Sometimes it sucks being the good guy.

[Thorsteinn]

Found on the Armour Archive on the same topic:

My beef with the McMannus Bros is that they are operating within a framework of justice their own design and is not necessarily universally held. The Rule of Law, in the US, is paramount and (for the most part) held in consensus. The McMannus Bros act partly from vengeance, a particular brand of Christian ethic that is seemingly informed by their experiences with the IRA in Ireland, and from a strange if not admirable sense of social justice. While I can kinda empathize with them, their sense of justice is not one I, nor most people, agree with.

One man's vengeance is another man's justice. The actions of the McManus brothers strike me as very chivalrous, especially a lot of early chivalry. Chivalry is the valueset of the frontier, where the rule of law is vestigial and ineffective. Righteousness becomes defined as; he who does more is more worthy. It can be twisted to read as 'might makes right', but again; one man's vengeance.

It's much more interesting to view Boondock Saints through the lens of a culture clash; Irish vs. Italian.

[Sir James A]

One man's vengeance is another man's justice.

Perfect.

[Justin]

I think that Stark's actions were knightly. That man was a deserter, per the law, he was to be killed. Stark did his duties and upheld the law. He also administered punishment with his own hands, despite how horrible the act was. That is how a knight should act.

[Lord Dane]

One man's vengeance is another man's justice.

Perfect.

Seconded. God's justice prevails over that of men. His laws are those we base ours upon in the legal & moral sense. So they should coincide without contradiction, hypocrisy, or misinterpretation. Even if we are not worthy to judge those amongst us who violate God's laws, it must be done (in this life and/or the next) to ensure we maintain our humanity, devotion, and honor to his sacrifice for our salvation. No sin goes unpunished or forgotten if one wishes to seek forgiveness and redemption. Root the evil from amongst mankind's nature to better find the divine virtue and understand the sacrifice that was made for our salvation. 

Fiat justitia ruat caelum. (Let justice be done).