# Would you shoot out three people's knee caps to save a loved one's life? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 12, 2015, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-shoot-out-three-peoples-knee-caps-to-save-a-loved-ones-life/737400 "2015-11-12T19:41:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2015, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-shoot-out-three-peoples-knee-caps-to-save-a-loved-ones-life/737400/1 "2015-11-12T19:41:42Z")
In case you’re wondering, I got this from watching 24 (live another day) wherein Mr. Bauer shoots out three innocent people’s knee caps in an effort to save the President from being assassinated. So I pose the hypothetical to you: You can sit back and do nothing and let your loved one get assassinated. Or you can blow out three innocent people’s knee caps which will somehow magically save your loved one from being assassinated. The three innocent people will live but they will never walk again. ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2015, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-shoot-out-three-peoples-knee-caps-to-save-a-loved-ones-life/737400/2 "2015-11-12T19:51:43Z")
Living wounded sue. Dead is cheaper & easier. Since they would be bad guys, dead works best for me. 3 totally innocent children woud in now way help anything but a magic world so I won’t worry about what I would think about hurting/killing them. ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2015, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-shoot-out-three-peoples-knee-caps-to-save-a-loved-ones-life/737400/3 "2015-11-12T19:52:09Z")
I don’t know if I’m fighting the hypothetical necessarily, just that I refuse to either “do nothing” or shoot innocent people. Maybe I can find a way to pretend to shoot them. Or maybe I just start shooting bad guys. Or maybe I stall indefinitely in the hopes that we’re rescued. (On a related note: It’s this kind of thing in 24 that convinced me Bauer should be put in prison, not lauded as a hero. The guy can’t buy a latte without breaking two laws and harming an innocent bystander.) ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2015, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-shoot-out-three-peoples-knee-caps-to-save-a-loved-ones-life/737400/4 "2015-11-12T19:55:25Z")
> [@GusNSpot](#): > > Living wounded sue. > > Dead is cheaper & easier. > > Since they would be bad guys, dead works best for me. > > 3 totally innocent children woud in now way help anything but a magic world so I won’t worry about what I would think about hurting/killing them. [Golf Clap] As fighting hypotheticals go, this is a good one. Well played. ---
**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:** [November 12, 2015, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-shoot-out-three-peoples-knee-caps-to-save-a-loved-ones-life/737400/5 "2015-11-12T20:23:18Z")
If I line them up properly, I can knee-cap all three with one shot. That leaves me two rounds to go after whoever put me in that situation. ---
**Author:** ![CT\_Damsel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CT\_Damsel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CT_Damsel)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2015, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-shoot-out-three-peoples-knee-caps-to-save-a-loved-ones-life/737400/6 "2015-11-12T20:30:39Z")
No I could not shoot any innocent person for any reason. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2015, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-shoot-out-three-peoples-knee-caps-to-save-a-loved-ones-life/737400/7 "2015-11-12T20:58:54Z")
Define innocent. I’ve got a lot of patients who claim to be innocent, but I’m tempted to shoot out their kneecaps even if it won’t save a loved one’s life. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2015, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-shoot-out-three-peoples-knee-caps-to-save-a-loved-ones-life/737400/8 "2015-11-12T21:15:05Z")
> [@CT\_Damsel](#): > > No I could not shoot any innocent person for any reason. Crippling them for life is going too far. I might be able to shoot off one little toe from each victim. Maybe even the off-hand small finger. Cause a big scar somewhere that isn’t prominent. But leave them in a wheelchair the rest of their life? That’s too harsh. I couldn’t do it. (FWIW, I’ve asked my closest friends and family questions like this, and they agree: they’d rather be assassinated than have their lives saved at this kind of outrageous cost. And I agree too. I don’t want to sacrifice my life to save three strangers from being crippled for life…but if some evil puke compels me to that choice, then goodbye cruel world.) ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2015, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-shoot-out-three-peoples-knee-caps-to-save-a-loved-ones-life/737400/9 "2015-11-12T21:21:48Z")
You gotta figure those “innocent” people were guilty of _something_ at some point in their lives. So the kneecaps kind of had it coming. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2015, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-shoot-out-three-peoples-knee-caps-to-save-a-loved-ones-life/737400/10 "2015-11-12T21:36:01Z")
