# Was this 2nd degree murder or was it not a crime at all **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 27, 2015, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-this-2nd-degree-murder-or-was-it-not-a-crime-at-all/716136 "2015-03-27T18:03:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2015, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-this-2nd-degree-murder-or-was-it-not-a-crime-at-all/716136/21 "2015-03-28T07:35:13Z")
I was under the impression–and I can’t recall where I got that impression–that “felony murder”, as you describe it, is first degree murder. ---
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2015, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-this-2nd-degree-murder-or-was-it-not-a-crime-at-all/716136/22 "2015-03-28T07:55:07Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > I was under the impression–and I can’t recall where I got that impression–that “felony murder”, as you describe it, is first degree murder. I think First Degree has to be preplanned, intentional and calculated. It can’t be as a result of an argument or a fight you thought they had a gun but they really didn’t. First degree is reserved for when you definitely wanted them dead on purpose and you planned ahead for it. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2015, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-this-2nd-degree-murder-or-was-it-not-a-crime-at-all/716136/23 "2015-03-28T12:30:58Z")
Premeditation can happen in one second. “Preplanning” implies that one has to make a plot an appreciable amount in advance, like slipping arsenic into someone’s tea. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2015, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-this-2nd-degree-murder-or-was-it-not-a-crime-at-all/716136/24 "2015-03-28T14:41:50Z")
Please. You cannot legally consent to an illegal act. Plain and simple. Google " Armin Meiwes" for more information. But only if you have a strong stomach. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2015, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-this-2nd-degree-murder-or-was-it-not-a-crime-at-all/716136/25 "2015-03-28T14:47:12Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Google " Armin Meiwes" for more information. But only if you have a strong stomach. Or just click on a thread linked in post 12. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2015, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-this-2nd-degree-murder-or-was-it-not-a-crime-at-all/716136/26 "2015-03-28T16:16:22Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > [Similar thread from 2002](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=150501) (German cannibal murder) > > **Revtim** [knew the guy](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=174724). I probably shouldn’t have read that thread while finishing a bologna sandwich. As for the OP, I don’t know a lot about different categories of homicide, but what you describe was definitely a serious felony. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2015, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-this-2nd-degree-murder-or-was-it-not-a-crime-at-all/716136/27 "2015-03-28T16:19:19Z")
> [@foolsguinea](#): > > I probably shouldn’t have read that thread while finishing a bologna sandwich. Could’ve been worse. You could’ve been eating a knackwurst. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-this-2nd-degree-murder-or-was-it-not-a-crime-at-all/716136.md?page=1)