@modeltrainsparts posted:ABOLUTELY!!
Reminds me that back in the `70's i used to dabble in pre-1955 MG parts. A person came to me looking for an original and very unique fog lamp for her 1938 MG sedan. I found what was possibly the only new one in the country and bought it for about $5 from the manufacturer's distributor. It's fair market value was probably $12 - $15; with less than reputable sellers in the UK asking about $100. At an enthusiast's gathering i told the person she could have it for $10. She complained loudly in front what had become a small group of 15 - 20 people that i gouged club members, called me a thief, and other names, and her contact in Philadelphia only wanted $7 for it (BUT couldn't get one!). After several minutes of her verbal abuse i let the lamp fall to the ground and shatter. She exclaimed accusingly that i broke her lamp to which i replied that i broke my lap as she was too cheap to pay me $10. Did i have some sort of responsibility to help preserve (restore to original in this case) a very rare and unusual classic car? I think not.
Jack, we are now friends exchanging emails, but I think I need to respond to this here. Leaving aside your smashing of the lamp, surely you don't mean to say that buying the Mona Lisa to destroy it is ok? It might be legal in England, but there are other considerations like ethics and the public good. If we want to be considered a civilized society, then each individual must act with consideration to the whole. The Mona Lisa is not important because it is valuable, it is priceless because it is so important. Thankfully it resides in a museum.
