Violence defined

 Pax from over at “Cornered Cat” asks me what I define as violence that would qualify a city to be listed on the “Danger Zone” list. That is an excellent question that deserves a complete post on its own. So here we are:

The dictionary definition of violence is the use of physical force so as to injure, abuse, damage, or destroy. While that is a great starting point, we can expand upon that for some clarity. For that, I will quote Marko Kloos in his article “Why the gun is civilization.” 

Human beings only have two ways to deal with one another: reason and force. If you want me to do something for you, you have a choice of either convincing me via argument, or force me to do your bidding under threat of force. Every human interaction falls into one of those two categories, without exception. Reason or force, that’s it.

A group of people who are standing in the road, holding signs and chanting is attempting to convince a person that their grievance deserves to be considered. A person who is standing in front of diners who are eating at a restaurant while attempting to intimidate those diners through the threat of physical violence is committing violence. 

The left claims that a man who refuses to limit a woman’s spending, or who spends money without his wife’s permission is committing financial violence. I disagree.

So what is the level of violence that gets a city added to the danger zone?

Use of physical force by a group of people motivated by political beliefs that results in damage to property, injury, or death to people. Note that the left believes that vandalism, arson, and other acts that “only” result in property damage are not violence. I disagree, and so acts like arson, looting, and other large scale offenses against property will be considered violence. 

Also, the use of threats of violence against people that would make the target of those threats reasonably believe that they are about to be physically attacked. A great example would be the acts committed here:

This threshold is enough to get a city or area listed as a “Zone 1.”

In order to be moved to Zone 2, there needs to be further aggravating factors: government forces actively supporting the rioters, rioters using weapons, moving into residential areas, that sort of thing. 

Zone three is where rioters have used deadly force against people in at least one riot.

Zone four is where deaths or serious injuries have occurred. 

Zone five is where the violence has been frequent, long lasting, or not confined to one specific area. 

Danger Zones

Violence continues in certain cities, and will get worse as the election gets closer. 
More than 40 fatalities and well over 100 serious injuries have resulted from nationwide attacks and riots. Here is the list of the cities that are have had violent incidents. 
I will attempt to keep this page current.

Zone 1: Violence without aggravating factors
Note that violence has already occurred in zone 1 and may occur again with little to no warning. It would be prudent to watch the local news in these cities and avoid areas where “peaceful protests” are scheduled to take place. 

Alabama: Auburn, Birmingham, Mobile, Montgomery, Huntsville
Arizona: Scottsdale, Phoenix, Tempe
Arkansas: Little Rock, Conway
Connecticut: Hartford
Delaware: Wilmington
Florida: Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville, Miami, St Petersburg
Georgia: Athens, Savannah, Gainesville
Idaho: Jerome, Boise
Illinois: Springfield,
Indiana: Evansville
Iowa: Kansas City
Louisiana: Lafayette, New Orleans, Baton Rouge
Maine: Portland
Massachusetts: Boston, Brockton, Worchester
Michigan: Lansing, Grand Rapids
Missouri: Kansas City
Nebraska: Lincoln, Beatrice, Grand Island,
Nevada: Reno
New Hampshire: Manchester
New Jersey: Trenton, Atlantic City
North Carolina: Asheville, Charlotte
North Dakota: Fargo
Ohio: Cleveland, Columbus
Oklahoma: Oklahoma City, Tulsa
Pennsylvania: Erie, Pittsburg

Rhode Island: Providence
South Carolina: Columbus, Charleston, Columbia
Texas: San Antonio
Utah: Salt Lake City
Virginia: Richmond
West Virginia: Charleston
Wisconsin: Madison
Wyoming: Jackson, Laramie

Zone 2: Violence with at least one aggravating factor
Zone 2 cites have already seen violence, with local authorities sympathizing or even assisting those committing violent acts. Violence may occur in these cities with little to no warning, and those who employ self defense in these cities can expect to face a hostile or antagonistic response from government authorities. It would be prudent to watch the local news in these cities and avoid areas where “peaceful protests” are scheduled to take place. 

Colorado: Colorado Springs, Fort Collins
Florida: West Palm Beach, Tallahassee
Georgia: Atlanta and suburbs to include Stone Mountain
Kansas: Wichita
Nevada: Las Vegas

New York: Rochester
North Carolina: Raleigh
Pennsylvania: Lancaster
South Dakota: Sioux Falls
Tennessee: Memphis, Nashville (National Guard Troops and state police laid down their riot shields and allowed protesters to enter the Capitol)
Texas: Houston, Dallas
Virginia: Portsmouth

Zone 3: Deadly force used by insurgents in at least one riot

Zone three cities are areas where violent protests and riots have taken place, and the rioters have employed deadly force with little to no attempt at mitigating response from local authorities. At best, any local response is merely token resistance. In these areas, violence is likely to occur in these areas without warning. Additionally, police and/or prosecutors are likely to bring the full weight of the law down upon those who attempt to defend themselves from these actors. 

California: Los Angeles (fatality)
Colorado: Alamosa
Florida: Williston
Georgia: Columbus (fatality)
Iowa: Davenport ( 2 fatalities in an ambush of police)
Maryland: Baltimore 
Michigan: Detroit (fatality)
Nebraska: Omaha (fatality)
New Mexico: Albuquerque (fatality)

Texas: Austin
Washington, DC
Wisconsin: Milwaukee and suburbs

Zone 4: Deadly force resulting in deaths, usually with government  capitulation or support

Zone 4 zones are those where deadly force has been used to kill and/or seriously injure anyone who the insurgents feel are not sufficiently sympathetic or supportive of their goals. Additionally, the local authorities are incapable or unwilling to oppose those who would commit these acts. Anyone in these areas is advised that violence is occurring and will continue to occur in these areas, and for this reason the area should be avoided. 

California: Oakland and San Francisco (2 fatalities)
Colorado: Denver and its suburbs (multiple shootings, fatality)
Illinois: Chicago (3 fatalities)
Indiana: Indianapolis (2 fatalities)
Kentucky: Louisville (fatality)
Missouri: St Louis metro area (2 fatalities)
Minnesota: Minneapolis-Saint Paul (at least 3 fatalities)
New York: New York City ( 3 fatalities)
Pennsylvania: Philadelphia (2 fatalities)
Wisconsin: Kenosha (2 fatalities)

Zone 5: Open warfare with either mutual firefights, or government actively supporting insurgents
Areas in zone 5 are areas that can best be described as active, low intensity combat. There are multiple sides and factions who are fighting for control of these areas. 

Oregon and Washington: The entire Interstate 5 corridor from the Canadian border south to Eugene, Oregon (more than a dozen fatalities)


METHODS

I reviewed protests/riots in nearly 500 US cities, and have compiled this list of cities where the insurgency is most violent.. I cannot guarantee that this list is completely accurate, but every attempt was made to be as accurate as possible. If any of you feel that this list has unfairly added an area, or I need to add an area, feel free to post that in comments.

I am not including “background” crime and violence- the crime that a city has normally. This is a measure of the developing insurgency, not a listing of “ordinary” street crime.