During the years leading up to the Civil War, everyday Americans in the North and South were forced to make difficult choices regarding slavery. Because of the Fugitive Slave Act, escaped slaves could be forcibly returned to the South yet many average Americans broke the law by helping them find freedom through the Underground Railroad. Beyond the obvious examples of stealing to feed the hungry or get medicine, what would be an acceptable example of breaking the law (to help someone) to you? You can build upon others' responses agreeing with additional examples or by disagreeing. Please post for full credit by Sunday, 11/29 for full credit.
44 comments:
I think an acceptable example of breaking the law other than giving food and medicine would be to provide shelter for the night and maybe a possible route to get to where they need to go safely because these slaves didn't do anything bad to these people,and these people have no right to hate the slaves. I think if possible these people should let them stay the night so they wouldn't have to worry so much about the long night ahead of them of running and worry of being caught. And maybe a possible route so they don't get killed in the process to freedom.
A circumstance that would justify breaking the law would be to kill a serial killer or terrorist. It is obviously against the law to kill but in this situation it could save many lives. The killing of this crimal should be done as just as possible. For example, if Osama Bin Ladin was found, it would be justified for the government or police to kill him. The reason why this is a justified circumstance is because he could possibly take the lives of thousands of people and they should be punished for their actions they have already committed.
Liz P Period 3
A law is defined as a set of rules meant to bring order to a society. There are many circumstances where we must decide if it is okay to break the law. However, just because we justify breaking the law does not mean that it is correct or that we live without consequences. A major circumstance would be if man was to break into your house armed and threaten you and your families lives, killing this man would be justified. It is called Justifiable Homicide. However, as Americans we deal with justifying law breaking day to day whether we realize it or not. For instance, if there is a yellow stoplight as a car reaches an intersection, he or she must speed up. Yes, they are running a red light which is breaking a law. This is justified because by not stopping short they prevented a potentional accident from occuring with the driver behind them. The circumstances of basic human needs not being fufilled justifies breaking the law because as humans we have the right to respect laws under our own judgement.
Meaghan Carney, period 3
I personally believe that no human has any more rights than any other person. I would help any man woman or child oppressed by another human being in anyway I could. Although I'm assisting someone to freedom I would not kill another human being. I could steal clothing and food for them. I could disobey the law and defend them in any form I could. But in a circumstance where any one person has more power I would assistant until a life was put in danger. No one should have to die for a person to be free.
Paige Olson
Class 7
Circumstances that would justify breaking the law would be something like self defence. If someone were breaking into your home, or if someone were about to hurt a loved one, you would do something about it. If it was killing someone, it would be out of self defence. It is obvious that killing someone is against the law, but you would have done it to help that person kill a loved one.
Lindsay M
Period 3
It truely depends on the situation in whether or not breaking the law is appropriate. In self defense, sometimes killing others like rapists or serial killers is absolutley necessary. If a law is made that is unconstitutional, it may be necessary to break it for the greater good of the country. However, this really depends on the circumstance and the person. Sometimes people unfairly justify breaking the law due to rash thinking or insanity. Others, such as the American colonists in the 1700's, had every right to break the law for formation of the United States of America.
I believe an acceptable circumstance that would justify any breaking of the law would be to provide the so called "fugitives" or slaves with a mode of transportation to help them to get to where they need to go. Slaves, just as any other person living in America, have the right to be free and live freely and by helping them practice that right, providing transportation for them would surely be justifiable.
I think that the only justifiable reason to ever break the law would be if it involved a life or death situation. For example, killing an armed intruder or terrorist, stealing food for the hungry so they won't starve, or running a red light in order to avoid an accident. These are all examples of situations that could potentially lead to the death of another human being or yourself. I think that if you can argue that someone's life was in danger, it can be justified.
Lauren
Period 3
I think that a circumstance that would justify breaking the law could be killing or hurting someone that tries to hurt you. No matter where you are, if someone is trying to hurt or kill you then you should be able to defend yourself without consequences such as being convicted of murder. In times like those most people probably act on instinct and the first instinct is to look out for yourself and try to stop the other person as quickly as possible.
