localgrizzly said:Ted,
If you had added the word "just" to your comment about "well functioning government," I would say that there is, indeed, no place for vigilantism.
Unfortunately, there are many "well functioning" governments in today's world that are the polar opposite of just. North Korea, China, Cuba, most of the Muslim countires, etc.
In countries such as these, vigilante action, especially against government and religious officials, is indeed justified.
I intentionally left out "just" because that is a concept open to perception. Good governments don't always act just, but they do stick to constitutional laws. But you do have a point when you mention governments who use political instruments to supress their people.