Professor of Anthropology Doug Raybeck was interviewed for an Ottawa Citizen (9/3/05) news story about lawlessness in New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. In the article, Raybeck was quoted as saying: "It could happen anywhere. It's nothing peculiar to New Orleans. Any urban centre that saw the immediate collapse of its infrastructure would experience the same thing. Normal behaviour only exists in an environment where we are safe from threat and need."
The article continued: "The rapid collapse of civil order and continued lack of social control removes any inhibition criminals otherwise have, said Mr. Raybeck in an interview yesterday."
Raybeck said: "It gives bad guys an opportunity because there are no penalties and puts good guys in a position where they have to behave in ways they would otherwise not behave. As soon as you run out of supplies you join the fray. Will armed National Guardsmen with shoot-to-kill orders ask looters if they are stealing food because they need it or because they are hoping to sell at a profit? Not likely."
The article continued: "The rapid collapse of civil order and continued lack of social control removes any inhibition criminals otherwise have, said Mr. Raybeck in an interview yesterday."
Raybeck said: "It gives bad guys an opportunity because there are no penalties and puts good guys in a position where they have to behave in ways they would otherwise not behave. As soon as you run out of supplies you join the fray. Will armed National Guardsmen with shoot-to-kill orders ask looters if they are stealing food because they need it or because they are hoping to sell at a profit? Not likely."
