Vigilantes Definition Of Justice

Justice can take many forms whether it’s receiving a punishment from one’s parents or coming to an agreement in court. However, the word justice is used so often and so freely that it can often be used wrong. According to the Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary, the definition of justice is, “The maintenance or administration of what is just esp. by the impartial adjustment of conflicting claims or the assignment of merited rewards and punishments” (“Justice”). This simply means that justice is protecting what is right by penalizing offenders, awarding heroes, and being unbiased when mediating disputes. This definition is actually quite accurate because it includes some of the most important components like protecting rights and remaining unbiased. In contrast, people miss use the word so that they can do

This can lead to claims for justice against the offender. While these claims can lead to actual justice they are often twisted, so that the accuser has the upper hand. When this happens the accuser wants to get even and take “an eye for an eye.” This however is not justice but is simply vigilantism. Vigilantes believe they are above the law and attempt to get revenge if they feel the outcome of the situation was unjust. Vigilantes perceive their vengeance to be the only way to achieve justice because the government has failed to do so. This is an issue because it causes people to hide behind their crimes of revenge stating that it was just. The issue with claiming that their revenge is just is that they are not unbiased in the case. Even in the definition of justice it states that justice is achieved “by the impartial adjustment of conflicting claims” (“Justice”). So, an important part of justice is making it fair for both parties which would be impossible if one party is the judge. To move on, vigilantes show that even with good intentions, it does not make them the