Lets say I want to take the laws into my own hand . Circumvent the police and just kick the shit out of bad guys. For the sake of this argument, we’re talking about people who HAVE commited the crime but not been convicted. Say, I catch them doing it or something. What repercussion’s could I face from doing this? (I live in Indiana, btw)
I think you’d face all of the same repercussions of kicking the shit out of good guys, perhaps minus any sympathy you get from a jury. The only exception would be if you’re acting in self-defense of another (i.e. while the bad guy is committing the violent crime).
This sounds suspiciously like a homework question to me… (the last part about whose rights are being violated, specifically)
I could swear I have the right to not get the shit kicked out of me.
Depends, are you a non-citizen enemy combatant?
You’re allowed to use reasonable force to interrupt a crime, and even then, you should get the cops immediately after. Putting the boot in is likely beyond reasonable.
If you beat the shit out of someone not in the act of committing a crime, you’ll be charged with, at minimum, assault and battery. I doubt (as a private party) you’re violating any rights; you’re simply committing a crime yourself.
And the truth shall set me free
As part of that debate :D, I’m trying to make the argument that he is breaking the law simply by being a vigilante.
Capes are hard to work with, they often trip you while you are making a grand entrance. Cowls? Don’t get me started. Impossible to get a fit off the rack. The price of web fluid is tied tot he price of oil, you know what that means.
All in all, I would point you to Brooklyn Superhero Supply. They take AmEx.
Don’t try this at home, kids.
I wrote a short story once where the main charactor - a large husky fellow, ex-sexually-abused-altarboy - got himself put behind bars so he could kick the shit out of pedophiles in jail. It actually gained some recognition, and I eventually elaborated and tried my hand at making it into a novel. It never materialized.
Sorry Surbey! I could have sworn I wrote that exact essay for 8th grade poli sci.
Man, but I guess I’d link to good ol’ Bernie Goetz but bienville beat me to that as well…
I guess my main problem with vigilantism is making sure the vigilante is on the up-and-up. Batman I’d trust to avenge within the general populace. Some random shotgun-of-justice-wielding, dog-the-bounty-hunter-lookalike? Ehhh… not so much.
Yeah, Bernard Goetz is a very good example of why vigilantism is so bad.
Bad idea. Tempting, but a bad idea.
You risk getting bad karma … having those involved get back at you (down the road) … going to prison … getting his pals and relatives involved and maybe harming people you love … getting some success on this event and then thinking it’ll be a good idea from here out …
It really all depends on the specifics involved. If, for example, you’re out in the middle of nowhere and you’re being dicked with by some thugs, then in that situation it wouldn’t be so bad to blow 'em away if you’re able, as those types are the way they are and delight in making people’s lives hell. But even there, know that you still will one day have to answer to the Man Upstairs.
In general I’d say to follow the law to a tee, but there may be times when that’s hard to do. Best just to use your God-given common sense.
Just remember: no capes!
If your aim is to go around punishing evil-doers by beating them up, what you’re doing from a legal standpoint is assault with intent. A definite no-no and you’ll never get into the Justice League with that kind of attitude.
A more legal strategy of superheroism is to go on the always popular “patrol” where you cruise around the city looking for crimes in progress. Then you can use reasonable amounts of force, if necessary, to prevent the crimes you see occurring and apprehend the people you’ve witnessed committing crimes. But keep in mind, there are a lot of legal restrictions of the circumstances where you can use force to prevent a crime and the amount of force that you can use. “Kicking the shit out of bad guys” would almost certainly be way past the line and you’re back in felony territory.
None.
If…
…you’re prepared 
So the Lone Ranger is bad now is he?
My mother was a saint! I tell you!