An adage from my old neighborhood was that: 'You don't fight old men or junkies because neither has anything to lose.'

This was brought up after an old guy with a artificial leg took it off and beat a mugger to death. The state wanted to prosecute but blanched when the guy told the judge that to him jail would be 'three hots and cot', three meals a day and a warm place to sleep, and free health care.