The image brings a smile to my face, but deep down, I cannot applaud criminals attacking others based solely on free speech issues. I will confess to feeling conflicted and feeling tempted to commit the vandalism myself - but it is wrong.
The way i see it is that progress often occurs by breaking the law. Especially progress in regards to equality.
If it had been a member slashed? Yeah i would say it is going too far, but if it is a person that thought " i am going to slash their tires because it will cause them inconvience, and if i get caught, so be it. " , i say the more power to them. They but their criminal record on the line to do this, and as long as they don't try and weasel out of any consequences, i fully support the action.
Actions like this send the message " you are so repugnant that i will take the chance of being arrested to cause your day to be slightly less pleasent.." and really, that speaks very loudly. Much louder than a counter protest, or ignoring them could. And when taken from a practical standpoint, well it caused them inconvience. Moreso than any legal measure could.
Honestly, and i have always held this mantra. When someone makes a habit of hiding behind the law to do something crappy, the only thing that can be done is to go the step further, and simply ignore the law. Sure, taking the law into one's own hands can be a dangerous precedant to set, but, like anything else responsible people will do it responsibly and irresponsible people will do it irresponsibly. For my money, as long as it is kept to illegal actions that effect their pocketbooks and convience, i applaud and support the people doing it.
When the bully runs behind a teachers skirt, you just wait till the teacher isn't around. Maybe it won't stop them, but it will make thier life a bit less pleasent, and when this gets done enough, it just wont be worth it.
Honestly i think the best course of action agaisnt these people would be an absolute flood of low scale illegal things , tire slashings, vandalisim, anything that would bring their insurance rates up, and make their days a bit more costly and trying.
