# Not so much RO as bewilderment - child killing story **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 16, 2008, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-so-much-ro-as-bewilderment-child-killing-story/453129 "2008-06-16T17:34:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2008, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-so-much-ro-as-bewilderment-child-killing-story/453129/21 "2008-06-16T22:31:34Z")
[QUOTE=danceswithcats] Unfortunately, those of us in the “shoot the sumbitch” camp are tut-tutted by the legions of what-iffers. [/QUOTE] As far as I know, unless you’re a law enforcement officer, you have neither the training nor the authority to shoot someone you see doing something you don’t think is right. I personally don’t want trigger-happy vigilantes being the final word on who gets shot for what in _my_ world. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2008, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-so-much-ro-as-bewilderment-child-killing-story/453129/22 "2008-06-16T22:47:57Z")
[QUOTE=featherlou] As far as I know, unless you’re a law enforcement officer, you have neither the training nor the authority to shoot someone you see doing something you don’t think is right. I personally don’t want trigger-happy vigilantes being the final word on who gets shot for what in _my_ world. [/QUOTE] A legally armed civillian is allowed to use deadly force in the defense of their own life or the lives of others. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2008, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-so-much-ro-as-bewilderment-child-killing-story/453129/23 "2008-06-16T22:52:40Z")
[QUOTE=NinetyWt] The man was quoted as saying the baby was possessed by demons. [/QUOTE] I knew this would be it. I almost said it in my first reply but didn’t want to be accused of religion-baiting. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2008, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-so-much-ro-as-bewilderment-child-killing-story/453129/24 "2008-06-16T23:16:27Z")
[QUOTE=Otto] My question is, did none of these passers-by have a tire iron or jack handle? A cracked skull would probably have made it harder for the guy to keep beating the kid. [/QUOTE] They probably didn’t have it ON them, and they probably didn’t even think of it, as those are tools and not weapons. ---
**Author:** ![Khampelf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Khampelf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khampelf)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2008, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-so-much-ro-as-bewilderment-child-killing-story/453129/25 "2008-06-16T23:27:16Z")
[QUOTE=neutron star] :rolleyes: Don’t. Please. Just don’t. [/QUOTE] Don’t legally carry concealable firearms? Thank you, Nancy Reagan. “Just say ‘No’ to the second amendment.” or just ‘Don’t open this debate, again’? Too late, we there, girlfriend. ---
**Author:** ![Khampelf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Khampelf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khampelf)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2008, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-so-much-ro-as-bewilderment-child-killing-story/453129/26 "2008-06-16T23:29:00Z")
[QUOTE=danceswithcats] Unfortunately, those of us in the “shoot the sumbitch” camp are tut-tutted by the legions of what-iffers. [/QUOTE] “What if” the baby really was possesed by demons? ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2008, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-so-much-ro-as-bewilderment-child-killing-story/453129/27 "2008-06-16T23:39:31Z")
[QUOTE=runner pat] A legally armed civillian is allowed to use deadly force in the defense of their own life or the lives of others. [/QUOTE] That’s _awesome_. Because obviously everyone who happens to have a legal firearm is a fucking genius and fully capable of coolly assessing any situation under extreme pressure. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2008, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-so-much-ro-as-bewilderment-child-killing-story/453129/28 "2008-06-16T23:43:34Z")
[QUOTE=The Sonoran Lizard King] “What if” the baby really was possesed by demons? [/QUOTE] Assuming demons were real ? Then, obviously, you go to an exorcist. The same as going to a doctor when a child is infected with a disease, instead of trying to beat the disease out of them. ---
**Author:** ![yoyodyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a9a28c/32.png) [@yoyodyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyodyne)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2008, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-so-much-ro-as-bewilderment-child-killing-story/453129/29 "2008-06-16T23:46:48Z")
Do you think it requires a cool-thinking genius to know if somebody is beating a baby to death? Do you think the people who were ineffectually trying to stop him were cool-thinking geniuses? Are police cool-thinking geniuses? ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2008, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-so-much-ro-as-bewilderment-child-killing-story/453129/30 "2008-06-16T23:47:40Z")
[QUOTE=yoyodyne] Are police cool-thinking geniuses? [/QUOTE] Police are trained. Any fool who’s never committed a felony can buy a gun. ---
**Author:** ![yoyodyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a9a28c/32.png) [@yoyodyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyodyne)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2008, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-so-much-ro-as-bewilderment-child-killing-story/453129/31 "2008-06-16T23:49:48Z")
That didn’t do the baby much good, did it? ---
