
-Al Capone
Introduction
Violence Reaches Epidemic Levels
Spike in Crime Forcing Store Closures
Opening a wet-weather gear store in Portland, Oregon seemed like a no-brainer when Marcy Landolfo launched “Rains PDX” in 2019. In December 2022, after 15 burglaries in 27 months, she shut the store down.
Conclusion
A strong Rule of Law and individual liberty are the cornerstones of Western Civilization.
History is full of examples, from Rome to the Ottoman Empire, which shows that a deteriorating rule of law is a leading indicator of a civilization in decline.
Photo by Maze Man 2011