# Could you kill someone? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 4, 2005, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-kill-someone/282939 "2005-01-04T02:07:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Stuffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f17d59/32.png) [@Stuffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stuffy)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2005, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-kill-someone/282939/61 "2005-01-04T23:29:24Z")
Yep. Probably not above torture either for say like catching a pedophile. Luckily it’s never come up. Does sit bother me, a little, but not enough to lose sleep over it. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2005, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-kill-someone/282939/62 "2005-01-05T00:20:27Z")
If attacked first, absolutely. If attacked by a would-be rapist, if I could find a way to turn tables on the perpetrator, there wouldn’t be enough left of him for his own mother to recognize. If, upon reviewing what I’d done to the guy, I thought it would cause trouble for me with the police, then I’d dispose of the remains. I’m not kidding about this. ---
**Author:** ![Jammer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df705f/32.png) [@Jammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jammer)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2005, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-kill-someone/282939/63 "2005-01-05T01:33:24Z")
Absolutely, under the right circumstances. I’m well armed and trained, so I think I could follow through, if that unfortunate situation should arise. And if it IS the right circumstance, I don’t think it would bother me at all. I guess that’s just a wild-assed guess at this juncture, but I certainly hope it wouldn’t bother me, if it were justified. Jammer ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2005, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-kill-someone/282939/64 "2005-01-05T02:29:21Z")
It depends upon the circumstances and if I have someone willing to help me dispose of the body. ---
**Author:** ![Badge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@Badge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Badge)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2005, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-kill-someone/282939/65 "2005-01-05T10:28:28Z")
Of course. I had to search deep inside and be sure of that fact before I pinned on a badge for the first time. For those who think you would feel no remorse if the killing were justified: don’t be too sure. I’ve known cops who killed with 100% justification and they don’t always go merrily on with their lives. One cop I know killed a man who had killed a fellow cop and friend a few days earlier. Having to take this person’s life really ate away at him, and he eventually retired. Other’s really do have no problems afterwards. You just can’t really be sure until you’ve been there. ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2005, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-kill-someone/282939/66 "2005-01-05T10:51:15Z")
As a retired Army officer I have had to kill before, and I’ve given orders that have killed. I can’t say it was easy. I think it bothered me less than what you may expect, I think some people can deal with such things, and some people have a harder time. And since I was in the military I accepted that I probably would have to use all the combat skills I was being taught one day. Some of the occasions were impersonal, from a distance, the target being little more than the general impression of a human. I could recognize the uniform, the skin color perhaps, but no personal features, I couldn’t pick them out of a lineup. A few others, and these are the ones that never leave your mind, I could describe in detail. The worst thing is the eyes, that look the eyes get that tell you this person is hurt and dying, and you’re responsible for it. In a civilian situation I hope that I would never kill out of vengeance or anger. And I don’t think I really could. I think somethings (the rape/murder of a loved one) could bring me very close, but I don’t think I could kill someone in cold blood like that. In self defense I wouldn’t have any problem killing to defend myself. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2005, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-kill-someone/282939/67 "2005-01-05T10:53:57Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > No. > Not anyone. > Not under any circumstances, what so ever. Not under \*any \* circumstances? Have you thought of all the possible circumstances? (Such as the most obvious one: to save your own life…) ---
**Author:** ![Already\_in\_Use](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@Already\_in\_Use](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Already_in_Use)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2005, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-kill-someone/282939/68 "2005-01-05T11:47:33Z")
You never know until you try. My guess would be that with regards to the mental aspect, I could, since history shows that humans are generally brutal bloodthirsty bastards. I think I’d be haunted by the decision possibly to the point of nervous breakdown, but less so if I felt that the person’s death was immediately necessary to prevent greater suffering at their hands. Physically, of course, it would depend on my opponent’s comparative strength, and gym was my worst subject in school, so who knows. Torture? Never. I don’t believe in an eye for an eye, and even if passion led me to abandon that belief for enough time to do violence to someone, I don’t think I could ignore my nagging conscience long enough to carry on doing needless violence. Cannibalism? Hey, no use wasting perfectly good meat! ---
