Real-Life Vigilante-ism: Is it possible?

[Rorschach II]

I'm not talking guys that wrestle a would-be gas station burglar down and never do anything similar again. I'm talking full-fledged vigilantes: guys that consistently seek out criminals on the streets and attempt to take them down. Maybe they would listen in to police frequencies or drive around the ****tiest neighborhoods in town or maybe they would even take it a step further and give themselves a moniker and/or leave a calling card.

Share your thoughts and opinions on the possibility (and probability) of real life vigiliantes, here.

 

[S_H_F_4839]

I'm not talking guys that wrestle a would-be gas station burglar down and never do anything similar again. I'm talking full-fledged vigilantes: guys that consistently seek out criminals on the streets and attempt to take them down. Maybe they would listen in to police frequencies or drive around the ****tiest neighborhoods in town or maybe they would even take it a step further and give themselves a moniker and/or leave a calling card.

Share your thoughts and opinions on the possibility (and probability) of real life vigiliantes, here.

I could see a potential punisher on the streets, but he would got to prison and get the death penalty.

 

[Rorschach II]

I think if he were smart enough, he could avoid prison. There's been several serial killers that police have never caught and several random acts of violence that have never been solved. If lunatics and thugs could do it, so could a good guy.

 

[Jack Rabbit]

Go find out

 

[Rorschach II]

Not a bad idea.

 

[The Shredder]

Well, the idea of a vigilante patroling the city in which he/she operates in would be inefficent, and honestly would increase the chances of being seen so obviously that's not the best of ideas. Better off using an alias to discretly place a tracer on suspects. Capes would definately have to go. As well as the familiar swinging in and beating people up. Which would be a very good way to get killed or captured. Filling the room with a hefty dose of muscle relaxant gas would work better I suppose. But ultimately, a Real-Life Vigilante would end up pretty much being like Captain Freedom in the show Hill Street Blues. And his final fate woould be the same as well.

 

[Saved]

I'm not talking guys that wrestle a would-be gas station burglar down and never do anything similar again. I'm talking full-fledged vigilantes: guys that consistently seek out criminals on the streets and attempt to take them down. Maybe they would listen in to police frequencies or drive around the ****tiest neighborhoods in town or maybe they would even take it a step further and give themselves a moniker and/or leave a calling card.

Share your thoughts and opinions on the possibility (and probability) of real life vigiliantes, here.

Funny. I'm training for it. Stamina, strength, agility. I'm also working on a suit. Not a superhero suit. A suit that combines tasers and stun guns. If you kill or injure a crook, you'll be public enemy #1. Hopefully if I can actually get the suit to work, incapacitating the crook is the worst that he'll get.

I know I sounds ridiculous. But if I suceed, you'll see it on late night news.

 

[Rorschach II]

Go for it. This world could use a few good guys to balance out with the multitude of bad guys.

 

[SLVRSR4]

Funny. I'm training for it. Stamina, strength, agility. I'm also working on a suit. Not a superhero suit. A suit that combines tasers and stun guns. If you kill or injure a crook, you'll be public enemy #1. Hopefully if I can actually get the suit to work, incapacitating the crook is the worst that he'll get.

I know I sounds ridiculous. But if I suceed, you'll see it on late night news.

If you are serious and get on the news i'll become a copy hero, here in my city!t: If i was going to be a vigilante it would have to be hardcore because my deaths would deter crime!

 

[Saved]

Go for it. This world could use a few good guys to balance out with the multitude of bad guys.

Tell me about it. When i turn on the TV, someone is dead. Always. I hate to watch this world suffer. I think if you can, you should help out. Sometimes working on the inside holds you back. Cops are getting sued and jailed right and left. If someone works outside the law to do good, he'll he a hero. Not because people love him, but because he does what is right.

 

[Saved]

If you are serious and get on the news i'll become a copy hero, here in my city!t: If i was going to be a vigilante it would have to be hardcore because my deaths would deter crime!

As much as I want to kill the crooks, I can't. What if I hadn't killed them, and they wound up reforming and doing something meaning full? I just screwed them from having a second chance. I can't in all right mind do that. Plus, the cops and governement would see you as a hate monger (don't ask, gov. is jealous) and would arrest you too. The way it is. Thanks for the support.

