Should Vigilante Justice Allowed America
Start writing a post
Politics

The Injustice In The American Justice System Shows The Needs For Vigilantes

Vigilanes seem to have a negative connotation to them but they may be able to provide justice.

188
Unsplash / photo-nic.co.uk nic

Recently, I've had the chance to go back and play some of my favorite games such as the Spiderman PS4 game or the legendary Arkham Series. It gave me the chance to think about how would this function in real life. Now obviously, the games are far fetched an all but could a somewhat low-key vigilante be able to perform his or her duty on a small town. There are different definitions of a vigilante and all so let's see how this would potentially turn out.

Vigilantism is defined as "actions of a single person or group of people who claim to enforce the law but lack the legal authority to do so" as defined by Merriam Webster. I feel like this is integral to how the United States works. One of the fundamental values that the American Dream was built on was being left with your own personal freedoms and values. The American Dream always tells us to stand up for what we believe in and how we think that the world should run. This is highly important in recognizing the purpose of Vigilantes because they recognize how the community or even world around them is falling apart and they choose to make a difference in helping people in it. Vigilantes are performing their own form of Justice by performing as they see fit.

According to the Crime Museum In the 19th century in San Francisco, people took matters into their own hands. They saw how inefficiently the justice system was working so they took matters into their own hands. This shows how efficient Vigilantism can be if it is used properly. But Vigilantism also has a counter to the benefits it provides. Some people or groups The KKK used their own form of vigilantism as a reason to punish the diversity that the United States supports but we should be hesitant to include this as in recent years, vigilantism has taken more of a positive turn.

Vigilantism has been used for social justice as well. According to the civil rights, "Civil disobedience is a type of vigilantism as it attempts to enforce some form of the law that they seem fit to be correct." In the united states, the government often shows incompetency and since our nation is built on the morals of attempting to stand up for our beliefs, Vigilantism provides people with this possibility. People have consistently argued that Martin Luther King Jr was a pioneer in his beliefs because he took to protest to change the laws that he saw a consistent problem with. This means that one of the most important freedom fighters in history has been a model for a modern vigilante.

In more modern times, Vigilantism has turned towards feminism and a women's right to protect her body. Many modern Woman's Rights movements are modern forms of Vigilantism. The #metoo movement or the debate on abortions can be considered modern forms of people standing up for their beliefs or standing up the injustice that they see in the nation. If we are to move forward socially as a nation, people like this must stand up for their beliefs.

With so many other political issues raging in our country right now, we should all take a breath of fresh air and think about some of the smaller but in my opinion still important issues in the ideas of crime. Each decision we make has an impact as we are always told and sometimes, we need to consider if we stand up for something we believe in, could it be beneficial to those around us in such a way that it would protect them or enhance their way of living?

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
the beatles
Wikipedia Commons

For as long as I can remember, I have been listening to The Beatles. Every year, my mom would appropriately blast “Birthday” on anyone’s birthday. I knew all of the words to “Back In The U.S.S.R” by the time I was 5 (Even though I had no idea what or where the U.S.S.R was). I grew up with John, Paul, George, and Ringo instead Justin, JC, Joey, Chris and Lance (I had to google N*SYNC to remember their names). The highlight of my short life was Paul McCartney in concert twice. I’m not someone to “fangirl” but those days I fangirled hard. The music of The Beatles has gotten me through everything. Their songs have brought me more joy, peace, and comfort. I can listen to them in any situation and find what I need. Here are the best lyrics from The Beatles for every and any occasion.

Keep Reading...Show less
Being Invisible The Best Super Power

The best superpower ever? Being invisible of course. Imagine just being able to go from seen to unseen on a dime. Who wouldn't want to have the opportunity to be invisible? Superman and Batman have nothing on being invisible with their superhero abilities. Here are some things that you could do while being invisible, because being invisible can benefit your social life too.

Keep Reading...Show less
houses under green sky
Photo by Alev Takil on Unsplash

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Keep Reading...Show less
​a woman sitting at a table having a coffee
nappy.co

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

95113
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments