Could vigilantism (is that even a word...I mean someone who is a vigilante!) ever be beneficial to a society? Some of my friends are getting so sick of the anti-social (and sometimes violent) behaviour of the gangs in our town they are considering going out and dealing their own kind of justice. As far as I can understand they'll confront only those who they catch red-handed, and as we live in rural England no sort of dangerous weaponry would be employed- basically just giving people a damned hard going-over.
As I'm weak and weedy I could not join in (nor would I want to), but just wondered what you think of the proposal? Thanks guys.
2006-08-25 02:26:39 · 20 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
I can underdstand your frustration and the fact that you want to do something about it. But chances are your friends will end up getting in trouble for beating up the gangs.
It's unfair but it's the way our overly PC society is these days.
If you catch someone red handed, go to the police.
2006-08-25 02:30:46 · answer #1 · answered by Wafflebox 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have lived in the "ghetto" all my life. I am not a product of my environment however. I can understand where you are coming from but two wrongs never make a right. You see, alot of my community is oppressed by the police and social standards. If you are only making minimum wage with no encouragement, mentors, and someone spared you the rod when you were young; at times it might seem there is no hope or other way out. If you really want to do something to help, get more involved in government, volunteer, or go to church. At least there will be one more person who is committed to doing the right thing. Think about this,"If the police beat up and imprison people everyday and they come home and do the same thing (repeat offenders), what makes you think that being a vigilante and beating up someone is going to help? What the world really needs is morals that are not changed every time they don't suit our purpose. If I only made $6.00 an hour and with my $1000 rent, I might do something wrong also. Especially if I had mouths to feed, the government has failed us. And if you take the law in your own hands, it will definitely fail you too. America the land of hypocrisy.
2006-08-25 13:09:05 · answer #2 · answered by mackdingy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you run a corner shop, and someone tries to rob the till, and you hit them over the head with a bottle of wine then the police will grin and clap you on the back. And you can sell your cctv video footage to You've Been Framed and everyone will laugh and cheer.
But the police don't like or approve of these vigilante groups. This is different. Your mates are going looking for trouble and chances are at some point they're going to end up beating the living cr*p out of a totally innocent person. Or they'll go too far and someone is going to wind up with a fractured skull.
Don't get involved. If you want to do something to stop crime, then start by getting the police to visit your home for some home security advice. Then keep an eye on your street.
And lastly, don't be a pain in the *rse yourself. I hate walking through town with all the gangs of young men, and I wouldn't be able to tell the difference between your mates and troublemakers from 100 feet up the street.
2006-08-25 09:43:58 · answer #3 · answered by sarah c 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Under no circumstances should your friends get involved in vigilantism. It's against the law for some good reasons: there's a danger that they may hurt, maim or kill an innocent; they're not the police, courts and prisons and it's not up to them what the punishment should be even if they catch them red handed; and once one group of vigilantes commits these crimes and the police do nothing, it gives license to other vigilantes. That is a very, very, very dangerous situation and no one would be safe in such a world.
What you could do was get proof of these gang members' wrong doings - such as taking video cameras or cell phone pictures of the thugs in action and then giving the police the pictures.
I live in the United States, and that's how I would handle it. I don't know what the political situation in GB is.
2006-08-25 23:43:55 · answer #4 · answered by Shelley 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nice thought but it probably won't work. Going out and taking the law into your own hands will usually only get you in trouble. If there is violence then your friends are likely to take the blame for it all since they will be 'out looking for trouble'. Instead advise your friends to do something positive, start a neighborhood watch group, go to the local police and discuss the problems with them and ask for help. Going after these gangs will just bring about more violence and more issues. Best thing anyone can do is report these individuals to the police and let the professionals handle it.
2006-08-25 09:38:04 · answer #5 · answered by vegasinco 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dangerous. On paper it looks fine. But the issue is on what authority can they do this? What action can they take within the law (so as not to be punished themselves) that is effective?
Ignoring that last question, as it seems you are implying assault, I should note that a 'damn hard going over' can become a lot of other things very easily. It doesnt take a lot, a misplaced punch, a banged head on the way down, to kill someone. Can this group self regulate and prevent undesirables taking things too far?
I would express the need for caution. Work with the police rather than against them. Know your limits and above all, dont become the very thing you are working against.
2006-08-25 09:34:50 · answer #6 · answered by Caffeine Fiend 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Vigilantism carries inherent dangers. Regardless of how these fellows might pledge to regulate themselves, inevitably an innocent person will be caught up in their vengeance.
Moreover, once these guys establish in their own minds the notion of themselves as angels of justice, where will they turn next? Their "enforcements" may not be limited to those you consider to be proper targets. Remember that by embarking on this path these guys are essentially declaring themselves to be a law unto themselves. That is always dangerous.
2006-08-25 09:36:05 · answer #7 · answered by x 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Then your friends are anarchists, they are just as bad as the people breaking the law. Where will they draw the line? It's taken us a long time to become a civilized society, and we have a legal system for a reason. They may as well go back to living in the dark ages. And a human fist can maim and kill just as easily as a weapon!
2006-08-25 09:37:04 · answer #8 · answered by sarkyastic31 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your friends could get in their own trouble with the law. Or if your friends do beat up members of gangs, the gangs could come after you. I would seriously not do this. There are other ways that you can help to fight crime without taking the law into your own hands.
2006-08-25 09:45:30 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, based on my personal experience with the lovely youth of today, 1 in 5 of them will be carrying a weapon of some sort and have absolutely no fear of using it.
If anyone got caught and convicted of premeditated GBH, for example if a bone got broke (something as small as finger) They'll be looking at jail time.....
Not worth it really. Do what I did, Join the Specials and just hassle them legit every frigging time you're on duty :)
2006-08-25 09:34:03 · answer #10 · answered by krakenchops 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