 

[Rorschach II]

Well, the idea of a vigilante patroling the city in which he/she operates in would be inefficent, and honestly would increase the chances of being seen so obviously that's not the best of ideas. Better off using an alias to discretly place a tracer on suspects.

Of course, a real-life vigilante would have to have a more discreet appearance than that of a giant bat or a big guy in blue tights. They would probably be more of a detective than anything.

Capes would definately have to go. As well as the familiar swinging in and beating people up. Which would be a very good way to get killed or captured.

Capes would obviously be a no-go, as well as "swinging in" (swinging in from what? google grappling gun; they're more fictional than you might think). I could see someone who is trained in martial arts (or he can at least throw a really good punch) and who is armed easily taking down your average gangbanger or mugger.

Filling the room with a hefty dose of muscle relaxant gas would work better I suppose. But ultimately, a Real-Life Vigilante would end up pretty much being like Captain Freedom in the show Hill Street Blues. And his final fate woould be the same as well.

All kinds of non-lethal weapons, including tear gas, are relatively cheap and easy to find. And like I said before, it's not too far-fetched to imagine a guy being smart and crafty enough to avoid police capture. A Punisher-type vigilante who exists in a really dangerous neighborhood and finds it necessary to buy a gun can always get an unregistered and therefore untraceable gun off the streets (it would be committing a crime in order for the greater good, but the dude could take down the guys that sold it to him later if it eats at his conscience too much), License-plate swapping devices (they swap your authentic license plate for a faked phony one) exist and can be built if you're crafty enough for those that would rely on automobiles for transportation, certain chemicals can make it impossible to use your blood to identify you if you happen to leave some on the street, and body armor/weaponry are more available to the general public now than ever. Dying at the hands of a criminal? That is totally plausible and quite likely for a vigilante. Escaping the police? Just as easy as it is for those guys responsible for so many drive-bys in my own Miami-Dade County.

 

[SLVRSR4]

As much as I want to kill the crooks, I can't. What if I hadn't killed them, and they wound up reforming and doing something meaning full? I just screwed them from having a second chance. I can't in all right mind do that. Plus, the cops and governement would see you as a hate monger (don't ask, gov. is jealous) and would arrest you too. The way it is. Thanks for the support.

I'm a sadist who would blame the murders, by saying they were molesters or wifebeaters. Seriously though tasers are good to use.

 

[The Shredder]

Of course, a real-life vigilante would have to have a more discreet appearance than that of a giant bat or a big guy in blue tights. They would probably be more of a detective than anything.

Wasnt really referring to someone going to the extent of dressing up as something that of Batman, or Superman. But again, a discrete alias would likely be the best way to go. And even then, it's high risk.

Capes would obviously be a no-go, as well as "swinging in" (swinging in from what? google grappling gun; they're more fictional than you might think).

But of course. Dry sense of humor there.

I could see someone who is trained in martial arts (or he can at least throw a really good punch) and who is armed easily taking down your average gangbanger or mugger.

Theoretically, yes. Realisitcally, maybe. Of course someone who is trained in the martial arts could be thought of as an individual who could take care of themselves in a 1-1 fight, and rightfully so, but one never knows who may be lurking around the corner. Potentionally becoming quickly outnumbered, even one time, wouldnt bold too well in a vigilante's longevity.

All kinds of non-lethal weapons, including tear gas, are relatively cheap and easy to find. And like I said before, it's not too far-fetched to imagine a guy being smart and crafty enough to avoid police capture. A Punisher-type vigilante who exists in a really dangerous neighborhood and finds it necessary to buy a gun can always get an unregistered and therefore untraceable gun off the streets (it would be committing a crime in order for the greater good, but the dude could take down the guys that sold it to him later if it eats at his conscience too much), License-plate swapping devices (they swap your authentic license plate for a faked phony one) exist and can be built if you're crafty enough for those that would rely on automobiles for transportation, certain chemicals can make it impossible to use your blood to identify you if you happen to leave some on the street, and body armor/weaponry are more available to the general public now than ever. Dying at the hands of a criminal? That is totally plausible and quite likely for a vigilante. Escaping the police? Just as easy as it is for those guys responsible for so many drive-bys in my own Miami-Dade County.

