.png)
 |
| Katie Cambron Class of 2016 |
Since world peace doesn’t exist and the justice system is arguably less than adequate in many parts of the world, what measures can be taken to ensure that citizens are law abiding? Call in the vigilantes of course! So-called “doers of justice” could punish the bad guys and protect the good. How much different would the world be in we in fact had people like Batman and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles taking down gangs and white collar criminals who often times buy their way out of facing justice? Some may even argue that if we began to depend on vigilantes to become judge, jury, and executioner, the government could save a substantial amount of money by scaling back the justice system.
More than likely, a wave of vigilantism would lead to unqualified individuals taking matters into their own hands and doing more harm than good. Look at the hit show Dexter (which for the record I finished all 96 episodes in 8 weeks on a darkened Netflix binge). Sure Dexter Morgan “got the bad guys” and prevented their future, demented crimes, but several times he allowed himself to fall to his “dark side” and become overly kill-happy.
As much as I enjoy watching vigilantism on television productions, the likelihood of it becoming our main form of justice is about the same chance I have of winning this weekend’s Powerball. However, I do feel that with recent political tensions and unrest throughout the country over results produced by the justice system, more and more people will begin to take matters into their own hands. Maybe we will need those humanoids warrior turtles to save us after all. Or that hunky, cape-wearing Batman (if so, sign me up for a ride in the Bat Mobile!)?
Katie Cambron is a junior McConnell Scholar studying economics and political science. She is from Springfield, Ky.