I'm sorry you got fucked with dude. That knife robbery must have been absolutely terrifying. I think as far as the police responses to both your assault and your friend's home invasion: that is some shitty shitty shitty police work. I understand that the cops are busy and crimes where there are no injuries may not necessarily be prioritized, but at least show some professionalism. Now personally, I've actually had nothing but wonderful experiences with the cops. Even when I was arrested. I was always treated well and fairly by the police. However, that doesn't mean that my personal experience is indicative of the nation as a whole. Obviously there are some serious problems with our various police forces. As a German, you only see what makes the big headlines: and that's cops shooting unarmed minorities. That happens, surely. But it's not even close to a majority of the time-type situation. It needs to be addressed, both by our police and government, and the citizenry. Bitching and moaning about it on reddit while calling for public lynchings of police officers (apparently a popular sentiment) is ineffectual whining. It does nothing to fix the situation, or even address what's causing it. It just makes people feel self-righteous and probably just makes the situation worse.
Which brings up your question on shit that looks like guns... I personally, and I obviously don't speak for everyone, think carrying pellet guns that are realistic looking is asking for trouble. Should you be shot for carrying a BB gun? Fuck no, but why on earth would you want a realistic looking bb gun anyway?! It's like wearing a swastika tshirt into a jewish bar and saying it's just a harmless symbol. It ain't gonna end well. It's whatever Jewish guy beats your skull in's fault for beating you skull in, but at a certain level, you contributed to it happening. That is why there are varying "degrees" of crime, to count for the mental state/external aggravating factors/etc. But I'm in total agreement with your hypothetical. If the kid getting beat acted in self-defense, he's justified in doing so. If a "reasonable person" would have feared for their life, then he's find to defend himself with lethal force. Turns out the gun was a toy? Tough shit for that guy; shouldn't have brandished it like it was a real gun and caused fear of imminent bodily harm. The kid getting hit by a car trying to escape? That can be charged as "felony murder." Death resulting from the commission of a felony. Had the kid not threatened and beaten him and forced him to flee into the street, he would not have been killed by the car. That killing is on the kid who forced him into that position. It's a complex and controversial concept, but it's certainly a legal possibility.
As far as feeling safe... I agree. Hell, I don't feel particularly safe here. I don't want those little shitbirds breaking into my home and stealing my shit or hurting my cats. But those two kids aren't the only would-be burglars. Their being imprisoned doesn't all of a sudden make my neighborhood a citadel of safety. Police can maybe increase patrols to try to help us feel safer, but that's not always something they are able to do. They might be short-staffed, busy down the road with other shit, any number of things. I think peace of mind is only something we can really make for ourselves when we live in areas like I do. I lock my doors, I own a firearm, yada yada, but really, when it comes down to it, all we can really do is rely on goodwill of our fellow man. That's a sad thought, but it is what it is. Even presidents and heads of state aren't safe... If someone wants to rob you, it's going to happen, unless you shoot them first. That's a can of worms I never want to open.
Drinking doesn't exonerate you from any responsibility in a legal defense (unless you were drugged against your will). The idea is that you take responsibility for drinking, and thus responsibility for your behavior while drunk. Ironically, I was blacked out when I got my DUI. Didn't even know I'd been arrested for it when I was arrested again 40min after being released for taking a GPS out of a car to get directions home because I had no clue how I'd ended up in downtown Cincinnati half naked hahahaha. I assure you that the fact I was blackout fucking drunk did nothing for me. It just made me look stupid (which I am/was).
And I agree 100%. Take responsibility. The fake guns? If you act in a way that a reasonable person would find threatening, you'll reap what you sow. Drunk? Own it. I've had to. Multiple times. I still have to explain my past every damn day to would-be employers. I don't think anyone should get a free pass. What I do think, and textbook it may be, is that punishment should be meted out based on what has been done, the circumstances surrounded it, and above all: on what can be proven. It's an opinion I had prior to law school, the fact it coincides with the textbook ideal is a happy circumstance.
As far as these kids go? Ideally the cops will find a firearm in their possession. Felonious, plenty of punishment right there. Assault? Same thing, definitely provable. But the cops and prosecutors need to DO THEIR FUCKING JOBS and not cut corners so their records look impressive. Personally, those kids are lost causes. But I wouldn't feel right if they were locked up and the key thrown away without demonstrable evidence of every single crime they are charged with. Same goes for the accomplices. The driver? Destruction of property, a host of crimes really. That said, the hypothetical of what if there were kids there is irrelevant. There weren't. You can punish someone based on what might or could have happened. Only what did happen.
Anyway, these damn tiny text boxes on this site drive me nuts! I hope this didn't seem to disjointed or anything. I'm happy to keep chatting, too! It's nice to actually have a casual conversation on here. There's so much vitriol in the news subs' comments. That's why I tend to just, you know, shitpost bad jokes and cat pics ;-)