India Rapist Burned Alive by Victim

[Admiral Yi]

Given that this man was a menace to multiple women in the area according to the article, I'd disagree. It appears to have made this situation far better for a whole lot of people. Just not for him.

Again, this is not heat of the moment thinking.  This is cost/benefit. 

[Maximus]

There's a time and place for vigilantism to step in when the state has failed to protect its citizens. I prefer the "finding a better state" approach, but that's not always an option.

[merithyn]

Given that this man was a menace to multiple women in the area according to the article, I'd disagree. It appears to have made this situation far better for a whole lot of people. Just not for him.

Again, this is not heat of the moment thinking.  This is cost/benefit.

I'm not attributing that thinking to her.

[merithyn]

merithyn; proud apologist for vigilantism.

I don't apologize for it. I'm saying that in the state of India, women have no choice but to take care of themselves. The state obviously isn't doing it. No one should apologize for doing what they need to do to protect themselves when no one else is doing it for them.

No apology necessary.

[Rasputin]

Death by means of torture as an acceptable punishment?

Her case is certain to spark a debate.

Murderous Misandry is fashionable again.

Aww. Poor rapist.

Yes, she doused a sleeping man in kerosene and set him on fire.

I find that reactions of the kind "good on her" and "you go girl" are disgusting and immoral. People who are rapists as well as people who are not rapists should not be purposefully immolated for whatever reason in peacetime.

this kind of pussy euroweenieism has caused the downfall of western society

I think she was rather kind to him in that he got to keep all his parts.

[Admiral Yi]

I prefer the "finding a better state" approach, but that's not always an option.

Thank God it was for you.

[Rasputin]

I'm inclined to agree with Puff.  If the state punished the perp by setting him on fire we would condemn that.  Shouldn't be any different for the victim.

who is we?

You have a mouse in your pocket?

[Viking]

this kind of pussy euroweenieism has caused the downfall of western society

I think she was rather kind to him in that he got to keep all his parts.

No, the monopoly of violence by the state is a cornerstone of western society. That is what separates us from the savages. If anybody is going to be killed by torture then the torturist can only be the government.

I'm not arguing against the death penalty for rape. I'm against vigilante murder and execution by torture.

[Malthus]

Usually I'm on the opposite side from Meyth. But in this case, I gotta agree she has a point.

Killing someone who has just committed such a crime on you would not be justifiable, if there were other reasonable choices available. From what I've read, in many places in India the authorities will do diddly-squat in cases of rape like this.

In a place where there is a functioning system of cops and courts, yeah, the law should discourage vigilantism to the utmost. Where the situation is at least in part a function of the fact that the authorities can't or won't do shit about it, then it seems reasonable for a court asked to judge *her* actions to use the old Texas-style verdict of 'yep, he's a guy that needed a killing' - perhaps call it 'not guilty by reason of momentary insanity' or some such  . Assuming of course that the story as stated is true.

[Rasputin]

this kind of pussy euroweenieism has caused the downfall of western society

I think she was rather kind to him in that he got to keep all his parts.

No, the monopoly of violence by the state is a cornerstone of western society. That is what separates us from the savages. If anybody is going to be killed by torture then the torturist can only be the government.

I'm not arguing against the death penalty for rape. I'm against vigilante murder and execution by torture.

You would have made a bad cowboy

[merithyn]

Usually I'm on the opposite side from Meyth. But in this case, I gotta agree she has a point.

Killing someone who has just committed such a crime on you would not be justifiable, if there were other reasonable choices available. From what I've read, in many places in India the authorities will do diddly-squat in cases of rape like this.

In a place where there is a functioning system of cops and courts, yeah, the law should discourage vigilantism to the utmost. Where the situation is at least in part a function of the fact that the authorities can't or won't do shit about it, then it seems reasonable for a court asked to judge *her* actions to use the old Texas-style verdict of 'yep, he's a guy that needed a killing' - perhaps call it 'not guilty by reason of momentary insanity' or some such  . Assuming of course that the story as stated is true.

Exactly.

[merithyn]

No, the monopoly of violence by the state is a cornerstone of western society. That is what separates us from the savages. If anybody is going to be killed by torture then the torturist can only be the government.

I'm not arguing against the death penalty for rape. I'm against vigilante murder and execution by torture.

They do not have a system similar to Western Society. They are "the savages". Under those circumstances, she did what she had to do. It's not vigilantism if there are no structured laws to protect.

[MadImmortalMan]

Force is always justified in self-defense. The question is whether that qualified as self-defense or not. 

[DontSayBanana]

I'm going with the "justified" bandwagon here.  When the government fails to protect its population, the population is justified in taking (usually abnormally) aggressive action to protect itself.

[DontSayBanana]

Force is always justified in self-defense. The question is whether that qualified as self-defense or not. 

Yes.  Even if the state prosecuted him for rape, it'd be a slap on the wrist with no further action to protect the victim.  That kind of lack of protection stretches this out from a single incident of rape to a very possible constant danger of it happening again.