Then you have a very limited view of history. Crime, theft and murder used to be extremely more common. You may be able to defend yourself against your neighbo

Then you have a very limited view of history. Crime, theft and murder used to be extremely more common. You may be able to defend yourself against your neighbor. What about women and children? What about against multiple aggressors, or ones with better weapons? Turns out, without an effective police force, liberties are distributed a lot less equally... Steve Pinker explained in a TED talk that hunter/gatherer societies are a lot more violent than modern societies. For example these groups have to launch preemptive attacks against neighbors if only for fear of the other group striking first.