The case of the burglar with a sense of justice has implications for each one of us, for in addition to asking us what should be done about this one individual - who may in fact pose a moderate risk to society - this story asks us to examine the obligations that each one of us owes to the state and in return what obligations the state owes to each one of its citizens. We may begin by examining what it is that we owe the state, for our answer to this question defines whether Patrick Penny acted nobly or not. Most of us would argue that he did: By putting himself at personal risk first to report a crime and then to serve as a witness against a pair of murderers, he placed himself at the risk of real, personal danger that is usually not required of citizens. Soldiers, police, and firefighters certainly risk their lives (more often and often more directly), but they are also paid to do so and, so long as the draft is in suspension, do so voluntarily. Penny did not volunteer to be a witness to the crime. He was not paid to serve as a witness, and so his willingness to endanger himself only out of a sense of duty must rank him a
7 
)
= 761
= 3 (250 words per page)