Sarah Z Period 3
Nowadays, in many action films like James Bond and the Terminator, it is ok to steal cars, drive recklessly down the road (even smashing others along the way), and kill people to save the world in just 24 hours. While all this stuff is completely illegal in the "real world," they are allowed to do it in the movies, where the rules just don't seem to apply. A justified circumstance would be to kill one person to save the lives of thousands. I believe that if we kill terrorists or dangerous criminals instead of keeping them alive, the world would be a much safer place. The court systems nowadays keep criminals alive with exceptions to the law, such as mental instability, crimes of passion, manslaughter, etc. I believe that if these people are dangerous enough to kill, and have killed, they should be taught the punishment of their crime. It doesn't matter to me what their excuse is for killing. They need to take responsibility for their actions. Here, in the real world, the rules apply, and if you break the law, you need to pay the price. If there was any circumstance needed to break the law, it would be to end the life of any dangerous murderer. Imagine what could've happened if people thought this way when Adolf Hitler was alive... 6,000,000 lives could have been saved.
I think that everyone deserves a chance to live and i is never OK to take another person's life. Instead of killing a serial killer, for instance, he/she should be put in jail for life or another punishment like this, but I would never kill the person. But if this person were to threaten your life or the lives of people close to you, it is acceptable to kill the person. This is only if he/she is a direct threat.
I also agree with Meaghan when she says that everyone has the right to respect laws under our own judgement because in the circumstances such as those she mentioned, you must take into account the lives that might be in danger if you try to obey the law. Laws are necessary in society to avoid chaos, but sometimes they can be broken to save or protect yourself or others.
Shannon B
period 7
In a society where a race or anyone incconcent is being opressed i personally would help the opressed,unless killing is involved. Even if the person is bad and has done bad things morally I dont belive it's right to kill someone else no matter the situation. Stealing is an ok rule to break but only if someone would benifit from it, and it wouldnt affect the person they are stealing from. Society co-exists around these rules but that doesn't exactly make the rules wrong or right. I belive Morally some are ok to break.
Audra Sarna
Class 7
I believe that breaking the law is justified only when the law itself is unjust. For example, the Fugitive Slave Act made it illegal to assist a slave in running away. However, slaves where real people who wanted to be free just like any immigrant who was escaping prosecution in another country and under the Constitution all men are created equal. Helping them escape a life in slavery was totally just because the law itself was unfair because it interfered with basic human rights. People aren’t property and can’t be treated as such. Today, breaking the law could be justified if it means that a life could be saved, or if a person’s rights as a human being were violated.
Sarah P
Period 7
Because of the Fugitive Slave Act, many stole food or medication for slaves that were trying to escape. By doing this you were breaking the law. But I can think of several other ways of breaking the law to help someone. For example, housing escapes could be considered breaking the law because you are helping the slave hide or give him/her shelter on their way to freedom. Another example of breaking the law to help someone could be someone who just simply gives information. Like if somebody gave the slaves information on where to get food or where to go next, they'd be helping them to freedom, which back then, was against the law
Emily M, period 7
Certain circumatances for breaking the law in order to help another would be to break the law for civil freedoms and liberties, and to break the law, "thou shall not kill", in order to defend another. These circumstances would only be ok to do if someone is trying to kill your friend or loved one and if your friend or loved one is held hostage and is restrained of their own freedoms and liberties as an American individual.For example: If there was an armed robbery and the armed robbers held hostages then it would be "ok" to break the law of injuring or killing the armed robbers in order to save the hostages but only if the robbers presented a considerable threat towards the hostages lives.
Kelsey P Per. 3
A law should be broken in order to better the society or to help a majority of people. An example of when it would be alright to break the law is with a murderer. If someone is killing a lot of people, it would better the community for that person to be killed. While this person should not be harmfully killed, it would better the community because this person if they were alive could kill many more people. Laws shouldn’t be broken everyday but when it is for the better of a majority of people or saving lives then laws must be broken.
Meghan L
Period 3
I think that throughout history, there have been many legitimate excuses to break the law. In modern times, in the U.S., there is almost no reason to break the law.
