Real Life Superheroes!

June 7, 2009

Frustrated over the current state of people’s apathy over almost everything that happens around them, groups of people over the world have donned costumes in the hopes that they can make a difference.

Mr. Ravenblade, Mr. Extreme, Amazonia and Geist, these are but a few of the real life superheroes that have fought crime in the shadows, much like the heroes we’ve read about in our comics as a child. (ok, we still read them, fuck off)

Their heroic deeds range from saving people from being mugged, stopping a rape attempt to raising funds for local charities and such. Not surprising is the fact that the law enforcement agencies are uncomfortable with the idea of costumed vigilantes walking their cities.

Many of the real-life superheroes even initiate citizen’s arrests, but what’s legal varies by state. And in North Carolina citizen’s arrests are illegal. Real-life superheroes who grab a suspected villain may find themselves under a specter of trouble.
“Not a good idea,” said Katy Parker, legal director for the ACLU of North Carolina. “Seeing as how there’s no citizen’s arrest statute [in the state], people who do this are running a serious risk of getting arrested for kidnapping, and being liable for false imprisonment.”

“Vigilantism is never a good thing,” said Bernard Gonzales, public information officer for the Chula Vista, California, Police Department. He’s had some interactions with real-life superheroes. “The very best thing a private citizen can do is be a good witness.”
Mr. Ravenblade said he’s just that.
“If you’re a real-life superhero you follow the law. If you catch somebody you can’t just tie them up and leave them for the cops, that’s for the comics. You have to wait for the cops and give them a statement,” Mr. Ravenblade said.
While citizens helping out in the community is encouraged, Gonzales said the costumes can go.
“Where these people are out in public, and there’s children around and everything, and these people are not revealing their identities, it’s not a safe thing.”