How is this possible? Vigilantism is Celebrated and Justice is Ignored
In a deeply troubling display of misplaced outrage, protestors gathered outside the Elkhart County Courthouse in Goshen, Indiana last week—not to denounce murder, but to defend it. They rallied not in support of justice, but to glorify vigilantism. Signs reading “Free Nic” and “Nick Stanley Doesn’t Deserve Jail” were hoisted by individuals who believe that the accused killer of a man named Allen Cogswell should be praised, not prosecuted.
Let’s unpack this… Cogswell, who was recently released from prison and labeled a sex offender, was shot and killed at a motel on June 24. The accused, Nicholas Stanley, is reportedly related to one of the victims in Cogswell’s past case. While the pain and trauma that come with sexual abuse are real and lasting—and deserving of compassion and support—what is being endorsed here is not healing. It’s revenge.
The most alarming aspect of this protest is the open call for stricter punishment for the victim of the murder. Yes, you read that right. A man was murdered, and the response from the crowd was not to demand accountability, but to say he deserved it—and to call for harsher penalties for registrants. How is that even logically possible?
This is the horrifying reality of public registries and the mob mentality they encourage. The registry doesn’t just track people; it paints a target on their backs. It fuels vigilante violence by branding individuals with a modern-day scarlet letter—ignoring rehabilitation, reform, or redemption.
People like Cogswell serve their time. But because their names, faces, and locations are published and broadcasted with the click of a button, they never stop being punished—by neighbors, landlords, employers, and in this case, by a man with a gun. Murder is murder. There is no justification for it, no matter what the criminal history of the victim. If we start condoning homicide as a form of “justice,” where does it stop? Who gets to decide whose life is worth taking? A gang of bikers with a Facebook page?
Articles like this one only serve one purpose; to escalate the dangerous belief that those on the registry are subhuman, and therefore disposable. The law doesn’t work that way. Nor should it. What kind of society do we live in where the news media celebrates vigilantism. In addition to contacting WNDU News and suggesting they post an op-ed, we should be asking politicians (who now have another example of how the registry is being used as a hit list), why they make it so easy for a vigilante to find and execute this man?
We are by no means excusing the victim’s past crimes. We empathize with victim’s trauma. But we also don’t excuse murder. Justice in this country comes from a courtroom, not a lynch mob.
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I’ve been seeing this for some time in Amurdikkka. Although not right but understood still the same. The bible states and eye for an eye. In the wild wild west days of the shows like Bonanza and Gunsmoke, these type people are put to death on day 3 for heinous acts such as rape and murder OR EVEN HORSE THEFT. We are going back to those glory days as so many people are fed up with a system that lets Americans know that their dead or raped or molested loved ones don’t mean a hill of beans, but just another victim in the system to be seen as worthless. Remember the movie A Time to Kill, well its here in 2025. YOU REAP WHAT YOU SEW. FOR EVERY NEGATIVE THERES A POSITIVE.
#NaturalSelection
Mr. D
I agree on one thing, that day is coming. However, it will not just affect those on the registry, the lawlessness will become rampant, and the horrible acts will affect anyone that gets in their way. It even mentions it in the bible that as the time draws near, lawlessness, greed and all other types of things will break lose and will ultimately cause the Worlds downfall.
We as a World are already in decline, with wars, hate, pollution, killing the oceans, and now we want to go and build on other planets and start over? laughable if it wasn’t so disheartening. In closing, be careful what you wish for. Some sage advice.
Mr D
Well said
You need help. Please get it before you hurt someone.
Mr D
About your bible verse about revenge, I have a rebuff.
Colossians 3:13: “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you”.
Funny the people who use the bible for hate speech and not forgiveness, love, grace, peace, and mercy.
Mr. D, in these glory days you opine for it was also legal to marry off children, rape was seldom, if ever, prosecuted (and often blamed on the victim), racism was commonly accepted and practiced, there was little due process and rampant corruption so getting accused of any myriad of things could get you hung. Be careful what you wish for
I too have been attacked, personally, my house, my vehicles and even had a group come into my work and protest until I was fired. The boss knew I was on the registry but the riot that ensued caused them to fire me on the spot, and I really do not blame them because the store has to protect everyone, not just me. Meaning that if they didn’t fire me, the mob might have protested outside and had the news come etc. so I understood. And, after that, even if they did not fire me, I probably would have quit from embarrassment.
The boss did call the police to get those causing the ruckus to leave, but the damage had already been done.
I’m not surprised at all by this. I believe society is on a bizarre and destructive bandwagon here. Someday, far in the future, this will reverse course when understanding prevails. But for now, we are looking at the possibility of Holocaust-type events. I’m glad organizations like FAC are doing their best to combat the hate, but I fear it won’t be enough to stop the snowballing irrationality anytime soon.
@R
What is funny (But not funny) is many of my neighbors EVERY time I am outside, doing yard work, getting the mail etc., they stare at me as they drive by and scrunch up their faces in disgust. It is as though I am outside naked in my birthday suit performing illegal acts. Now who is the sicko? It is sort of great that I have So much power as to ruin someone’s day each time they drive by.
What a miserable life they must live, probably beat their kids just for the Hell of it then explain to their husbands that she saw that “horrible person and now she needs therapy”.
And on a final note, it is 99% the women who give me the nasty looks, the guys just ignore me except for one male Karen that almost once crashed his vehicle into a tree staring me down LOL. I about fell off a cliff laughing. I do not want that superpower but apparently, I have it.
It’s possible because this is a thoroughly disgusting country to the core…and because those of us who know better don’t take every chance to call this kind of thing out on social media every chance we get, which leads people to think there is only one side of the argument. It’s incredible how just one person saying “no, this is wrong” can sometimes take the wind out of their sails, partly because it’s unexpected.
To all those that say the registry is necessary to protect people I offer you this post as Exhibit A as why it causes more harm than good. I could also offer you exhibits B-Z as to the violence it causes including innocent people being victims.
Anonymous
BUT, many do not care if we are killed. Many have zero sympathy for us and would stand over our dead bodies, mocking and laughing as we suffer. If that was one of their relatives being attacked, I damn sure bet they would not be laughing. Funny the old saying about the shoe being on the other foot.
Well said. Unfortunately I see the vigilante cheered time and again. YouTube allows people to post videos describing how incarcerated registrants are abused by others. Not to mention the posts cheering vigilantism. Other than standing up and speaking out I don’t know how to combat this problem.