In my opinion, there is only reason to break the law of a government if it goes against basic moral principals, such as life, freedom, and the reasonable pursuit of happiness. If a government denies the people the right to these essential liberties, there is something horribly wrong in that society, and the people should do everything in their power to establish laws that give the people their natural rights. whether it requires protests and demonstrations or all out violence, people cannot be forced to live under oppressive laws. so, in conclusion, there is no excuse to break the law unless it denies you or others under that law their basic rights as a human.
An acceptable example of breaking the law to me would be to drive faster than the speed limit or not obeying all traffic laws in order to make it for medical assistance (Hospital). This is a justified action because help is a necessity. On a larger scale it would be acceptable to break a law that is impeding human’s natural rights. This hasn’t happened in my life but if it would occur I would say it is just to fight or attempt to change this law. Laws are not perfect, but for the most part should be followed as long as they benefit the community.
Adam M.
Class 7
A circumstance that justifies breaking the law in my opinion would be to kill a person who is going to kill, harm or torture other people. The best example of this is Hitler, because if he was killed before he committed those horrible acts, then many, many people's lives would have been saved. Many people wouldn't have had to go through the torture they went through. If one person was responsible for the death of millions, you would choose that one person to die instead of the millions. Although murder is against the law, it can be justified. If you were able to kill the person that was in the process of raping, torturing, or killing someone else, that murder would be justified, at least in my opinion.
Kristin L.
Our country has the laws that it has in order to ensure that we have a sense of order in our society. Without laws, people would be free to do whatever they want: rob, kill, etc. Therefore it is necessary to obey the laws if we want to be a functioning member of society and ensure that we do not fall into a realm of chaos.
However, at times, it is acceptable and even encouraged to "break the law". For example, if I was driving in a city, and the car infront of me suddenly broke down, leaving me with my only options being to swerve into oncoming traffic or up onto the sidewalk, which is a moving violation. I would swerve onto the sidewalk, provided that there were no pedestrians, in order to save myself.
Also, as Meaghan said, in such circumstances like self defense, it is legally acceptable to kill somebody. However, before it can be concluded as self defense, it must go through a rigorous investigation and trail to prove that it was indeed in self defense.
Ishan T. Period 3
I think that there are several instances in which breaking the law to help someone, but the one that is most strongly applicable has to do with utilitarianism, or acting in a way that ensures happiness (or safety) for the greatest number of people. I first learned the term utilitarianism last year when discussing genocides that have occurred/are occurring in Africa, when my teacher labeled my response to a certain prompt as 'utilitarian.' At first, I felt as if the term was insensitive and I did not look upon it favorably, but I came to see that although it may be heartless to a certain degree, its benefits far outweigh the negativity associated with the initial killing or killings. A recent movie ("Wanted," I think it was, or perhaps the first Batman movie) defined utilitarianism at its simplest by including the line, "Kill one, save a thousand." One example of this, as Kevin aptly mentioned, would be killing Hitler early on in WWII, or, perhaps even better, before the war even began. If Hitler had been killed early on, the lives of tens of millions of people might have been saved, as Hitler not only ordered the executions of millions of Jews and other "plagues" of German society but also was a key figure in starting an unprecedentedly deadly world war.
This "kill one, save a thousand" approach is outlawed in our society, which condemns murder because it values the life of every individual. (Societies have viewed murder in a similar fashion for hundreds of years.) But valuing everyone's lives, we have to question the extent to which valuing the life of a murderer devalues the lives of his/her victims, either past, present or future. This is now coming into play in a very interesting manner with terrorists, who our current president feels deserve at least a semblance of the due process of law granted to American citizens even though they may go on to kill more innocent civilians. It is my personal belief (and, judging by the responses of other students so far, the belief of many other people) that killing one person to save the lives of many others is entirely justified and acceptable.
In our country we have many laws that we must follow, but sometimes we must break them to do what is right. One circumstance that I believe would justify breaking a law would be in a life or death scenario. If someone were threatening to kill you and many other people the logical response would be to try and stop them by possibly killing them. Although this would be murder it would also be justified because you were doing it to save yourself and many other innocent people.
In other countries today there are also many laws that we would feel right to break. For instance in countries like Afghanistan there is a law that says that in public all women must have their faces covered. I think that many people in our country would feel it just to break this law because women should have the same freedoms as men.
