Crime and punishment: a note on instrumental violence

This article proposes the existence of a trade-off between time and violence in the production of illegal returns. The use of violence is perceived as a rational decision, subjected to cost (Increased severity of punishment) and benefit (reduced probability of conviction) considerations. The note examines the relations between violence and the attitude toward risk, and between violence and deterrence, emphasizing the role of prior detection of illegally carried weapons in combating violence.