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Volume 38 Issue 10
February 27, 2001

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Rule of law a better option

MESA LEGEND
Submitted February 27, 2001

Mesa Legend staff,

This is in response to the young man who thinks that the recent acts of arson near mountain preserves are a good idea.

The argument goes: people shouldn’t be living near mountian preserves, so if burning their homes discourages them from living there, that is a good thing.

What the arguer of this position is forgetting is a thing called the law.

Burning down someone else’s home is against the law.

Now, I can agreee that the law, being made by humans, is imperfect.

That being the case, the "nature-lover" should work to change the law. This is a process that involves other people.

Input from other people is important–this arsonist thinks that he can judge what is right all alone, that the views of other people don’t matter to him.

Organized groups working within the system can make a difference.

Whether or not you agree with MAD or the NRA, they’ve had some influence by being organized, not by taking the law into their own hands.

We live in a democracy. Individuals are not powerless when using legitimate methods for change.

We cannot be sure whether or not this arsonist is a nature-lover, or simply someone who enjoys destroying property, using his love of nature as a shield.

In either case, when this individual is caught, a long prison sentence is warranted.

Society, the rule of law, and property need to be protected and destructive people punished.

Rick Adams,
Computer Science

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