Vigilantism - Page 3 - Political Fever

AnnEsthesia · #21 (**permalink**) 06-25-2008, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by micfranklin

Let me give an example:

Earlier this month in Baltimore, some guy tried to rob a store with the owner of the store in it, and he held the owner at knifepoint. When the owner got a chance he pulled a gun on the robber and shot him but didn't kill him, and the thing is that same guy has reportedly been robbing other places in that area for some time.

And in big cities sometimes people get robbed and killed in their own homes and the criminal doesn't get caught right away, sometimes in a week, 2 weeks, a month, maybe they might not get caught at all. Especially in this city where even cameras aren't enough, someone else needs to step up when the police aren't gonna get there in time.

Usually there are laws in place that make it legal to protect yourself if someone is trying to hurt you. If someone breaks into your house, you are allowed to defend yourself... however, if they realize you are home and run off, you are not allowed to run down the street after them, shooting.

Donkey Jote · #22 (**permalink**) 06-25-2008, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnnEsthesia

Usually there are laws in place that make it legal to protect yourself if someone is trying to hurt you. If someone breaks into your house, you are allowed to defend yourself... however, if they realize you are home and run off, you are not allowed to run down the street after them, shooting.

Agreed. What McFranklin describes is not vigilantism.

What would be vigilantism would be to not report the robbery to the police, find out on your own who robbed your store, drive to his house with your buddies, and beat the living hell out of him.

Skerlnik · #23 (**permalink**) 06-25-2008, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by micfranklin

Let me give an example:

Earlier this month in Baltimore, some guy tried to rob a store with the owner of the store in it, and he held the owner at knifepoint. When the owner got a chance he pulled a gun on the robber and shot him but didn't kill him, and the thing is that same guy has reportedly been robbing other places in that area for some time.

And in big cities sometimes people get robbed and killed in their own homes and the criminal doesn't get caught right away, sometimes in a week, 2 weeks, a month, maybe they might not get caught at all. Especially in this city where even cameras aren't enough, someone else needs to step up when the police aren't gonna get there in time.

So, I can assume you are pro-vigilantism, then?

I tend to be wary of these sorts of arguments, because there's a lot of heroic fantasization of improbable and idealized situations.

Drakej · #24 (**permalink**) 06-25-2008, 10:22 PM

Most of the things listed above do not really qualify as vigilantism. In my opinion vigilantism consists of playing judge jury and executioner. Executioner not necessarily being kill someone either. If you follow someone who just did a hit and run to get their plates, trip up some purse snatcher that is being a good citizen. But I think that this line can become blurred all to easily. There is a fine line between simply following someone and calling in their plates and pulling them from a car to beat their ***.

I do not see there being any real cause for concern regarding this in the near future. To many people are caught up in their own world to really notice any thing else.

Space_Coyote · #25 (**permalink**) 06-25-2008, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by micfranklin

Let me give an example:

Earlier this month in Baltimore, some guy tried to rob a store with the owner of the store in it, and he held the owner at knifepoint. When the owner got a chance he pulled a gun on the robber and shot him but didn't kill him, and the thing is that same guy has reportedly been robbing other places in that area for some time.

And in big cities sometimes people get robbed and killed in their own homes and the criminal doesn't get caught right away, sometimes in a week, 2 weeks, a month, maybe they might not get caught at all. Especially in this city where even cameras aren't enough, someone else needs to step up when the police aren't gonna get there in time.

I hate Baltimore. I'm 30 minutes away and I avoid it like the plague.

To your point though, yes if a man is robbing you at knifepoint, but a bullet in him and shoot to kill. Human beings understand compassion and reason, animals understand force.

micfranklin · #26 (**permalink**) 06-25-2008, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Space_Coyote

I hate Baltimore. I'm 30 minutes away and I avoid it like the plague.

To your point though, yes if a man is robbing you at knifepoint, but a bullet in him and shoot to kill. Human beings understand compassion and reason, animals understand force.

D.C. person?

malrenalds · #27 (**permalink**) 06-25-2008, 11:52 PM

I voted no.

While I can understand and at sometimes condone it, I would never say it is right.

Sometimes we have to make the wrong choice.

Space_Coyote · #28 (**permalink**) 06-26-2008, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by micfranklin

D.C. person?

Delaware.

Zephyr · #29 (**permalink**) 06-26-2008, 09:05 AM

I voted "no," but I can conceive of a very few situations where it would be okay by me.

View Poll Results: Is it ever okay to be a vigilante?
Yes, in some cases	4	40.00%
No, not ever	6	60.00%
What's a vigilante?	0	0%
Voters: 10. You may not vote on this poll

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