# A vigilante is apparently hunting and killing sex offenders in Washington State **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 3, 2005, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-vigilante-is-apparently-hunting-and-killing-sex-offenders-in-washington-state/319836 "2005-09-03T02:07:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-vigilante-is-apparently-hunting-and-killing-sex-offenders-in-washington-state/319836/61 "2005-09-04T07:44:30Z")
I have read your postings. I have read exactly what you posted. How about you doing me the same courtesy? And since you’re using the word _probably_, I reiterate my request to you to show some statistics, some actual evidence to bolster your claim that most of the police are lazy. BTW, are you unaware that the registry isn’t static, that there will be additions to it as time passes? Do you have any guarantee that nobody in your area with a name either the same as or similar to yours won’t be added to that registry? ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-vigilante-is-apparently-hunting-and-killing-sex-offenders-in-washington-state/319836/62 "2005-09-04T07:46:29Z")
The first paragraph in post #61 is directed to Kyle Rayner1. The second paragraph is directed to pool. ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-vigilante-is-apparently-hunting-and-killing-sex-offenders-in-washington-state/319836/63 "2005-09-04T07:49:13Z")
The possibility is so highly unlikely, and also made less likely by the fact that I do not have a common name, that the chances of that happening are nigh-impossible. Your scenario is so ridiculous I cannot help but laugh. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-vigilante-is-apparently-hunting-and-killing-sex-offenders-in-washington-state/319836/64 "2005-09-04T07:59:20Z")
Perhaps it’s ridiculous for you; however, do you consider it funny for those with common names? My point, which you are studiously evading, is that vigilantism is wrong. Attendant to that point is that your attitude–taking delight in other’s fear–is also wrong as it seems that you support the vigilante. ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-vigilante-is-apparently-hunting-and-killing-sex-offenders-in-washington-state/319836/65 "2005-09-04T08:03:31Z")
When did I say vigilantism was right? In fact I believe Ipointed out the opposite > [@](#): > > Originally posted by pool: Just rehashing what has already been said, but **Although I personally won’t miss the victims, they all did their time and we as a society, must maintain some degree of order.** This person is likely very disturbed and could kill someone people do care about. Sure I may have made light of the situation…Well, so what? ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-vigilante-is-apparently-hunting-and-killing-sex-offenders-in-washington-state/319836/66 "2005-09-04T08:06:02Z")
I repeat: your apparent delight in their fear seems to indicate actual support of the vigilante. ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-vigilante-is-apparently-hunting-and-killing-sex-offenders-in-washington-state/319836/67 "2005-09-04T08:10:20Z")
Well sure I may take some delight that they are afraid, But I do not think that vigilantism is appropriate in a society of laws. Finding a situation humorous, but at the same time noting that it is a situation that should not occur are not mutually exclusive ideas. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-vigilante-is-apparently-hunting-and-killing-sex-offenders-in-washington-state/319836/68 "2005-09-04T08:11:58Z")
Okay. If you get your jollies from people living in fear of a serial killer, well, so be it. I tend to think that such a situation is bereft of humor. ---
**Author:** ![Kyle\_Rayner1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58f4c7/32.png) [@Kyle\_Rayner1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyle_Rayner1)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-vigilante-is-apparently-hunting-and-killing-sex-offenders-in-washington-state/319836/69 "2005-09-04T08:13:37Z")
Vigilantism is appropiate it. Okay Monty look at Newark, Camdem, Detroit. Look at the corruption and crime and racism and tell me a call for vigilantes aren’t needed. ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-vigilante-is-apparently-hunting-and-killing-sex-offenders-in-washington-state/319836/70 "2005-09-04T08:13:56Z")
Well good for you…we can just agree to disagree ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-vigilante-is-apparently-hunting-and-killing-sex-offenders-in-washington-state/319836/71 "2005-09-04T08:15:00Z")
My last post was in response to Monty. ---
**Author:** ![Kyle\_Rayner1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58f4c7/32.png) [@Kyle\_Rayner1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyle_Rayner1)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-vigilante-is-apparently-hunting-and-killing-sex-offenders-in-washington-state/319836/72 "2005-09-04T08:15:28Z")
The thing in common in those cities is racism. If a vigilante would acrew with the cops and make their jobs harder in those cities than more power to them. ---
