[at-l] Re: Law in the Jungle WAS: Stiffed by Hiker & Murderindictment.

[icw39@ncfreedom.net (Clark Wright)]

It is one thing to (1) make a choice to try and stop a crime, and/or (2)
try and apprehend a person you are DARN sure just committed a crime.  It
is quite another to talk about administering the next steps, including
by innuendo, the death penalty, on one's own.  There are an awful lot of
folks in America who would cheer all the way on the first two points,
but who would [rightly IMHO] place you in the same category as the
original murderer as to the latter . . . 

thru-thinker

Jim and/or Ginny Owen wrote:
> 
> Shane wrote:
> >As involved with law enforcement as I am, it may seem strange, but I >think
> >that vigilantism has its place in the system of natural justice.
> 
> The strange thing is that those who don't believe that are more likely to be
> guilty of vigilantism than those who do.  Vigilantism takes many forms - not
> all of them involve physical violence.
> 
> >So, when you are out in the middle of nowhere, and you do witness a crime,
> >what would you do?  For instance, if you were to witness a felony - let's
> >say you saw Mr. Rice kill those two women.  What would you do?  Call the
> >cops?  What cops?
> 
> There are cities where that applies as well --- what cops?
> 
> >As a trainer, and not actually a sworn officer, this is a hard question.  I
> >have skills, and the ability to keep this murderer from seeking his next
> >victim.  In some ways, I have a moral duty to prevent
> >further deaths.  I think, given that circumstance - that I saw it with my
> >own eyes - Mr. Rice might run from me, but he'd only die tired.
> >
> >Afterwards I would have to report his crime - and mine - but to my mind
> >that's better than hoping that his next set of victims is better prepared
> >to handle the lunatic.
> 
> I knew there was something I liked about you.
> 
> >The incident you cite is just that - an incident.  Some idiot who >doesn't
> >know his a$$ from a hole in the ground.  Hunting for some hiker who bounced
> >a check and trying to extract the $30.00 by threat or actual physical
> >violence is equally idiotic.
> 
> Out of order here - but to use your own words from the previous paragraph
> --- "to my mind that's better than hoping that his next set of victims is
> better prepared to handle the lunatic."
> 
> A serial check bouncer/scam artist needs to be stopped too.  Not necessarily
> with violence - but stopped.
> 
> >This is not a situation I have ever had to face, and will probably never
> >happen to any of us.  It's just a question for the 'what if?' game...
> 
> Hmmm - don't make too many assumptions about the "never happen"  :-)
> 
> Walk softly,
> Jim
> 
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