Is Vigilantism Helpful to Society in Its Attempts to Enforce Justice and Eradicate Crime?
Aseela Shamim Haque
2015-02-0199
Writing and Communication
Section 6
Aqila Zaman
9th May, 2012
Is vigilantism helpful to society in its attempts to enforce justice and eradicate crime?
Suppose a person feels that his neighborhood bully is targeting him. The police are ignoring his complaints and he is tired of the harassment. He sees on television that vigilantes like Batman are taking matters into their own hands and standing up to the oppressors. He decides to do the same. He faces his enemy and a heated argument ensues. A couple of punches are thrown and before he knows it the skirmish erupts into an aggressive brawl. He channels all his frustration and keeps throwing punches; one after the other. In a little while, his enemy stops hitting back. His enemy stops resisting his attacks, stops moving, stops breathing. Suppose, everyone in his neighborhood has been watching the same television show and is just as inspired to take revenge on their bullies. They all take to the streets to enforce their own justice. Now, what is going to happen? Vigilantism means taking the law into one’s own hands and then enforcing it according to one’s own understanding of the law. It relies on an individual’s perception of the effective way of dealing with crime and administering punishments. Should people employ their own understanding of what’s right and what’s wrong by becoming vigilantes? Or should they depend on the police force and legal system to bring justice to their society? Recently, the media has focused on promoting vigilantes and portraying them as heroes of our world. But are vigilantes really as good for the society as the media has portrayed them? Are they doing more harm than good? Although vigilantism has been supported and glorified by the media as heroic and in some cases vigilantism seems like the only way to obtain justice, however everyone’s idea of crime and punishment differs greatly; moreover it leads to violence by vigilante groups, weakens
2015-02-0199
Writing and Communication
Section 6
Aqila Zaman
9th May, 2012
Is vigilantism helpful to society in its attempts to enforce justice and eradicate crime?
Suppose a person feels that his neighborhood bully is targeting him. The police are ignoring his complaints and he is tired of the harassment. He sees on television that vigilantes like Batman are taking matters into their own hands and standing up to the oppressors. He decides to do the same. He faces his enemy and a heated argument ensues. A couple of punches are thrown and before he knows it the skirmish erupts into an aggressive brawl. He channels all his frustration and keeps throwing punches; one after the other. In a little while, his enemy stops hitting back. His enemy stops resisting his attacks, stops moving, stops breathing. Suppose, everyone in his neighborhood has been watching the same television show and is just as inspired to take revenge on their bullies. They all take to the streets to enforce their own justice. Now, what is going to happen? Vigilantism means taking the law into one’s own hands and then enforcing it according to one’s own understanding of the law. It relies on an individual’s perception of the effective way of dealing with crime and administering punishments. Should people employ their own understanding of what’s right and what’s wrong by becoming vigilantes? Or should they depend on the police force and legal system to bring justice to their society? Recently, the media has focused on promoting vigilantes and portraying them as heroes of our world. But are vigilantes really as good for the society as the media has portrayed them? Are they doing more harm than good? Although vigilantism has been supported and glorified by the media as heroic and in some cases vigilantism seems like the only way to obtain justice, however everyone’s idea of crime and punishment differs greatly; moreover it leads to violence by vigilante groups, weakens
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