That's pretty much my thoughts on the subject. Short term? It's possible a Vigilante could find some success. Although thats pushing it. Long term? Absolutely not.

 

[Dangerous]

Cool thread, there have been vigilanties before buy they never lasted very long.
Always ebded up getting captured.

If only there was some dude like the Punisher that would rule. You do occaionally get some ex pat going off and doing that stuff, thing is they are always nuts too, and thus get taken down.

 

[Harlekin]

Oh, they exist. They just end up shot to death.

It's illegal and highly dangerous. Don't kid yourself and don't start.

 

[jaguarr]

This again? This vigilantism topic seems to pop up perennially. Leave law enforcement to law enforcement professionals. If you seriously don't see how it's a bad idea, then you have no business engaging in vigilantism.

jag

 

[terry78]

The issue with a vigilante is that they only have their own moral code to look to and no one else's. They could say anything is a crime, and start hunting down people that have done minor things. That's how it always ends up in movies..someone wants to do good, then later they start to track down anyone that jaywalks or some **** like that. It would start to slowly drive you over the edge.

 

[Spider-Fan]

I actually have an idea on how a vigilante in real life might work, but I am saving this idea for a movie I may try to write (eventually).

 

[logansoldcigar]

Funny. I'm training for it. Stamina, strength, agility. I'm also working on a suit. Not a superhero suit. A suit that combines tasers and stun guns. If you kill or injure a crook, you'll be public enemy #1. Hopefully if I can actually get the suit to work, incapacitating the crook is the worst that he'll get.

I know I sounds ridiculous. But if I suceed, you'll see it on late night news.

yeah, I can see it now

"News at 11. Police today shot down an person who thought he was Batman"

or

"News at 11. In a mysterious case, man that thought he was a justice dispensing vigilante was found dead this morning, having apparently chocked on his own penis, which had been cut off and stuffed down his throat"

or, if your lucky,

"A man that thought he was a justice dispensing vigilante was today sent to the state mental institution, where he will spend the rest of his life in a room with rubber wallpapaer and all the mashed banana he can eat"

 

[Mxtt]

I remember a guy who was taking out sex offenders. He got a couple, I think two or three and the cops tracked him down. Ended up shooting himself. So I can see a vigilante existing, but yeah, not for long.

By the way Syn, training won't do jack. Experience is the only thing that'll help you if you plan on being that stupid. Plus, unless there's so much crime in your area that it's a complete s**thole, you'd be wasting your time.

 

[Rorschach II]

yeah, I can see it now

"News at 11. Police today shot down an person who thought he was Batman"

or

"News at 11. In a mysterious case, man that thought he was a justice dispensing vigilante was found dead this morning, having apparently chocked on his own penis, which had been cut off and stuffed down his throat"

or, if your lucky,

"A man that thought he was a justice dispensing vigilante was today sent to the state mental institution, where he will spend the rest of his life in a room with rubber wallpapaer and all the mashed banana he can eat"

You better hope he doesn't actually do it, 'cause then you'd look like a total jackass for that one.

 

[Mxtt]

You better hope he doesn't actually do it, 'cause then you'd look like a total jackass for that one.

lol, you turn on the news and hear about murders and stuff, but I'm pretty damn sure there are people and stories out there to counter. You just don't hear about them.

The closest thing to real vigilantes you'll see are the Guardian Angels.

 

[terry78]

Anyone that doesn't have any professional crime fighting training WILL end up dead. I promise you that. This **** is not a game, it's not a comic book. Try to swoop in and capture one guy, only to be overpowered by 30 more from out of nowhere that decide to take you back to their place and take their turns gang raping you and then slitting your throat.

 

[Rorschach II]

By the way, for those of you that said Vigilantism is stupid because it should be left to officers: in certain cities of this country, protecting and serving is more of a suggestion than a job description. Many cops, judges, and prosecutors are just as corrupt as anyone behind bars in quite a few cities out there.

The moral code thing would be a problem though. I really don't want to get shot for jaywalking.