ANSWERS: 18
  • If they themselves might be put in jeopardy, then nothing. You'd like to think someone would call the police or something, but the truth is that sometimes the person who intervenes is treated worse than the intended victim. It should be looked at on a case-by-case basis.
  • I think that depends on the situation, really, and what they were "doing" apart from just standing by.
  • There has to be some evidence that can cause arrest. It's hard to prove anything. I wish they would rot myself.
  • You watched the final Seinfeld episode again didn't you?
  • It is your legal obligation to help fight crime, and you too could get in trouble for not doing your legal duty.
  • Most people would be too afraid to intervene if they saw a crime. I certainly wouldn't get involved, though I would call the police. People shouldn't be punished for not helping - there's too many circumstances to consider, and cruel as it may be, nobody is obligated to put their own life at risk to help somebody else.
  • Other than notifying the police, we should not get involved. A bystander could get injured, or do something that they are not authorized to to and then end up getting sued. You hear about heros that stop crimes from happening, but they are doing this at huge risk to themselves, and I'm sure that the police wouldn't recommend that everybody act this way.
  • Unfortunately there isn't much that can be done unless they were egging the culprits on and there is enough evidence to have these bystanders arrested for aiding and abetting a criminal act. They do need to be taught a lesson and I hope that lawmakers enact some new laws that state, at the very minimum, that people can be prosecuted for negligence for allowing a crime to go unreported while the evil acts are still in progress. I find it very appalling that the events at that Richmond High School could have ever happened to begin with. I would think that at least one student would whip out a cell phone and call 911 to let law enforcement know what was going on.
  • Certain crimes someone should step in and help like a rape or in the abduction or beating of a child. But for gun/weapon related robberies/crimes I think a person should mind their own business and not get involved, that's why tellers at banks are told to just give them the money and don't be a hero!...Some states do have "good Samaritan" laws that if you would see a blind person stepping into oncoming traffic and you do nothing to prevent/warm him from doing that you could be cited! +
  • What are ya gonna do? People ~ can't live with them, can't legally shoot them; certainly can't keep up with all their crimes, let alone the people who witness them and do nothing.
  • That is one of the biggest moral quandaries in any area of the law. . One difficulty with requiring people to intervene is that there are any number of situations where a "civilian" doing that would make things worse -- say somebody jumping in and playing hostage negotiator. Now the cops have two hostages to save, or one hostage and one dead body. . I suspect what may have prompted your question was the recent case of a woman being raped in a situation where there were multiple people as bystanders who did nothing. . I've witnessed crimes four times in my life; two domestic violence incidents, one attempted auto theft, and one mugging. I called the police every time and reported it, and was the first one to do so. . But in all of those cases, I was in my apartment and either saw something out my window or (in the domestic violence incidents) heard a violent assault going on in an apartment underneath or next door to mine. . I didn't have to stand facing the perpetrators, pull out a cell phone and place a 911 call in plain view. I didn't jump in and break it up myself (although I did open the window and yell to the car thief that I was calling the cops). . About this latest incident in the news, I like to think that I would have found a way to call the police, or do something, but it's too easy to get smug and think, "Oh, I would never just stand by." Until you're in the situation, it's tough to say.
  • they should sell popcorn
  • Case by case. Anything from severe punishment, to nothing at all, depending on the nature of the crime and other factors.
  • Having been in that situation, where the crime was being committed against me and a crowd of people did nothing, not even call the police because it was a bar, in my case I wish all of them could of been fined and the bar owner held accountable at a higher degree.( I begged him to call the police) I ended up running across the street and calling myself. I think every situation is different though some one with a weapon, and there is just no way you can do anything. It's a good question.
  • Nothing. A law compelling citizens to act a certain way could be abused, misapplied and wrought with so many complications as to be completly worthless. Morality is a matter of freedom, not compulsion. +5
  • depends on severity of the crime, but i do agree that such a law may end up casuing a lot of trouble as well. maybe instead of punishing our society for misdeeds, we should reward them on good ones. watch how quickly the world becomes a better place...
  • I believe that it would depend on just what crime was being comitted ... IF a person was being injured ; and there were no weapons being used ; bystanders need to step in and try to assist .. IF there are weapons ; just call the law ..and be there to give a statement ... I carry a weapon at all times and am licensed ; so I would / have intervened to assist ... +5
  • nothing

Copyright 2023, Wired Ivy, LLC

Answerbag | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy