Commentary by Chris Clegg
On an episode of All in the Family in the 1970s, Archie Bunker proposed an idea to stop all hijackers.
“Give everyone on the plane a gun!” he said.
One supposes it just might work but an airplane full of bullet holes might not be a good idea either! It might make for a fascinating Hollywood movie, however!
It’s why I found J.M. Parrington’s idea on how to fight invasions interesting. He proposes to arm each neighbourhood with armories.
Serious!
Sometime in the 1970s, Parrington said he would feel safer and more secure if each neighbourhood had a weapons stash. He argues if communists invaded America, citizens could fight in every village, town and city without having to wait for the army to show up. Another great Hollywood movie in the making!
“Arms should be available to oldsters like me who are proud of the American way of life and are willing to fight to the death to defend it,” he stated.
One can only imagine the chaos! Besides, what would happen if an innocent bystander was blasted into oblivion in the name of home invasion and the trigger-happy gunslinger got it wrong? I can imagine lawyers lining up and rubbing their hands with glee over an impending lawsuit.
Many Americans think different than Canucks. They hold very precious the right to bear arms and defend what is theirs.
Fast forward to crime in Canada today. The fact is, it is out of control. It is why so many people are advocating for vigilante justice. Some people are sick and tired (frustrated) over crime. In addition to property lost, insurance rates are rising making it more costly. Many people are fed up and have reached the boiling point.
Meanwhile, the courts take a dimmer view of vigilante justice than Halley’s Comet at its farthest distance from Earth. They would much prefer to let the justice system deal with criminals.
These proposals to arrive at solutions are fed mostly by a public angered with the way politicians are dealing with an issue. The more serious the problem, the more goofy the solution. People lose perspective and will blurt anything out of their mouths, common sense be damned.
I’m not sure when the right to defend home and property in Canada became so taboo. Logic dictates you should have the right to defend what is yours. Politicians and the justice system differ, however.
No matter what justice system a society implements, there is always the risk of error. To find someone innocent of a crime after years behind bars is a frightful thought for any law-abiding citizen.
Does that mean we cannot incarcerate people? Of course not!
Does it mean we let everyone go free? Of course not!
We have to put some trust in the system. If we don’t, everyone goes free and that seems to be where Canadian law is heading. There has to be a middle ground.
Someone better come up with a solution soon. If you thought ideas in the 1970s were bad, think again. It is scary to imagine how much worse this can get.