Bandits and Outlaws

Are all Bandits and Outlaws bad? They did commit heinous acts; namely stealing and killing all in the name of providing for themselves instead of working a proper job. However, for the famous few who made a name for themselves, such as Robin Hood, Jesse James and Ned Kelly, they did not manage this simply with their own two hands. This is where the definition of a social bandit comes into play.

A Social Bandit is one who uses the local population, namely peasants or low working class, to further their gains. They would help the local populations to then plunder from neighbouring populations on their reigns of terror. These were not necessarily political gains as some would think, merely to gain some form of status and power in the hierarchy of Society. Does this then make them bad by committing acts of crime against one and charity against another?. It is a very difficult question to answer. This scenario is best exemplified by Robin Hood.

Robin Hood myth has provided the background for many of the bandits and outlaws throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. By stealing from the rich and giving to the poor, this notion has allowed others to have some sort of excuse for the acts they did commit. I do not believe this is a valid argument in any case, but some reasons are better justified than others. Some outlaws do not intend to kill, yet others revel in the fact they can kill someone for the sum of a few pounds/dollars in their back pocket.

Bandits have provided interesting role models since people have such varying views on their attitudes actions in society: a peasant living in Robin Hood's vicinity would class him a hero; the next village, a bloody thirsty killer. Who is right and who is wrong? I believe that unless people work within the fabric of our laws and society then Bandits shall always be wrong regardless of motive or situation.

For an indepth search on other outlaws, see this link that provides information on America's infamous outlaws:

http://www.legendsofamerica.com/LA-OutlawsandLegends.html