**Author:** ![Kyle\_Rayner1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58f4c7/32.png) [@Kyle\_Rayner1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyle_Rayner1)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-vigilante-is-apparently-hunting-and-killing-sex-offenders-in-washington-state/319836/73 "2005-09-04T08:16:31Z")
I meant screw\*. ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-vigilante-is-apparently-hunting-and-killing-sex-offenders-in-washington-state/319836/74 "2005-09-04T08:19:27Z")
Well Kyle you are generalizing, you cannot possibly tell me that all the cops are racist, or reall even a majority. And 'm sure a lot of cops in these areas are black so why would they be racist towards others blacks? ---
**Author:** ![Kyle\_Rayner1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58f4c7/32.png) [@Kyle\_Rayner1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyle_Rayner1)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-vigilante-is-apparently-hunting-and-killing-sex-offenders-in-washington-state/319836/75 "2005-09-04T08:28:30Z")
Not saying all but a majority of them in the inner cities. That’s why crime and police brutality are so rampant. Most cops in inner cities are white anyway and if they’re black than they’re just following orders (I doubt the black cops are racist though). A non- murdering vigilante would actually get work done and not be prejudice. I would applaud a vigilante who would disrupt or piss those cops off. ---
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-vigilante-is-apparently-hunting-and-killing-sex-offenders-in-washington-state/319836/76 "2005-09-04T09:00:40Z")
Racism and chaos in cities aside, here’s a real world example that has been played out many times in history: Girl gets raped by a known rapist, rapist gets off on a technicality, girl finds rapist and kills him. Sorry, no cite, but it’s been done plenty of times. And yes, I approve of this type of vigilanteism. Here, the law failed the victim, and the victim takes it upon herself to take care of personal justice for having been violated. Personally, I have no problem with that kind of justice. With the case of the OP, this guy might get himself killed if all the L3 SO’s are prepared for him. It’s best that he quit while he’s ahead. ---
**Author:** ![Kyle\_Rayner1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58f4c7/32.png) [@Kyle\_Rayner1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyle_Rayner1)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 9:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-vigilante-is-apparently-hunting-and-killing-sex-offenders-in-washington-state/319836/77 "2005-09-04T09:03:00Z")
I don’t approve of killing even though I wouldn’t give the girl a hard time for kiling the guy who raped her. I would rather a vigilante beat the crap out of him, humilate him, and tie him up for the cops who were probably too lazy or unmotivated to track him down in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-vigilante-is-apparently-hunting-and-killing-sex-offenders-in-washington-state/319836/78 "2005-09-04T09:07:56Z")
As I’m anti-deat penalty, I would certainly disagree with the rape victim exacting her own “justice.” And what’s her plan if it turns out she was mistaken on the identity of _her_ victim (the guy she kills)? Kyle Rayner1: This is perhaps the 3rd time I’ve requested this–what are your statistics to show that the police are “probably too lazy or unmotivated?” ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 9:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-vigilante-is-apparently-hunting-and-killing-sex-offenders-in-washington-state/319836/79 "2005-09-04T09:09:36Z")
Make that anti-death penalty. I’ve no idea what the deat penalty is. ---
**Author:** ![Kyle\_Rayner1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58f4c7/32.png) [@Kyle\_Rayner1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyle_Rayner1)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-vigilante-is-apparently-hunting-and-killing-sex-offenders-in-washington-state/319836/80 "2005-09-04T09:21:54Z")
Sorry, Monty I don’t have any cites but I’ve been to Newark and Camden and those places are pretty much hellholes plus my uncle who works in Newark says Newark is crime-ridden. So, maybe not a cite but that’s the best I have. Everyone knows Detroit is bad so I have no cite for that. The police in those citites are bad because they bear down on minorities. You ever heard of Rodney King or the black guy who got shot with the wallet in New York (I forget his name)? A vigilante would, ideally, be better than having to work in a racist system. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-vigilante-is-apparently-hunting-and-killing-sex-offenders-in-washington-state/319836.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-vigilante-is-apparently-hunting-and-killing-sex-offenders-in-washington-state/319836.md?page=5)