Anyone who commits an offence that affects people around him or her will always give a reason as to why they had to do what they did. Many of the motives given are not only startling but also shocking. A case study conducted by Prince George’s County Maryland Fire Department, revealed quite a number of reasons why many of the arsonists do what they do
A good percentage of arsonists claimed that they committed the crime with intent to vandalize (Bakken 2000). This means that the arsonists had ill intentions which were deliberate in order to cause harm to other people. This may have been as a result of jealous or just wanting to destroy property. It is of course wrong to do so but at the same time, this class of arsonists just wants to cause destruction with no apparent reason
There is a group of arsonists that claimed that they started the fires as an act of revenge (Bakken 2000). They may have been offended by other people or the system or government. They then retaliate by starting fires to destroy property an act aimed at hitting back. This leads to innocent people being caught in between a fiasco they were never involved in the first place.
Others claimed that they were craving for excitement and therefore ended up starting fires (Bakken 2000). This act may have satisfied part of their pervert egos because this is not clearly the best way to enjoy anything. This group of arsonists is definitely driven by some evil forces that control them because such an act is very wrong.
Of all these motives, revenge is the most dangerous of all. This is so because anyone retaliating or acting out of revenge acts with anger and can cause a lot of harm and affect very many people either directly or indirectly. Many a time when somebody gets out of the stupor of anger and revenge especially after an arson attack, they end up more hurt just like everyone else who was caught up in the act is and regrets come in.
Reference
Bakken, G. M. (2000). Laws in Western United States. Norman: Oklahoma University Press.