There are many circumstances that people feel would justify breaking the law and I think that these circumstances really depend on your point of view and the situation at hand.
Matt H. Period 7
I find it justifiable to break the law when the safety or the rights of an individual are being compromised. Laws were designed to ensure people certain rights and ensure the safety of all, so if these laws need to be broken in order for the rights and safety to be maintained, then this is completely acceptable. For example, although a minor example, if you were approaching a stop sign but could see a car behind you that had no chance of stopping without hitting you, then it seems okay to go through the stop sign in order to ensure the safety of both you and the other driver. Also, if someone is injured and there is no available ambulance, then driving over the speed limit in order to get the person to the hospital if justifiable. This is because the safety of the injured person is more important than the law, at times. During the era of the Fugitive Slave Act, many white Northerners felt as though they were justifiably helping African American slaves because they were looking out for the safety of the slaves. They resented the way the slaves were being treated, so they broke the law in order to ensure safety and full rights for the slaves.
When the rights of an individual are being infringed upon, it is often acceptable to break the law. For example, all humans have the right of life. No other individual can take this right away from an innocent citizen. If a criminal breaks into someone’s house with a gun and threatens to take away someone’s right to life, then it is completely justifiable to break the law and take any means necessary to ensure that the life of the innocent individual is not lost. Justifiable Homicide is an official term that describes this type of situation. Often, the person who threatens to take away the life of an innocent individual must be killed. This is considered okay by the law because the law is meant to ensure the safety and rights of its followers.
Drew R
Class 3
I believe that an acceptable example of breaking the law is killing someone to save someone else. For example, as other people mentioned, if there is a terrorist or serial killer and you see this person committing a crime, killing the person who is trying to kill everybody else is acceptable. The same rule applies if there is somebody trying to kill you specifically. If you kill the person strictly out of self defense, then I feel that there is nothing wrong with doing this.
Other than that, I don't think that there are any laws that are acceptable to be broken. They're all put in our place for our safety. Unless you're in a situation where breaking the law is safer than abiding to it, the law should not be broken.
An example of breaking the law with it still being justified is: going through a red light and speeding on the road in order to get a woman in labor to a hospital.Or stealing a car in order to get someone who is on the verge of death to the hospital. These are some of the many examples of breaking the law in order to help someone.
Ale F. Period: 7
I feel that there are certain points throughout our history where it was necessary and even essential to break a law. These laws were broken in order to help others, improve our rights, recognize a culture, earn freedom, and overall improve justice in society. The underground railroad provides a great example because it forced the outcome of anti slavery laws in a faster and more efficient way. If this movement had not happened, it would have taken much longer to free the slaves of the south. There were many times when we needed to look beyond the government to move a cause or fix a problem with society. Therefore, I feel it is only right to break a law if it not a selfish act, it prevents a serious problem, or it is for a good cause.
It is just to break laws in many circumstances. If someone is going to be hurt or killed it is absolutely necessary. And if the law itself is very unfair, it may be acceptable to break it. Another example where breaking the law would be justified would be in self defense. If someone is trying to attack you and even kill you, it would be okay to break assault laws or even murder laws if necessary. This is because everyone has the right to life, and if someone is trying to take that right away from you, you should be able to do whatever you need to in self-defense.
Andrew M
Period 7
As I sat down and began to think of possible circumstances that would justify breaking a law I found most of the scenarios far fetched, helping me to conclude that there are many logical reasons for the laws that we have. I believe that the laws our government have put in place are not too strict therefore breaking them in many cases, is something that can be avoided.
Many people have posted about killing in terms of defense, and this is something that is most definitely an exception a majority of the time. Every case is different so it is hard to say that it is always the right thing to do, but for me this is a possible circumstance to justify breaking a law.
Janis H. period 3
During the years before the Civil War, there were many disputes between abolitionists and people who owned slaves. At the time, slaves in the South were escaping to the North in order to become free from their masters through passages across the nation called the Underground Railroad. In my opinion, breaking the law would include providing shelter for escaping slaves and providing advice as to where to continue on the Undergruond Railroad. However, sometimes religious beliefs and government laws clash and it's hard to tell who's right and who's wrong. For instance, a Christian can say that he/she is being faithful by providing food and shelter for escaping slaves. Since religion is seperate from government, I think religion would win in a court case. Another example of breaking the law would be to hang an abolitionist without a fair trial.
