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Circa 1985, I caught the tail end an old West morality film - on a Christian
family entertainment cable channel, of all places. The plot was that a townsman got drunk, drove his wagon recklessly
through town, and wound up killing a child. This wasn't a Gunsmoke
episode, but had that flavor.
When I tuned in, the drunk was about to
be hanged, having been found guilty of murder. Everyone in the town
was sorry, his wife was on hand, but it was justice. The consequence
of indulging in reckless behavior that harmed others.
I was waiting for
the sheriff to stop it, or something, but damned if he didn't get
hanged! This was before Lonesome Dove's famous "Jake's Fate"
hanging, but I found myself unsettled by it in the same
manner. Not that I disagreed; I had just become used to modern
molly-coddling sensibilities.
Does anyone know the name of this episode? I am forever wanting
to use it in discussions with hard core Libertarians, as an example of
changes that are necessary before society makes everything legal, more or less (which
in theory, I too advocate). Gracia.
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