Taking the law into your own hands
Do you think there are instances where you can take the law into your own hands?
I've heard of communities who've mobbed up and nearly killed paedophiles and rapists. Is this form of communal justice acceptable?
What about single handedly?
People often loose faith in the justice system - they are too leniant and soft on crimes of a brutal nature. Are there cases where people should be allowed to dish out their own justice?
We should do what's right
Side Score: 22
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Let the law do its job
Side Score: 27
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This is one of those questions that shows the person's own mindset by their answer. Ask anyone who lives in the country, and I figure they are much more likely to say "pull the trigger" when it comes to home-grown justice. For instance, God help any burglar who finds their way into my house. It is the metrosexual types living in the cities who would not dare to stop a mugging-in-progress. They will gladly wait patiently on their cell phones after being placed "on hold" by the operator, than do anything about it. Side: We should do what's right
There are millions of occasions where I feel the public could've handled the situation better. Not just extreme cases, even in small things, but let the law deal with it instead. However the Baby P scandal made people crazy. They wanted to kill the parents who killed their 2yr old kid. I think they should've been able to. Side: We should do what's right
Of course we should all strive to do what is right, but what many people fail to realize is that our code of law mirrors the ethics and morals of the people. It is a weak excuse to say you broke the law to do what is right when you did not do everything within the law first. An example given was when a community comes together to kill a pedophile and that is wrong. Wrong because any time when we as a people lose ourselves in passionate zeal and rage and commit such a violent act, regardless of the situation, degrades us. To unite under mob violence against that person, even though he did a horrible thing, only lowers yourself to his level and serves no other purpose. Yes there are times when the law fails to keep up with our morals because of bureaucratic nonsense but I believe a person who truly thinks what he or she did was right will not be deterred because of a prison sentence. Those extreme cases where that is necessary are just that, extreme, and will be dealt with in the courts and weighed in respect to the unique situation. To say the law cannot truly support the morals of the people is a cop out and shows only your own weakness to not recognize the bigger picture. Side: We should do what's right
Wait wait wait. Are you disagreeing or agreeing with me? Cause I'm confused with your answer and the side of the debate. Anyway let's just adress some issues. code of law mirrors the ethics and morals of the people. Really??? Can you really tell me that most people are content with the law? degrades us. To unite under mob violence against that person, even though he did a horrible thing, only lowers yourself to his level How? It is a justified act. I hate when people say 'lowers to his level'. It doesn't. Until I rape a child... I'm not anywhere near his level. Yes there are times when the law fails to keep up with our morals because of bureaucratic nonsense but I believe a person who truly thinks what he or she did was right will not be deterred because of a prison sentence. I don't understand what you're trying to say here. and will be dealt with in the courts and weighed in respect to the unique situation. Thats the problem. They're not. People were outraged and have been outraged several times over several sentences. cop out and shows only your own weakness to not recognize the bigger picture. Well that's just silly. Side: Let the law do its job
i think all of you people should know that the system is broken broken people these days are set free murderers rapist and more. why cant we the people take the law into our hands isn't that what our four fathers intended us to do to be the law? justice comes when you act fast and you do it! not stand their and sit by their like an idiot. http://www.youtube.com/ just look how the judical system is a joke. Side: Let the law do its job
Well I don't really think that answers the question... You're right that people shouldn't go out of their way to fight crime. But when they feel outraged when something happened to someone close to them is it justified? Same with communal justice... when something outrageous happens within your community.. should people do something (often illegal) about it? Paedophile example i feel is the best... Side: We should do what's right
"But when they feel outraged when something happened to someone close to them is it justified?" "when something outrageous happens within your community.. should people do something (often illegal) about it?" Justice must be passed down dispassionately in order to truly be fair. Mob "justice" is just vengeance, not real justice. Side: Let the law do its job
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Hmm... it seems like we SHOULD take control sometimes, especially if you're in danger. For example, if someone's raping you, and you have a gun or something... then I think you should be able to take the law into your own hands. Well, I know you can, for self-defense and whatnot. I mean obviously, you can always do whatever you want, maybe not without consequence {hey, you might get thrown in jail or into the electric chair} but yes, I think that's good, that you can always. Side: We should do what's right
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I believe it is ok to take justice into your own hands at certain times. Before you decide to take justice into your own hand you need to think about it. If you kill a murderer who had killed all your friends or family then it is ok. But if you just kill someone for a crime that didn’t affect you it is not ok. Side: We should do what's right
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When people take the law into their own hands it means they must face the responsibilities of their actions - often something they are not ready to do. What people need to do is be agressive with improving the law so that it mirrors their definition of justice. Side: Let the law do its job
When we take the law into our own hands we are no better than the criminal that commits the crime. We are placing ourselves above the law by becoming judge, jury and executioner. If we cannot put our trust in our own laws there is no point in having them. Without laws, we are no longer a civil society and we will quickly degenerate into a Wild West situation. Those with the guns will make the rules. Side: Let the law do its job
"we're definately better than criminals" Says who?? You who are willing to single-handedly judge someone to be "guilty" without a trial. "it will not degenerate into a wild west situation or civil-less society." The situation that you are describing is EXACTLY the way things were in the Old West. We've moved on from that relatively lawless time yanno. Side: Let the law do its job
"I've heard of communities who've mobbed up and nearly killed paedophiles and rapists. Is this form of communal justice acceptable?" No, in our society, one is innocent until proven guilty...not the other way around. "Are there cases where people should be allowed to dish out their own justice?" No. When this kind of thing happens, it's more about vengeance than justice. This isn't the Old West anymore. Side: Let the law do its job
No, in our society, one is innocent until proven guilty...not the other way around. A lot of people are unhappy about the law system. Even after being proved guilty the person has so many chances of appeal they either get their sentence lowered or become free altogether. People also feel vengeance is more appropriate than justice. Especially the paedophile. I would personally be there to kill one. They don't deserve to live. Side: We should do what's right
"A lot of people are unhappy about the law system. Even after being proved guilty the person has so many chances of appeal they either get their sentence lowered or become free altogether." Nonsense. Either one believes in our system of justice or not. One CANNOT take the law into ones own hands! "People also feel vengeance is more appropriate than justice." Thanks for admitting that what you are arguing for is vengeance, NOT justice. Side: Let the law do its job
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I believe it is never fine to take justice into your own hands. You cannot go to murderer’s house and kill him, because then there would be the same amount of murderers in the world. If you take justice into your own hands, it is your opinion that he/ she is guilty; that’s why you need a biased judge to be able to blame someone. You cannot just blame someone of murder by yourself, because if you do that is your personal opinion, and opinion does not go with law, facts do. When people take laws into their own hands it means they have to face the responsibilities. In our society it’s innocent until proven guilty not the other way around, you cannot prove someone guilty unless you are the judge, and if you are not the judge it is not your responsibility to do so. If you blame someone of murder and then take justice into your own hands and then killing them, that might be killing a person proven innocent therefore you become the killer. Side: Let the law do its job
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I believe it is ok to take justice into your own hands at certain times. Before you decide to take justice into your own hand you need to think about it. If you kill a murderer who had killed all your friends or family then it is ok. But if you just kill someone for a crime that didn’t affect you it is not ok. Side: We should do what's right
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