Andy H
Period 7
Personally, I believe that laws can be circumstantial and that sometimes, though it is wrong, to break a law may still be a more morally right thing to do. When faced by a situation where you have an ultimatum, to better a situation illegally or do the written "right" thing, you may have to break the law. I believe in doing so, you are justified, though technically you would be a criminal. An example of a situation like this would be if a law was opressing a person, and getting in the way of their freedom and/or safety. In times where slavery was alive, the slaves by law could not leave their owner, but I believe that since this law prevented these people from growth, freedom, and basic human rights, they were justified in breaking it, just as the conductors of the Underground Railroad were justified in helping them to freedom. An example of this today would be if you were breaking a law defensively. Though it is wrong to hurt other people, who can say that they could see their family, or even their own life or safety threatened and not defend themselves or their loved ones? I believe that a person has a right to live and to not have to fear for their life or their rights or the lives and rights of their loved ones, and has the right to do whatever it takes to protect these rights, legal or not.
Alex F Period 7
Many of the previous responses mention killing a criminal. I would like to disagree with those who say it would be alright to break the law by killing a killer. Perhaps that person would receive the death penalty after hearings, but that's the thing: They are entitled to a fair hearing. So, unless it come down to raw survival, I would not break the law by killing. Survival, to me, is definitely a reason to break the law. That goes without saying, and it's only human to do whatever it takes to stay alive. Sometimes the judicial system accommodates for this, by labeling cases as ‘self defense’.
With that said, in response to the original post, I believe it is acceptable to to break the law to help others under two conditions: You whole heartedly disagree with the law and the motives behind making it, and there is no accessible legal alternative for that person to get help. Abolitionists who helped slaves escape through the underground railroad complied with both of these conditions. They believed the laws were morally wrong, and the alternative for slaves to escape was for them to make the journey alone, much more dangerous and still illegal. Helping other by breaking the law does put the helper at risk of punishment. If they truly believe in the two conditions, the law is unjust and there is no other way, the risk is unimportant.
Melissa C.
Class 3
A circumstance that justifies breaking the law is a situation that an individual finds morally wrong. Such as, when there were slaves in this country and it was illegal to aide a slave to freedom. Although it was against the law, people helped these slaves because they felt morally obligated. Looking back on these law breakers now, most find them to be heroes for what they did to free slaves.
Douglas Brodbeck
Period 7
Many believe that any from of rebellion and law breaking is absolutely unacceptable. I believe that if it is not hurting anyone or anything, in select situations, it could be acceptable. For example, if you were trying to make it home before curfew on a back road and come across a stop sign. If there are no cars and it is %100 safe and you decide to cautiously not stop, some would consider that an exception to when it is okay to break the law. Other exceptions, in my opinion, come in the form of extreme circumstances. If there is no other option, and it is a life or death situation, law breaking may be acceptable. If someone is in need of the basic needs of life: water, shelter, food.. then some may consider it acceptable to steal to get what they undeniably need.
Jenna E Per 7
To me, the clearest acceptable example of breaking the law to help someone is either killing, or severely injuring (to the point of incapacitation) someone in the defense of another. For example, if a armed robber enters a store and ends up attacking people then I think is would be okay for someone (be it a store worker or customer) to attack and, at the very least, incapacitate the robber because by doing so that person would be protecting the rest of the people in the store, even if they are beaking the law by attacking the robber with the intent to do harm to him.
Colin S.
Period 3
There aren't many situations in life where I would believe in the justification to break a law. Laws are set for a reason. In our country, that reason is to benefit the well being of it's citizens. In the past, the well being of American citizens has not always been in the interest of women and people who weren't white. To get their naturally deserved rights, these people stood up against the establishment and fought for them. In this case, breaking the law is justifiable. Another situation that allows breaking the is in self defense or the defense of others. If someone is attacked, then they have the right to fight back.
