As much as one sympathizes with this father, vigilantism is illegal and should be punished. For instance, there were two other people in the car with the rapist, including a minor child. If the gun in misfiring had hit her instead, would he still deserve a metal?
They can't very well try the poor, poor victim first.
My God man, THINK! What if the jury convicted him?!?!
That would pretty much ruin the case against this evil guy who claimed he was acting to allegedly protect the 11 year old slut who seduced this innocent young man...
Stupid vigilantism should be punished. Well applied vigilantism is not punishable, because there is no evidence it ever happened . . .
That sure is a stretch. Captain Kirk fought The Gorn with a primitive weapon and rudimentary gunpowder that he made on an uninhabited planet. If Hatfield had used Captain Kirk's weapon it might have misfired and hit the girl.