Vigilante killings started last December 2004 in Davao City. It is the act of killing ex-convicts, escaped prisoners and other criminals that are not behind bars. These vigilantes wear masks and are on their bikes. They just pass through streets and bang, kill people. Are they really peace-keepers or are they one of the bad guys?
Yes, I admit that the crime rate in Davao indeed lowered. This is because of their vigilante killings. Yes, this act could lessen crime rates and even help the government authorities to seek the criminals. But I believe that this is not righteous. I believe that vigilantes are one of the bad guys.
They say that innocents are killed by criminals and criminals are killed by the vigilantes. But are we amenable that killing is a crime and by doing such, you may be named a criminal. So I guess being a vigilante is comparable to being a criminal. It is just lessening the number of criminals by increasing their number. Ironic, isn’t it?
They also say that the crime rate lessened. But killing a criminal is still a crime that could constitute an increase in the crime rate if counted, so I think that reason is not valid.
Another reason why I am anti-vigilante is that it is against the will of God. In His ten commandments, the fourth is the prohibition of killing another. So, by being a vigilante, even though your aim is to help and do good, is still a sin! It is still punishable by law and even by the Creator. People have no right to take lives of others because we owe all our lives, including the life of the victim and the vigilante himself.
Another thing is that people are affected by these vigilante killings. Criminals who intend to change are being killed. Some innocents even are affected and mistaken as one of the bad guys and killed by these vigilantes. Not only are the victims of the vigilante killings are affected but also their family members and relatives. What if that person killed was the bread winner of the family? What will happen to the family?
Between killing for good and stealing for life, I think stealing is the lesser evil. In stealing, you only get things- they have no feelings and they are nonliving. Whereas when you kill, you hurt people when they are hit and still survived after the incident or you deprive people of their right to live when they don’t.
Another thing I would like to point out is that you cannot stop something wrong by another something which is also wrong. What I mean is that people who are doing something wrong simply intend to do more wrong things if you stop them by another wrong act.
Again, I would like to present my point. Vigilante killing is not the answer to the injustices happening in our country. We better leave the judgment to the police authority or let Him execute the final judgment that is fit for the bad guys.
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