Crime Victims Don’t Deserve It

I just posted this on another site and want to share my thoughts here too. I continue to be concerned about the lack of empathy that some people are displaying for crime victims as Colton Harris-Moore continues his crime spree.

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Barefoot Bandit Leaves Note, Cash At Raymond Vet Clinic
http://www.kirotv.com/news/23939095/detail.html

He knew he’d be giving a clue to his location if he did this (they know he touched the note, but wonder if they can prove he delivered it). Is this a “neener, neener, you can’t catch me?”, a PR move, or a criminal risking getting caught to do something sincerely nice for animals with cash that is probably sitting in evidence because it might not have been lawfully obtained?

Well, that’s for the police to sort out. I keep hoping his fans will donate to animal shelters instead of buying t-shirts if they want to contribute to something that might matter to him.

Recovery Agents on Camano
http://www.kirotv.com/video/23933645/index.html

KIRO’s version of the timeline of his crime spree
http://www.kirotv.com/slideshow/news/21205254/detail.html

Bob Rivers: I didn’t offer Colton Harris-Moore $50,000
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCNzDAW4Lns

Unfortunately you’ll see comments devoid of empathy on some of these sites about how he’s “not hurting anyone” and “buck up, insurance money covered the airplane you didn’t deserve to own anyway.”

So if I break into your house when you’re at work and steal your I-Pod, you’re cool, right? Who cares if you had to earn it, or if it was a present, you can buy another one. Obviously you have the money to, and to get the window fixed. I also gave myself a five finger discount on the Frappuccino in the fridge. Hey, I didn’t punch you to get it, I merely caused you the horror of knowing a stranger was in your house, and not knowing if they’ll come back and what they might do to your family next time.

If people could simply stand in the victims’ shoes and lose belongings they worked hard for, and go through the associated sense of violation and hassle, they might see things differently. They’d also probably want to protect themselves, their property, and their families if someone like this was running around their neighborhood.

I understand that some people don’t want to see him falsely accused, want to ensure that he gets a fair trial, and don’t think he’s that dangerous. It’s a free country and I respect the diversity of opinions. However, it’s just cruel to suggest that any crime victim deserves what happens to them.

It’s called crime for a reason.

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The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don’t do anything about it. -Albert Einstein

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