**Author:** ![butter\_pie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aca169/32.png) [@butter\_pie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butter_pie)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2005, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-kill-someone/282939/69 "2005-01-05T11:49:49Z")
I have been in a position to kill someone before and didn’t, but I will say, I came very close. Ultimately I chose not to, but I know deep down that if it was necessary, I could kill someone without hesitation. At the point you’re in that kind of position, it’s almost like animal instinct or reflexes kick in. You aren’t thinking rationally at that point. I could kill someone – IF I felt it was justified – like someone trying to attack/rape me, or I personally witnessed said person in the process of killing/harming another person and intervened. I would, if I knew I was legally OK with killing said person in that situation. I have no desire to spend the rest of my life in prison and I’d never kill unprovoked. But you wouldn’t want to be a criminal breaking into my apartment. If I killed someone trying to do me harm, I’d lose no sleep over it, I promise. I blame myself for the death of one person now though, even though I’m not the one that filled him with alcohol and ran him into a tree, but _that_ death has haunted me for a number of years. It all depends on situation. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2005, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-kill-someone/282939/70 "2005-01-05T13:18:19Z")
I’m sure anyone could be capable of it under the right circumstances. I have no doubt that I could, but I’d have to be far angrier and/or more scared than I’ve ever been. I often wonder what I would have done had I been in that 9/11 plane that crashed in Pennsylvania. Would I have had the nerve to kill the terrorists? Knowing that they were also our only hope for landing that plane? Egads, what a choice. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2005, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-kill-someone/282939/71 "2005-01-05T14:21:49Z")
> [@Kalhoun](#): > > You and another poster mentioned that you’re not above torture if someone hurts someone you love. You know, that doesn’t mean you love your family any more than any of the rest of us. It just means you’re sick. Just thought I’d share that with you. Seek help. You are a menace to society. This is a poll. If you wish to pit someone, do so in The BBQ Pit. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2005, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-kill-someone/282939/72 "2005-01-05T14:24:05Z")
> [@I Love Me](#): > > Not under \*any \* circumstances? Have you thought of all the possible circumstances? (Such as the most obvious one: to save your own life…) I can’t even envision _hitting_ someone to defend myself. Absolute pacifist from birth, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![WilhelmGefallen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9f8e36/32.png) [@WilhelmGefallen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WilhelmGefallen)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-kill-someone/282939/73 "2005-01-06T06:19:36Z")
> [@Idle Thoughts](#): > > If the circumstances called for it? Without a second thought, but I tend to be sociopathic. Animals are a different story, vermin yes (ie Rabbits, Ducks, Roos) and I have a Rutger .22LR, for this very reason. Foxes Id be tempted not to, any other animal the circumstance would have to be right. ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-kill-someone/282939/74 "2005-01-06T08:14:32Z")
Nope. I can barely bring myself to squash a roach. But some of my in-laws make me wish I could sign them up for involuntary combat duty . . . ---
**Author:** ![blinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a5b964/32.png) [@blinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blinx)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-kill-someone/282939/75 "2005-01-06T10:52:24Z")
About one and a half year ago, I and a girl friend was attacked by 8 guys who robbed us and tried to rape her. If I got the chance to kill everyone of them without any consequenses to myself, I’d happily do it. ---
**Author:** ![Q.N.Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/3da27b/32.png) [@Q.N.Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.N.Jones)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-kill-someone/282939/76 "2005-01-06T12:05:34Z")
In defense of myself or someone else I was in a position to help, I could definitely kill the offender. I think it would be rather traumatic for me, but I would not feel guilty about it. To me, those are two very different sets of feelings. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-kill-someone/282939/77 "2005-01-06T12:09:22Z")
A distinction should be made between “stopping” and “killing.” In a self-defense situation, you want to _ **stop** _, not kill, the perpetrator(s). A word to the wise: _never_ utter the words “kill,” “death,” or “lethal” to _anyone_ after you have justifiably defended yourself. As an example, do _not_ tell the detectives, “He was threatening my life, and in an act of self defense I _killed_ him.” _ **Never** _ use the word “kill,” as it _will_ be used against you in court. If you feel you must say something to the detectives, tell them “He was threatening my life, and in an act of self defense I _ **stopped** _ him.” Again, your goal was to _stop_, not kill. _Any death is incidental_. Utter the words “kill,” “death,” or “lethal” to anyone after a defense-related shooting and the attorneys will eat you alive. ---
**Author:** ![poeticyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/6bbea6/32.png) [@poeticyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/poeticyde)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-kill-someone/282939/78 "2005-01-06T15:03:36Z")
In my less-then-mentally-stable youth, I came within seconds of killing a person. I was thankfully stopped (physically beaten and restrained) by friends who caught me in the act, and am incredibly lucky not to have been prosecuted for attempted murder. To this day, I am chilled, haunted, and disgusted by the memory of that act, despite the fact that I can understand the justification I had for it at the time. I am very glad that the person I am today is so different from the person I was then. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-kill-someone/282939/79 "2005-01-06T15:08:17Z")
Yes, if the circumstances warranted it. Self-defense isn’t a problem, I hunt, and I have training in firearms and explosives and the like. Murder, on the other hand, I think is totally beyond me. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-kill-someone/282939/80 "2005-01-06T15:21:17Z")
I hope so, if the situation warranted. That goes for torture also. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-kill-someone/282939.md?page=3)