Originally Posted by
bae
People seem to use "vigilante" for its negative connotations.
In the example I gave up-thread, were my village's business owners and property owners naughty evil vigilantes when they decided to provide security for their businesses when we were being victimized?
Should they have instead relied upon the very very sparse and overworked law enforcement here to help? Knowing full well that the help would consist simply of filling out a police report for insurance purposes?
Would it have been OK if, instead of providing security themselves, they had hired guards?
Is it illegitimate for a citizen to use force in defense of themself, or their property and livelihood?