Good Samaritan Laws

From the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10: 33).

A good Samaritan is someone who does something for selfless reasons, which could be as simple as assisting an old lady cross the street, or as serious as helping defend someone who is being attacked. Questions have arose as to whether you should be mandated by law to be a "Good Samaritan." I believe that you should NOT be mandated by law to be a good Samaritan, because the act is no longer done fore selfless reasons.

If you think about it, a mandate to be a "Good Samaritan" does not make sense. If you are forced by law, you are helping someone because you do not want to get in trouble, not because you genuinely want to help someone. Being a good Samaritan is a judgement call that someone makes themselves. If you were to be mandated by law to help someone in need, by definition it should not be a "Good Samaritan" law, but a "Good Citizen" law. A "Good Citizen" follows the law, while a "Good Samaritan" is selfless.

-Clinton Barnes