Should laws be enforced despite a victim's wishes?

[Johnny Cupcakes]

I'm the one that originally brought up the thread topic. It was regarding the incident with Pacman Jones on the football field this week, and Amari Cooper subsequently saying that he shouldn't get in any trouble. The thing is, it should not be up to Amari Cooper as to whether a player should be punished for his "crimes" on the football field....just as it shouldn't be up to the victim in DV cases.

We have a duty to uphold the laws of the country regardless of whether or not individual people think that it's ok to break the law. Someone that abuses their spouse should be charged for their crimes. If not, they keep doing it, and possibly even branch off into doing it to others. By not prosecuting, you're enabling the negative behavior.