Looter's Message

John McClane (after he grabs kid stealing candy bars): Hey, hey! Where are you going? Come here. What are you doing?
Kid: Let me go, dickhead.
John McClane: Watch your mouth. You want to go to juvenile hall for a Butterfinger? Is that it?
Kid: Look around. All the cops are at something. It's Christmas. You could steal city hall.
--Die Hard With A Vengeance

Salient point made by Gary North. Looters and rioters send a message: the state is largely impotent when it comes to protecting life and property.

Government is legitimized force. Proper use of that force is for defensive purposes--for helping people defend their person and property from offensive intrusion by others.

Looters and rioters demonstrate that, when push literally comes to shove, government force is often ineffective in defensive situations.

North also observes that in the Watts riots of 1992, Korean store owners stood their ground, fully armed in defense of their property. They understood that government was unable to provide the necessary defense to turn back looters. Instead, the store owners collaborated in self-defense.