Why do people intentionally break the law?

[4theloveofhens]

You can use this analogy towards everything. Why do people start smoking? They know it causes lung cancer. Why do people speed? They know they can get a ticket. Why do people underage drink? Why do people drink and drive, even if it's only a glass of wine? The list can go on and on and on.

I guess what I'm saying is it's not really fair to judge someone because they have chickens even though they know they aren't allowed. Every single person is not going to follow the "rules" or drive the speed limit or pay their taxes etc. I wouldn't be surprised if EVERYONE at some point broke the law for some reason or another.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Wolfwoman]

It was and still is a fair question, but when people blatantly say that they're going to break the law no matter what it says, then I have to throw out the ridiculous also. I wasn't belittling you, just stating that all those are laws, some are minor and some are major, I just don't see the difference in breaking one law from the other, but that's just ME. I am not ok with it!

Let me give you an example; I own a small general store in a somewhat remote area of Alaska on 12 acres. Alaska has a leash law (or at least this part of Alaska does) but because it's ALASKA everyone thinks their dogs get to RUN FREE and loose. I live here on the property with MY 9 dogs, 3 geese and 45+ chickens and I don't particularly care for people letting their dogs both MY critters.

I also have handicapped parking and a parking lot big enough to hold 6 semi trucks. When people park in the handicapped spot and I don't see a mirror placard or license plate with the symbol, I ask them to move. They have the nerve to get MAD when I ask them to move because they are LAZY and breaking the law.

There are also NO TRESPASSING signs at the far end where my house and yard is. People STILL think it's ok to walk into my yard and PEE and let their dogs loose.

I see this on a daily basis, people that don't care of others, that care less about laws, or they think the laws don't apply to them and it seems that chicken owners are no different

All the above are very small laws, and by breaking them they really don't 'hurt' anyone, so I guess it makes it ok to break them.

 

[Wolfwoman]

Quote:
I wasn't judging, just asking WHY, everyone else got in a tizzy.

 

[herechicky]

The only children I have any business explaining anything to are my own. I have no problem telling my own children that there is a difference between rape/murder and keeping a few chickens illegally but even my children don't really need to be told something so obvious. I'm quite comfortable telling my children that they get to eat fresh eggs produced by chickens who weren't tortured in the process. I'm quite comfortable explaining to my children the difference between obeying the law and being an ethical person and how the former does not equal the latter. I also have no problem telling my children when they are old enough to drive that they should go with the flow of traffic because the people driving 40, 50 or even 60 on the freeway are the most dangerous ones out there. I don't think I'll ever have to address the animal poaching problem because we don't have too many whales or elephant swimming/running through Southern California. They've been taught manners and common sense I expect them to exercise both in the future. I don't spend a lot of time worrying about what a lot of other people do so long as they aren't hurting other people and more specifically, my family. And that's the point - if a tree falls in the forest and nobody is around to hear it, does it make a sound? Likewise, if a person keeps illegal chickens in such a way that their neighbors and the lawman doesn't know it, does anybody really care? If you can honestly say that you've never broken a law, then congratulations, you're the first person ever in the history of the world to maintain such a flawless record. As far as changing laws goes, there are many laws that have been changed because people just stopped obeying the stupid laws, resistance was futile and then the laws were changed to bring the up to speed with the current cultural norms - anti-micegenation laws for instance. I am happy, and my two mixed-race children are happy that people ignoring those unintelligent laws paved the way for their very existence.

As more people begin to keep chickens, more people will understand that it can be done safely, quietly and hygienically. If I get caught, I'll pay my fine and get rid of my chickens. It's a risk I'm willing to take.

Soapbox answer to your soapbox question.

 

[Wolfwoman]

Initially it wasn't soapbox, just curiosity, but as more and more people said it's ok to break the law, then it became soapbox.

 

[herechicky]

Quote:
lol. maybe they buy you dinner first.

 

[The Chicken Lady]

Interesting question...and one we'll have to ponder on our own time at this point.

Thank you for your participation!