Hey there, neofishboy, good to have you here. The civil tone is appreciated, and profanity is not required in the Pit by any means. Mind you, “fuck” is one of my favorite words . . . purely for its versatility, of course. 
Damn, I was afraid I’d done that. Because I don’t disagree, honestly. I eat meat, I do not kill kittens, and there is a distinction. I’ll get to that in a sec.
First, I’ve been unclear, somewhat inaccurate, and vague. My apologies to all, especially Belladonna. So I’ll begin by cutting through the bullshit as much as possible.
It seems to me that many people are drawing a moral line for two reasons. Firstly because the animals were cats, and secondly because the guard received no benefit from the killing.
The first is moderately comprehensible to me. I understand that kittens are cuddly and fluffy and most people like them more than, say, anacondas.
It’s the second argument which I find morally questionable. It suggests that it’s acceptable to kill dogs for meat, minks for coats, and rattlesnakes for boots.
Of course, there’s also the argument that the guard was deliberately cruel, that he laughed like the dickens to see the cute little kittens get smooshed, that he has a swastika carved into his forehead . . . but I still have seen no evidence to support those claims. Here’s the thing:
It might well be the case that he does not hold the same views of morality involving animals as some people here. It might be that he does not feel remorse at killing the kittens. It might be that he simply would not understand why people are so upset with him.
And ya know? That doesn’t make it ok to call for his death.
Once again, the notion that “all life is precious” is relatively new, and not held by all people. The idea that kittens have some inalienable right to life is not a universally-held belief. It sucks. But it is simply the case. Animal cruelty laws are quite new, all things considered, and are a reflection of prevailing ethincs–not the arbiter of those ethics.
So, in answer to your questions. . . I believe the guard acted in a way I do not want anyone in my society to act, and therefore should be punished. He has been. Hopefully, he’s learned. At very least, he won’t be doing anything that dumb again–which is the point.
Some of y’all might want to see the death penalty enacted for animal cruelty, but I respectfully don’t think you do. Maybe I’m wrong.
But I will continue to hold the position that the deaths of those kittens was no more “cruel” than the deaths of millions of cows, calves, pigs, piglets, chickens . . . I’m just willing to accept the cruelties of the meat industry as a price of eating meat.
That’s the distinction I draw, neofishboy.
And goddess only knows what karma is piling up on our souls for those killings, Belladonna.
