Why does it seem that people want anything that's illegal to also be impossible?

Question

For example, a driver knowingly makes an illegal U-turn and justifies it by saying there was nothing to prevent him from doing so. (It's still illegal.) Someone steals something from a car that wasn't locked. (It's still stealing and is therfore still illegal.) I could give many more examples, but I think you get the idea. Why do we seem to want "illegal" and "impossible" to be the same thing? Do we really want to live under martial law? If not, why do we not obey the laws we have just because they are laws?

Answer 1

It is not a matter of desiring impossibility.

What you are refering to is peoples ability to justify their illegal behavior in their minds, by making their actions someone elses fault. It is a way for people to live with themselves rather than feel the guilt.

This occurs not only after many people commit crimes, but also for those who do anything that deep down they know is wrong.

It is the type of replacement justification that allows religious followers the abilty to look the other way when religious leaders commit sins against mankind. It is the same type of self justification that allows someone to talk negatively about someone else, or exclude charity in favor of adding yet another million dollars to their bank roll.

It is, in its puriest form, the lack of taking responsibility for ones own actions.