Death to Bike Thieves

I have a hypothesis. It is not popular among those to whom I present it, and it even goes against some of my own principles.

Here goes...

The death penalty is wrong. Basically: killing is wrong. Who can disagree with that? A convicted criminal is in custody; what does society gain by putting that criminal to death? What is morally gained by putting a contained criminal to death? Right, nothing. If you are defending yourself from a violation of your rights, there is no limit to the amount of force allowable in the face of an initiation of violence. In some states, this is actually codified by law.

The use of deadly force in self-defense is not debatable, but I personally believe than an initiation of force is answerable by only an unmeasured response. Anything less is your initiative and your own ass. Again, all debatable, but my opinion has been stated as such.

But a bicycle thief is something else. Consider someone who exclusively rides a bicycle. This person either rides because of a principle (such as environmental concern, personal improvement, congestion reduction, et al.).  Or maybe this cyclist rides because of a DUI/DUII; in the latter case, the former still applies.  Anyway you slice it, a bike thief is someone who undermines these principles in other people and thereby strives to undermine society.

The only moral response to such asocial behavior is extreme prejudice. Are we going to imprison a bike thief forever? Probably not. But a person that steals a bike is initiating force against all that is good in society. And an initiation of force is only answerable by unmeasured violence. Anything less is your call and your own ass.

If you're okay with people stealing your bike, then just keep laying down. But don't just look away while other people's bikes get stolen. Ask questions, call the police, stand up, pull out your bike lock, unleash whoopass.

Once evil rears its head, its continued existence is dependent strictly on the  permission of righteous people who refuse to resist.