Should we be legally responsible for every word that comes out of our mouths? “I’m going to beat that kid!”, “Something bad is going to happen to that woman, wait and see”, “One of these days, somebody’s going to make him sorry”, “She’s making me crazy!”. These are all common phrases that you hear in our society, most of which are actually considered threats. Do we take them literally? Are we responsible if something does happen to someone? Maybe we better make sure that said person above, who is going crazy, gets the psychological help they need, because if they said it, surely they really are going crazy!
Take for instance, John Doe here. John is shopping at a store when his girlfriend shows up in a snit. She tells him then and there that she is leaving him, and taking his car. Now, earlier John and Jane had been arguing, so John wasn’t very happy with Jane to begin with. But now, he is angry.
Jane jumps back into John’s car, and as John’s leaving the store, he says to the clerk, “I’m going to kill the b*!”. John jumps in his truck and takes off after Jane. A terrible thing happens next. During the hubbub of John trying to catch up with Jane, there is a terrible accident. The first thing John does is get out of his truck, oblivious to his own injuries, runs to the vehicle Jane is driving, making sure she is o.k., then goes to make sure everybody else is alright.
After getting statements from everyone, the police go back to the store John was at, finding that he made that dreaded statement as he was leaving the store. Because of the statement John made, this accident is turned over to the prosecuting attorneys office, and sent to trial. John goes to prison for eleven years for aggravated assault, first degree, and vehicular assault, first degree. By the way, this example is based on a true story.
The question I have is, does this make John a criminal? If so, how many of us potential criminals are ticking time bombs? Once a criminal, does NOT mean always a criminal! It doesn’t even necessarily mean you are a criminal. In our societies eyes, I’m afraid that poor John will always be a criminal, because we, as a society are so closed minded as to believe that everybody who has gone to prison, definitely deserved it! There are thousands of individuals in our prisons today for instances such as the example I have given, or simply for being wrongfully convicted, (yes, it does happen).
I guarantee you, John will be very careful about the flippant statements he makes for the rest of his life. Will you? It is up to us to quit panicking about every criminal we come upon. Give them a chance and find out the story from their perspective. Also, be responsible enough not to take what anyone says at face value, and check out the state’s side to their story. There are some very dangerous people out there, both that have been to prison, and still have yet to be caught. Instead of panicking, make an individual and informed decision about that person. You may be surprised to find out that your “criminal”, may become one of your best friends!
