Is it okay to break the law?

[Nebulous]

Is it okay to break the law if there are extenuating circumstances?

 

[Scarlet Rose]

Yes, I do think that there are circumstances where it is okay to break the law. This applies to cases where the law is out of touch with normal lived experiences and the consequences that would result from breaking it are approaching non existent. But also to cases where the law itself in unjust. When it comes to unjust laws then the case could be made for it to be a moral responsibility to break it.

 

[MrDawn]

I don't think it's worth the risk of going to prison over.

 

[PGen98]

Depends on the law and the situation. Is it ok to destroy property? No. Is it ok to destroy a window to save someone from a fire? Yes. Is it ok to run a red light? No. Is it ok to run a red light to get a woman in labour to the hospital? ...grey area, but ultimately that woman NEEDS to get to the hospital. Be as safe as possible, but get her there.

 

[passenger]

I would say, "Not usually".
BUT
There's been a Tree Sitter in Seattle for the last few days; I don't think he has a chance in hell of winning his 'point', but I find myself rooting for him.

 

[Black Angel]

Laws arent based on morality.. I mean slavery was once legal and until the 1960s White men raped Black women and children with impunity.

We weren't considered human under the law and so it was basically rape-a-palooza until then.

That said, for me personally it depends on the law.

Oral sex was illegal in VA until 2014 and some states have similar laws on the books and are also trying to ban sex toys.. so you be the judge..

So I say yes, but again, for me it depends on the law..

 

[MamaFrankie]

In some cases, yes.

 

[passenger]

I would say, "Not usually".
BUT
There's been a Tree Sitter in Seattle for the last few days; I don't think he has a chance in hell of winning his 'point', but I find myself rooting for him.

Tree Sitter in Seattle

.......UPDATE.......

New deal saves Seattle's celebrity tree, 'Luma'
August 09, 2023 / 12:25 pm

Droplet, the activist and tree-sitter who has been sitting in Luma, a roughly 200-year-old culturally modified elder cedar tree at risk of being cut down to make way for a development project, raises their fist in the air as speakers address a large crowd of supporters, on Tuesday, July 18, 2023, during a gratitude gathering for the tree in the Wedgwood neighborhood of Seattle.
KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer

The tree in Seattle's Wedgwood neighborhood that activists have named Luma, and which prompted a summer movement to save it, will be preserved.
“This is exactly what we’re looking for — tribal-led resolution on protecting this elder tree," said Droplet, an activist, from within the tree's branches, on Wednesday morning. "But also reforming our laws and regulations so there’s never a situation where an elder tree like this is sacrificed for convenience.”
The owner of the property, the lender for the project, and the builder have begun work with the Snoqualmie Tribe to preserve the tree as a "culturally modified tree," a term Washington uses to note and preserve trees of significance.
"It is critical that culturally modified trees like Luma are respected and preserved,” said Jaime Martin, with the Snoqualmie Tribe. “We are excited Legacy Group Capital is making this commitment to cultural preservation and we look forward to working with them on developing a process for proactive CMT assessment during their feasibility process. Tribal leadership also looks forward to working with city leaders on their commitment to develop legislative protections and improved processes for identifying these threatened cultural resources.”

 

[biglin]

Funnily enough John Jay the first Justice of the Supreme Court ruled on this matter.

A bad law, he said, is NO law and MAY be broken.

History is full of examples were lawbreaking was the only recourse.

If it comes to that wasn't the USA founded by breaking the law and rebelling?

 

[passenger]

Funnily enough John Jay the first Justice of the Supreme Court ruled on this matter.

A bad law, he said, is NO law and MAY be broken.

History is full of examples were lawbreaking was the only recourse.

If it comes to that wasn't the USA founded by breaking the law and rebelling?

A MOST excellent point!!
Thank You!