Vigilantism Redefined

Vigilantism has always been characterized as an act of vengeance. If you hurt me or someone I love and I come after you as judge, jury, and executioner, then I would be a vigilante. I would be taking the law into my own hands, and that would be wrong.

But vigilantism has been redefined to include legitimate acts of self-defense -- at least in California. Police in Oakland are worried about vigilantes after two robbers were shot and wounded by store owners. Deputy Police Chief Dave Kozicki admitted that people do have a right to protect themselves, but he doesn't want to see everyone packing heat. "That's a concern that law enforcement has all the time," he said, "that people will engage in vigilantism."

Folks in the Oakland area may remember Kozicki (then a captain) from the following 2006 campaign video criticizing Charles Poochigian who was running for Attorney General. Kozicki's beef? As a state senator Poochigian refused to sign on to California's 2005 ban on .50 caliber rifles. Take a look:

It's no surprise to me that a guy like this would equate self-defense with vigilantism.