Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Of Deeds and Unpunishment

Rescuing a suffering animal is a noble act. Every so often, a noble act requires sacrifice. Not all sacrifices are offered by he who performs that kind act of nobility.

Michael Hammons of Georgia discovered that saving a dog by smashing a window carries with it the risk of arrest. The property owner says he's a vandal. Everyone else with a shred of conscience says he's a hero.

I wonder if anyone bothered trying to find the owner before busting the window. "Diane Byard says she and a group of shoppers noticed the dog in the car and were waiting on police before Hammons came."

"Waiting on police." Not "getting the store manager to issue a loudspeaker announcement," or "canvassing passersby." There's a problem? Call the cops or hope that an action hero stops by. Heavens forfend  we might attempt to solve a problem civilly.

People, with constituents like these, is it any wonder that criminalization has gone over-the-moon berserk? Be a good citizen. Be a good neighbor. Smashing folks' windows to rescue hot dogs is a last resort. If there is a social contract, amending the terms and conditions towards a more euvoluntary arrangement is surely in everyone's best interest. Yes?

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Do you have suggestions on where we could find more examples of this phenomenon?