What could push you to become a murderer?

**George** · 09-17-2007, 01:44 PM

Besides the obvious in self defense of one's self or loved ones, what if anything could push you to the point where you'd be willing to kill another human being?

Now before you get all self righteous on me, think about it. People in the military do this and it's just part of the job (NOTE: I know it's more complicated than that just using it as an example).

Would you even need to be pushed to a breaking point? Would you kill someone if you knew it meant untold riches and good fortune for you?

echos · 09-17-2007, 09:48 PM

Absoultely nothing could drive me to kill another, let alone any animal.

Astreja · 09-17-2007, 11:09 PM

I could, and would, kill in defense of myself; any member of my family (including my pets); a friend, neighbour or total stranger.

I could probably kill if I knew beyond any reasonable doubt that the intended victim planned to kill someone else, but the evidence would have to be overwhelming.

Absent a threat to another living being, I'd like to think that killing is off-limits for me... Neither riches nor fame are much of an incentive.

Geshtinnanna · 09-18-2007, 12:15 AM

Though in the end dead is dead, for the living murder and killing are completely two different things. I couldn't murder someone. No one is worth that. But I could kill someone to protect myself or the ones I love.

digitalMedia · 09-18-2007, 06:56 AM

To defend my wife and children I would kill in a hearbeat. If that makes me a bad person, I'm perfectly willing to accept that as long as my wife and children remained safe.

Sorry George, I know you qualified the question, but I've spent too much time thinking on that one.

digitalMedia · 09-18-2007, 07:14 AM

Upon further consideration of the question, I think I could construct a hypothetical, that excluded my family, in which I could be willing to take a life.

Let's say, for instance, a hostage situation where my fellow captives were complete strangers and I had access to a weapon - a hand gun, for the sake of argument. Further, the only part of the captors body that presented a clear target was his/her head and taking a shot would almost certainly mean their death (assuming I hit my target). Plus, I had ample time to consider and take my shot.

Now, I would have to be convinced that this person was intending to kill an innocent (yup, fuzzy-gray area here, but it's crunch time and decisions have to be made).

In that situation, improbable as it is, I would likely decide it was worth it.

**George** · 09-18-2007, 09:51 AM

Very good hypo there dM.

I too would react the same. I think we can generalize that if it's in the interests of protecting another "innocent" human life, be it our own loved ones or a complete stranger, we'd all agree that killing "the bad guy" would be socially and morally acceptable.

That actually lines up with part of the reason I created this thread. I was thinking along the lines of crime vs punishment and whether we have the right or even the moral obligation to take another human life whatever the circumstances.

Interestingly enough, when I was in the military, put in the right situation, I would have killed without hesitation. In fact I tried to (I shot but the target took cover and was later destroyed by someone else). But now, it seems the older we get the more valuable human life becomes.

I wonder what our younger members' take on that is.

digitalMedia · 09-18-2007, 01:39 PM

How about if I repose the question like this; "If you, by some unknown means, were to travel back in time and had an opportunity to kill Hitler/911 Hijackers/Torquemada/ad infinitum before his/their rise to power, would you?"

kjk437 · 09-19-2007, 01:57 AM

I would only kill in defense of myself, i.e. being attacked. I'm a strong proponent of concealed carry to this effect. However, I could not kill anyone that does not pose an immediate threat to myself (i.e. could not kill a convicted criminal as the moment of danger has passed).

To the question digitalMedia posed, that's more an interesting discussion of time travel than it is one of murder. What if my going back in time averts those events independent of my killing said people? Then if I did kill them and they wouldn't have done anything was I justified?

Gaius · 09-20-2007, 12:36 AM

I could kill anybody attacking or trying to kill an innocent or attempting genoicide or fatal disruptance on society. We all die. And to do nothing in these situations would be far more evil than to do nothing. Its absurd to pretend that pacificism will get us everywhere. It has its place but when it goes on to mean that I should allow a sadistic rapist his victim then it has failed us. As good men we must stand up to anything evil and often it is not as simple as "stunning them" into submission. I dont like it anymore than you do.