Earlier this week, 71-year-old Samuel Williams shot two armed robbers at an internet cafe in Ocala, Florida. This appears to be a clear case of self-defense. Mr. Williams did well under dangerous circumstances, and he may have saved the lives of the other patrons.
Following the incident, I’ve seen and heard numerous comments that can be summed up as, “good job giving those thugs a dirt nap!” While there’s a certain philosophical satisfaction in seeing criminals get their comeuppance, we must remember that there’s a line between self-defense and vigilantism.
We live in a civilized society governed by laws. Everybody deserves due process. Depriving anyone of life, liberty, or property is a serious matter. Doing so without a fair trial is something that must be treated with the utmost gravity.
Sometimes there are extenuating circumstances, and we don’t have the luxury of letting the system work. In that moment, we have the right to use force to protect ourselves. Continued...