Is the day of the vigilante scheduled for a rerun?
Vigilantism is a scary prospect. What often starts off as citizens trying to subdue crime and violence has a tendency to segue into kangaroo courts and personal vengeance.
The problem we are facing is that much of our justice system is turning into a long running joke. “Lawmakers” seem to be in competition to find reasons to let convicted criminals out on the streets again. Even President Trump has bought into the concept. Federal judges are ordering people released. Daily we see headlines about murders committed by illegals who are out on bail or released for humanitarian purposes. What it does is put violent criminals back on the street.
What are law abiding people to do? We have depended on the police and other law enforcement to protect us. We have expected the courts to deal with criminals. We build jails to keep them away from the general population. Yet here they are out on the streets.
Why are left wing mobs like Antifa allowed to continue their reign of terror? Why are so many Trump supporters worried about being vandalized if they put up a yard sign or a bumper sticker? Why do liberals feel free to attack anyone wearing a MAGA hat?
My fear is that people will begin to take the law into their own hands. I am not worried about criminals and corrupt officials being killed. What I worry about is the fact that there is rarely any happy ending to such violence. If it were an irate father who gives the murderer of his child their just reward and fades into the neighborhood, then civilization will resume. If it is someone defending themselves and their family from home invaders, by them some more ammo. If it is large crowds pushing what borders on revolution, then everyone loses. Revolution and civil war usually destroy more than they remedy.
There is a reason why laws are to be enforced by a duly established government with due process and checks and balances. There is a reason why the wheels of justice grind slowly. It keeps the balance and allows justice to be done without destroying the weak. Our problem is that so many of the people in positions of punishing evil have become evil themselves.
I hope the judges, clerks, police officers, politicians and anyone else with a responsibility to serve the public and advance justice wake up before we see vigilantes again because street justice will not stop with the rioters.
homo unius libri
If people are going to be hung, it's the crooked judges that need it first, but that won't happen.
ReplyDeleteOnly in a perfect world, but in a perfect world they would not need to be hung.
DeleteGrace and peace