Patrick B. Period 3
i think there are a lot of circumstances in which people could justify breaking the law. But looking at something as horrible as slavery, it was obvious that peoples' morals had to come into play. All men are created equal and if someone's human rights were being violated, i wouldnt hesitate to break the law to stop it. If im in a desperate circumstance, i will do whatever it takes to save myself, even if it's illegal.
leah b period3
Before a law is passed, it goes through many different people and a lot of analysis. No matter what people might say, laws are put in place for a reason. Without laws and rules, we would be in a very chaotic country. Whenever a situation occurs that calls for disobeying a law, you need to look at the consequences. Many people have said that in self defense, laws can be broken that would prevent you from keeping your own safety or the safety of others. You then have to look at the ethical consequences as well. Is killing one human being to save another human being just? Many try to answer this, but I think if you have never been put in a situation where this actually applies, you can't really answer it honestly. Breaking laws can be as simple as not stopping at a stop sign or as complex as murder. To keep a stable country though, the act of breaking a law needs to be kept to a minimum.
Mark A. Period 3
I'm not sure if breaking the law is ever necessarily justifiable, though many circumstances may be labeled that way, as much as just excusable. For instance, even with monstrous killers, kidnappers, rapists, terrorists, etc. what is gained by seeking revenge or enforcing punishment in the form of death? I'm not saying that these types of misguided offenders should get off with a slap on the wrist or that they don't deserve to die, but for one or a group of human(s) to fight fire with fire, use violence as a consequence for violence, and such, it just seems wrong and hypocritical. Sometimes going after those villains or harming them in the process of saving a loved one or even a stranger, can be considered justifiable but is thrusting harm onto anyone ever truly okay, the only way, the best decision?
Laura C.
Period 3
I believe a circumstance that would justify breaking the law would be to kill someone. IT is agianst the law and deserves an immediate death penalty. Killing another human being is unhealthy. It is taking someone away from their family. The only way killing another human being is acceptable is if the person killed is a criminal, and he was shot due to self protection.
Aaron N.
Period 7
Although laws are essential in our society and provide us with order and safety, I think it is acceptable to break a law in certain situations. That’s not to say there should be no consequences for an act against the law. All humans should live equally however the law is broken everyday. I would break the law if it could save a persons life or if it would help pursue something good for others. A rare example would be if a murderer were killing at a constant rate, it would be best for everyone for this man to be killed. It could potentially save the lives of people. So in a case when its 1 life against many others, drastic measures should be taken even if it includes killing this one person and going against the law. However in another instance, if someone wasn’t obeying the rules of the road, such as driving on the wrong side or not stopping at stop signs, this is potentially harmful to others and is not a just reason to break the law. These rules are easy to follow and are there to protect people’s lives. This person is putting others in harm so should be punished according to the law.
Emily Teri Period 7
Breaking the law almost always has some justification about beliefs of that individual. It may be justified to break laws in one persons mind, yet not to another person. An example would be breaking the speed limit in order to return home for an emergency. The speed limit in this case doesn't matter much to the individual driving the car, it is a necessary time to break a law.
Brian B Period 7
What circumstances justify breaking the law? really? no. No circumstances justify beaking the law. Everybody needs to follow the law, and if one person goes against this, more and more people will start breaking laws and next thing you know, the states would be out of control. The Gov. makes laws for a reason, and everybody needs to abide by them.
Dugan
Class 7
As Ricky said, I also bielive stealing food and medicine are examples of when breaking a law is justified. In this case i feel because they are so important (life or death situation), it is ok to steal, in order to survive. It comes down to would you rather steal something as little as food, or die from starvation? it it were me i would steal in order to stay alive. Another scenario where it would be just to break a law would be if you had to defend ytourself or kill a person who you know was going to kill many many people. I think taking one life is better then having that person taking a lot of lives.
Cristina N.
Per 3
I feel a bona fide reason for breaking the law would be, like Ale said, go through a red light. This would only be acceptable if there were an emergency like going to see a dying family member or go to the hospital for an injury or a pregnancy. I feel this would be justified because it is not a major law that causes an injury to another human and it would not be a law prossesed in the supreme courts.
Another justified reason for breaking the law would be to steel a car if you need to also get somewhere important in a life or death situation. As long as there is no damage or the owner was hurt in the prosscess this would be justifable. But I feel that this would not happen in many cases because normally people are not in life or death curcimstances.
Brian M.
Class 7
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