A hypothetical question for you, inviting serious answers?

Question

If someone in your community were to declare themselves a vigilante, how would you recieve them?

If this person was motivated purely by a hatred of crime and lackadaisical law enforcement, rather than any racial/religious connotations, and armed themselves with the sole intention of dealing out swift, measured punishment to serious criminals in your community- fighting fire with fire, as it were- would you support their actions or condemn them.

I am speaking purely from an objective viewpoint. For instance, a gang leader who made millions by shipping kidnapped human cargo in to the country, and often killed some of his victims in order to install fear and discipline in the others, was found shot to death in his home- this is the sort of scenario I mean.

What would be your take?

Answer 1

I would support them wholeheartedly.The police are too busy chasing motorists to worry themselves with criminals.Even in the unlikely event that they actually caught a real criminal the courts would pass a sentence so lenient that would be an insult to decent people.

Answer 2

I cannot support this argument.

Whose evidence are you taking as true, to justify the vigilanti action? The tabloid press? The TV news media? Some government spin doctor? The little old lady behind the lace curtains who spies on everyone going up and down the street?

There was a case a few years ago of a mob hounding a man out of his own home and had to have police protection. The mob were convinced then man abused children.

In fact the man was a paediatrician, and was a consultant at the local hospital.

The mob it seems did not understand the difference between paediatrician and paedophile.

I really don't want an individual or mob supposedly acting on my behalf who do not have a basic grasp of English, making the rules up as they go along, merrily maiming anyone who for whatever reason becomes the focus of their attention.

Answer 3

I want very much to believe that the law can take care of all situations, but I do believe there is a time when it fails and people do what they have to do.

I suspect, on a jury, I'd find a way to acquit anyone in the situation you describe. I think there would be many officers hoping for the same. They are faced with incredible restrictions on how they can accomplish their job. Finding enough evidence may be impossible, or very expensive.

Answer 4

As is so often the case, The Simpsons have the answer.

Episode 'Homer the vigilante', Homer is being interviewed by Kent Brockman about his vigilante group.

KB 'So how do you respond to the allegation that minor nuisance crimes like graffiti are down 20% but violent beatings are up 200%?'

HS 'Oh Kent I'd be lying if I said my men were'nt commiting crimes'

KB 'Hmmm Touche'.

Answer 5

Im against that but legal vigilante may be a different story.

How would gangsters react if there was a special force working outside the law but within the government that executed the real baddies? Yes they will make mistakes but killing such people or chopping off their happiness bits could prove very effective.

Answer 6

james, this is a great question. i first want to state that i think capital punishment should only be administered by our judicial system. but having said that, i feel like justice is often served best by its victims and their loved ones. our laws tend to work very slowly and vendication often comes too late. in situations like you describe, i think their are many means of revenge that are appropriate, but i wouldnt want the deceased criminals family to feel the same vindication towards the so-called vigilante, which would start our cycle once again. so death, under the rules of the street, is not always the best justice, albeit a swift one.

Answer 7

Very good question, I would be pretty scared if someone in my area declared themselves a vigilante, how long would it be before he/she got above their station and started putting the fear of god into others, its a worry and I personally think dealing with crime should be left up to those who have the experience to deal with it.

Answer 8

Its not a very good idea. Vigilantes dont have to answer to anyone and usually end up acting pretty viciously and acting on personal opinion rather than fact.
The last part of your question makes me think its ok if its isolated incidents, like that one gangmaster being shot, before i got it into my head you meant vigilante groups. too late now

Answer 9

I'm our street's dogsh*t vigilante. I'm not very violent though, and the woman at the council gets to hear about it more. I seem to have calmed down since I stopped using the pavements though.

To my mind, there's more than one way to skin a cat and protection doesn't have to use guns. A bit of well-placed Ecky Thump or custard revenge works wonders ;-)

Answer 10

i believed that no matter how bad a person is, there's still a good side. so how do i take it, i guess apply the same existing law that applies to both good or bad people of the society.. if there's isnt such law, then make a law but take into consideration that we're makin the law for order and healthy society and not just to punish people...