Sandy Looters- Crime or Desperation?

 

          I believe that in the case of the looters during hurricane sandy, what they were committing were crimes of greed and not of desperation. They were not stealing diapers and food, but rather TV’s and electronics as well as alcohol. They knew what they were doing and proceeded to do it anyway knowing it was wrong. I have never been in a disaster situation before like the one in Coney Island during sandy, so I do not know exactly how to react to such a thing, or what kind of shock would be involved. One thing is for certain though, stealing out of greed and not only taking what you need is beyond wrong. When you steal electronics and the power is out in the city it is purely out of greed, and you must think about who you are hurting such as the shop owners who already are having problems due to the hurricane. I believe that stealing food or clothes or diapers that you need for you or your kids is understandable. “People were running out of Rite Aid with diapers and wipes” the article says. A person must do what it takes to get by in a time of need. The stores may not be open for people to purchase the goods or staples they need and may not be planning to open for weeks leaving people to have to steal goods to get by. But I believe that there is a fie line between stealing in greed and stealing to get by. As for the shop owners, one stated, “Next time I’m getting a gun.” I believe that I would do just as he would, for you never know what will happen and if you own a liquor store like him, there are not many people who are going to break in just trying to survive. That is definitely where looting goes extremely wrong, it goes from getting what you need to taking advantage from another in the community to get ahead and leave them in a bad way.  In conclusion I believe that there are different rules that apply in a desperate attempt to survive a disaster. But people should not take advantage of each other in a disaster situation, but instead come together to fix the community. I also believe that there is a fine line between looting and surviving, and as I have shown many crossed that line in Cone Island.