MY 15-year-old son Michael was walking home one late afternoon when a stranger hassled him about the receipt of a snack he had purchased. This man then coerced my son to “see the manager,” then proceeded to take his phone “as payment” for the supposedly “unpaid snacks.” This conman was unarmed, yet my son was so shaken by the experience that he had difficulty sleeping the next few days. As a father, I felt lucky that most of these con artists steal, but do not kill, and my son was unharmed. But at the same time, as a law-abiding citizen, I am outraged. I was once a victim of an armed holdup. So were my sister, a cousin, and several friends. And I’m sure we all know someone who’s been a victim of robbery, rape, or murder. This was a crime by a sober man with intent to steal, but not to kill.