I wouldn’t shoot them, but I would place them dangerously close to a trolley and let nature take its course. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2015, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-shoot-out-three-peoples-knee-caps-to-save-a-loved-ones-life/737400/11 "2015-11-12T21:40:09Z")
Wait, are we shooting both kneecaps on all 3 people? I’m guessing the 2nd kneecap on each person is a really hard shot, what with the falling down and flailing about and screaming and all that. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2015, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-shoot-out-three-peoples-knee-caps-to-save-a-loved-ones-life/737400/12 "2015-11-12T21:47:03Z")
> [@CT\_Damsel](#): > > No I could not shoot any innocent person for any reason. So you would effectively kill your loved one, to save other people’s knee caps? Glad I’m not your loved one. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2015, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-shoot-out-three-peoples-knee-caps-to-save-a-loved-ones-life/737400/13 "2015-11-12T21:51:54Z")
Your title doesnt specify “innocent”, and that will lead to poor results. No, I am afraid not, I could not/would not take affirmative action like that. Now, could i sit back and let someone else do it to save a loved one? Probably. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2015, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-shoot-out-three-peoples-knee-caps-to-save-a-loved-ones-life/737400/14 "2015-11-12T21:53:15Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > So you would effectively kill your loved one, to save other people’s knee caps? Glad I’m not your loved one. No- the PERP is making\* the choice\* to kill the loved one, not I. I would have to be making\* the choice\* to cripple three innocents for life, and perhaps have them die. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2015, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-shoot-out-three-peoples-knee-caps-to-save-a-loved-ones-life/737400/15 "2015-11-12T21:59:01Z")
I would still just shoot to kill. Trying to shoot to wound it just a fantasy, it exists only in these type of hypotheticals. If I had a really smart gun that would only shoot their knees, I would still find a way to kill them. Shoot the knees first of course! In the range of this thread, yes, shoot out their knees. They may still pose a threat to you. Life is not like the movies, if shot in both knees, they are probably done and going to die. Or they may still have a few minutes left to kill you too.Are you feeling lucky today? There are no safe shots where you can shoot a human and only wound them. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2015, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-shoot-out-three-peoples-knee-caps-to-save-a-loved-ones-life/737400/16 "2015-11-12T22:05:10Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > So you would effectively kill your loved one, to save other people’s knee caps? Glad I’m not your loved one. Actually, I think it would be quite selfish to fuck up three people’s live to save your loved one. > [@Dallas\_Jones](#): > > I would still just shoot to kill. Trying to shoot to wound it just a fantasy, it exists only in these type of hypotheticals. > > If I had a really smart gun that would only shoot their knees, I would still find a way to kill them. Shoot the knees first of course! > > In the range of this thread, yes, shoot out their knees. They may still pose a threat to you. Life is not like the movies, if shot in both knees, they are probably done and going to die. Or they may still have a few minutes left to kill you too.Are you feeling lucky today? > > There are no safe shots where you can shoot a human and only wound them. Why would you be determined to kill three innocent people? They are not a threat to you. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2015, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-shoot-out-three-peoples-knee-caps-to-save-a-loved-ones-life/737400/17 "2015-11-12T22:05:14Z")
> [@Dallas\_Jones](#): > > I would still just shoot to kill… Killing three innocent strangers to make yourself feel good is pretty much the definition of Evil. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2015, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-shoot-out-three-peoples-knee-caps-to-save-a-loved-ones-life/737400/18 "2015-11-12T23:33:21Z")
Are you kidding? I’d desolate an entire nation to save a loved one. In the most painful way imaginable. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2015, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-shoot-out-three-peoples-knee-caps-to-save-a-loved-ones-life/737400/19 "2015-11-12T23:59:33Z")
This is exactly why I know I should not own a gun. I’d shoot out kneecaps left and right for far less reasonable reasons, and be in jail or dead inside of 3 days of acquiring said gun. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2015, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-shoot-out-three-peoples-knee-caps-to-save-a-loved-ones-life/737400/20 "2015-11-13T00:12:08Z")
Depends on the the loved one. I would pretty much do anything required to save my son’s life. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-shoot-out-three-peoples-knee-caps-to-save-a-loved-ones-life/737400.md?page=2)