From: v117pdg8@ubvmsb.cc.buffalo.edu (DEMIAN)
Newsgroups: soc.men,talk.rape,alt.sex,alt.sex.bondage
Subject: Re: Vigilantes
Date: 12 Dec 92 04:28:00 GMT
Organization: University at Buffalo
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41

In article <1992Nov29.235623.12219@newstand.syr.edu>, ravalent@mothra.syr.EDU (Bob Valentine) writes...
>In article <DRW.92Nov29203351@euclid.mit.edu> drw@euclid.mit.edu (Dale R. Worley) writes:
>>In article <1992Nov29.184727.26008@dg-rtp.dg.com> morton@rtpnet06.rtp.dg.com (John R. Morton) writes:
>>   I know that this board is 95 % white boys , so statistically this is
>>   shot, but how do y'all feel about vigilante justice ????
>>
>>Yuck!  There are cases where I feel a certain pleasure in hearing of a
>>criminal being destroyed by his or her victim, but most vigilante
>>"justice" is just a mob going after someone about whom there are evil
>>rumors, likely as not, false rumors.
>>
>>Dale
> 
>No, there is nothing wrong with vigilante justice.  If the police
>cannot (or will not) protect your safety, it is in your own hands
>to protect yourself and dispense justice.  
>    If you catch some asshole breaking into your house/car/whatever,
>don't bother to call the police.  Smash the guy's head, then call the 
>police.  Just keep in mind that it is cheaper to kill than to maim.
> 
>   What is this "95% white-boys" stuff?  I fail to see the need for 
>this statement.  Also, do keep in mind that vigilante justice is NOT
>mob justice.  Mob justice is where you get a pack of assholes seeking
>revenge on something that happened to a member of their gang/race/
>religion/frat/ect.  These people are not after the original 
>perpetrator, they are after some form of scape-goat.  
> 
>Just a thought:
>    
>    Would there be as many instances of "car-jacking" if most people
>carried guns and knew how to use them, and a car-jacker knew that
>he might have his worthless head splattered?
> 
>________________________________________________________________________
>\ The name:            -->   Bob Valentine  <--                        /
>/ The address:      --> ravalent@mailbox.syr.edu <--                   \ 
>\                                                                      /
>/ The ride: --> 71 Olds Cutlass Convertible: 350/T400/Posi (soon!) <-- \
>\______________________________________________________________________/    
>    


I am neither an advocate of nor against vigilante justice.  However, I do
believe in protecting oneself.  If I caught a criminal in the act, my first
response to this would probably be to take an appropriate action against them
- AKA: beat the shit out of them.  But I question the reasons for society to
arm themselves.

I am not a liberal.  I have taken Sociology and believe that the reason people
commit crimes is that there is a serious lack of LEGITIMATE opportunities within
this country for a portion of the population.  The American dream is one of
success, financial security, and prestige.  I believe that crime results when
there is a lack of opportunities to achieving these goals of society.  This
does not make me a liberal sociologist as many would claim.  I believe in
punishment and retribution and I don't claim that this explains all crimes-
violent or non-violent.

The question that continues to come to mind is "Are we safer by arming
ourselves?"  I don't think so.  Why is it that America has the highest rates of
homicide in the world?  Some 10.9/1,000 people die by homicide each year in the
U.S.  We are a violent nation, and I believe that arming ourselves only
contributes to this violence.  Another fact- more Californians die by knives
than all Canadians by ALL means COMBINED.  This vigilante attitude only
contributes to an already high crime rate.

As mentioned before, I will, if the time comes, fight/use violence to DEFEND
myself, but I won't take the law into my own hands just for the sake of getting
a criminal off the streets.  If the situation is that bad, why don't we
pressure the government into doing something about it?  Maybe we need social
change, new programs, etc...  Violence begets violence.

This is merely MY OPINION on this subject.  There are bound to be many others
out there with their own opinions, and I'd love to hear them.  Just don't trash
my opinion.  I mean, respect my opinion and I shall respect yours.  Opinions
are like assholes - everybody's got one.  It's part of the 1st Amendment of the
Const.

                                                     - DAME

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 "Letus Departus Rightus Awayus"                                 DAME
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