**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2008, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-so-much-ro-as-bewilderment-child-killing-story/453129/32 "2008-06-16T23:50:34Z")
Anybody seen vampire-peacock killer, [John Ross](http://www.nypost.com/seven/07032007/news/regionalnews/peacock_killer_is_cuckoo __mom_regionalnews_samuel_goldsmith__ jamie_schram_and_andy_geller.htm), lately? Pay special attention to paragraph 2. ---
**Author:** ![Kalypso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/df705f/32.png) [@Kalypso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalypso)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-so-much-ro-as-bewilderment-child-killing-story/453129/33 "2008-06-17T00:01:50Z")
I’ve been thinking about what I would do if I were confronted with this situation (I live in the same county). I would want to help, but it would be really scary. What if I tried and the man knocked me out and after he was done with the baby went for my young daughter in my back seat? What if he killed me, leaving my own daughter to be raised by my abusive ex? I would probably still try to do _something_, but I understand the myriad of reasons why any capable bystander might not simply jump in and attack a crazed man, even if he was killing a helpless baby. ---
**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:** [June 17, 2008, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-so-much-ro-as-bewilderment-child-killing-story/453129/34 "2008-06-17T00:04:26Z")
If guns were a lot easier to acquire legally, and most everyone carried one with them, they could have shot the guy. Of course, if guns were a lot easier to acquire legally, and most everyone carried one with them, _he_ could have shot the baby. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-so-much-ro-as-bewilderment-child-killing-story/453129/35 "2008-06-17T00:29:06Z")
[QUOTE=featherlou] As far as I know, unless you’re a law enforcement officer, you have neither the training nor the authority to shoot someone you see doing something you don’t think is right. I personally don’t want trigger-happy vigilantes being the final word on who gets shot for what in _my_ world. [/QUOTE] That’s cool. Hubby doesn’t currently own a gun. He would have done the bastard in with his hands or any nearby object. Poor misunderstood baby-murdering son of a bitch. Not. ---
**Author:** ![Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heffalump_and_roo/32/7691_2.png) [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-so-much-ro-as-bewilderment-child-killing-story/453129/36 "2008-06-17T00:49:09Z")
OK, my bad. . . I know. I shouldn’t open a thread titled “Not so much RO as bewilderment” and think that it might NOT actually be RO. That’s like opening up a thread titled “Not really about barely concealed rage” and think that it had anything but rage in it. But I was really curious to see how this was different than your typical RO thread and I got my answer. . . not a single, solitary thing. So this is “Not so much threadshitting as bewilderment” – Why people don’t title their RO threads as RO?! If you title it right, I’ll _try_ to stay out. . .or at least not post to it. Waddaya say? ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-so-much-ro-as-bewilderment-child-killing-story/453129/37 "2008-06-17T00:53:57Z")
Do, or do not. There is no “try.” 😉 ---
**Author:** ![myskepticsight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cc9497/32.png) [@myskepticsight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/myskepticsight)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-so-much-ro-as-bewilderment-child-killing-story/453129/38 "2008-06-17T00:58:28Z")
[QUOTE=Heffalump and Roo] OK, my bad. . . I know. I shouldn’t open a thread titled “Not so much RO as bewilderment” and think that it might NOT actually be RO. That’s like opening up a thread titled “Not really about barely concealed rage” and think that it had anything but rage in it. But I was really curious to see how this was different than your typical RO thread and I got my answer. . . not a single, solitary thing. So this is “Not so much threadshitting as bewilderment” – Why people don’t title their RO threads as RO?! If you title it right, I’ll _try_ to stay out. . .or at least not post to it. Waddaya say? [/QUOTE] Hijack but you say you won’t post in these types of threads as you’re posting in the thread? Yeah maybe the title isn’t accurate as it could be, but you read it THEN posted. Why does it matter anyway? Is no one allowed to bitch or open a thread where other people express emotions over some fucked up shit? Not like you have to pay a buck per thread you open. And to me, the OP was posting about something very RO worthy but presented it as bewildering AND fucked up, which it is. ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-so-much-ro-as-bewilderment-child-killing-story/453129/39 "2008-06-17T01:05:08Z")
[QUOTE=Otto] I knew this would be it. I almost said it in my first reply but didn’t want to be accused of religion-baiting. [/QUOTE] I didn’t say that possession by demons was a _bad_ thing. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![TroubleAgain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e480ec/32.png) [@TroubleAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroubleAgain)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-so-much-ro-as-bewilderment-child-killing-story/453129/40 "2008-06-17T01:13:43Z")
[QUOTE=Otto] I knew this would be it. I almost said it in my first reply but didn’t want to be accused of religion-baiting. [/QUOTE] I don’t see a lunatic killing a baby because it’s “possessed by demons” so much a religion issue as a mental health issue. So no accusation from me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-so-much-ro-as-bewilderment-child-killing-story/453129.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-so-much-ro-as-bewilderment-child-killing-story/453129.md?page=3)