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Well, I personally never thought it would be too much of a defense, even when hearing that certain FReepers would kill someone like that on sight. I thought we did away with vigilante justice a long time ago and that we are supposed to be a nation of laws. It just seems peculiar to me, that (on the one hand), FReepers want to uphold the Constitution and maintain that we are a nation of laws, while (on the other hand) being willing to engage in vigilante justice, having pre-determined the guilt or innocence of a person apart from the mechanisms of our legal system and the Constitution. It just seems odd to me...

I think one could make a compelling argument that those convicted of such crimes, when guilt is clearly demonstrated by incontrovertible evidence, probably should be killed.

That is not to say citizens should assemble with pitchforks and torches and do this. Yet, I can’t say, if effected by this on a personal level what I might do. As far as I know, this man was not personally involved who committed the murder.

I think what you are seeing is anger, exasperation, frustration or any combination of the three. I think when ordinary folks see these animals released only to re-offend, and in some cases, murder their victims, that brings a lot of emotion forward.

It is extremely difficult to discuss this in general terms. These cases can differ, some egregious beyond all humanity and then there are those who find themselves on the wrong end of the law. For example, a 20 year old and a 15 or 16 year old. This may very well violate the law but is quite different in scope and intent. It lacks the sickness and perversion as well as rape sans the technicality of the statutory variety.

You have seen, the guilty, not guilty posts when a female teacher is caught having sex with a student in the school. There is a definitive double standard and you will not see anyone advocating death for these teachers, particularly the more aesthetic offenders. I think, in the end we all know those offenses that are so egregious as to warrant death. Making a case for the death penalty is one thing, but taking justice into your own hands is another thing entirely.

There can be no doubt much of the anger is justified. You can’t cage a fox for a period, who has killed a chicken and then simply release him into the coop. The facts and the prevailing evidence clearly belie any such reasoning. Foxes will kill chickens if they are around them. This is what foxes do. Predators, predate, and when the evidence is solid without exception these predators must be incarcerated for life or excised. The unjust sentencing and then a subsequent offense is the source of this rage and anger you are seeing. Parole, plea deals and exoneration on technicality have built this house of anger.

That said, Alleged victims have lied. Tawana Brawley(sp) and the Duke case springs to mind. Clearly killing on sight would have been wrong in these cases. I think, for the most part, people are just blowing off steam at a justice system they think has failed the innocent.