Vigilantism
Vigilantism is self-appointed "policing" and doing of "justice". In the minor-attracted community, the term is especially used for people that practice legal entrapment, out various people as "pedophiles", try to make people's lives miserable or unbearable, or attack people or their property.
Vigilante behaviour
"Vigilante justice" is rationalized by the idea that adequate legal mechanisms for criminal punishment are either nonexistent or insufficient. Vigilantes typically see the government as ineffective in enforcing the law; such individuals often claim to justify their actions as a fulfilment of the wishes of the community.
Persons alleged to be escaping the law or above the law are sometimes the victims of vigilantism.[1]
Vigilante behavior involves various degrees of violence. Vigilantes may assault targets verbally, physically, vandalize property, or even kill individuals.
In a number of cases, vigilantism has involved targets with mistaken identities.
- In Britain in the early 2000s, there were reports of vandalism, assaults, and verbal abuse towards people wrongly accused of being paedophiles, following the murder of Sarah Payne.[2]
- In Philadelphia in 2009, Michael Zenquis was severely assaulted by a group of locals who mistook him for a rapist on the loose.[3]
See Also
- Vigilante (dictionary)
- Perverted Justice - The primary executive arm of anti-MA vigilantism
- Absolute Zero - An additional publicity campaign, allied with the above.
References
- ↑ "As for Violent Crime that's our Daily Bread": Vigilante violence during South Africa's period of transition (May 2001).
- ↑ Paedophiles 'driven into hiding' Whispering game The campaign for 'Sarah's Law' Vigilante attack on innocent man
- ↑ Cuellar, Dann. "Wrong man attacked in vigilante injustice", June 5, 2009. Retrieved on 18 June 2012.
External Links
"Vigilantism" (Web archive) (Original Newgon Wiki Article)