Can murder be justified?

[LightAndMagic]

Although I am a very liberal person, I think murder can be justified.

Obviously in self-defense, a kill or be killed situation, I think it is clearly justifiable (assuming that he was actually going to murder you).

I also think, as bad as this sounds, some people just deserve it. Not every day criminals, or people responsible for killing a couple of people. But there are truly evil people out there (ex. Hitler) who I feel are worthy of being shot in the face for the heinous crimes they've committed. I don't have a particular reason as to why I believe, it's just how I feel. A man responsible for the attempted extermination of a race of people deserves to be shot in the face.

 

[Mittens2317]

Murder cannot be justified. Revenge can be. And murder rarely has a happy relationship with revenge.

 

[Mezmerize]

Murder cannot be justified. Revenge can be. And murder rarely has a happy relationship with revenge.

Revenge is ultimately murder in the end >_>' so I don't get that statement at all. Murdering for the sake of revenge is justified? I mean, there are other ways to get revenge then going for the ol' "eye for an eye". Think about it; a lifetime in jail is so much worse than death.

But this isn't about prison, its about murder. Can it be justified? Sure, but in the end, murder is murder. You killed someone, you murdered that person. Do you have a reason for it? Sure, revenge, whatever it may be... in the end of the day, its still murder.

I said earlier that self-defense to me seems to be the only way to justify murder. I don't think revenge can really justify murder, because that's why we have courts. Not saying that courts are perfect, I know people are jailed who are innocent more commonly than they should, and that the criminals are set free sometimes.

 

[Gulch666]

cold blooded murder..no, i dont think its justified.

killing someone in self defense, killing someone who deserves to die vigilante style, of course whether or not someone deserves to die is personal opinion, you know, rapists, murderers, child molesters etc, yeah they deserve to die, law or not, fuck um, wast o' air, food money and natural resources in my opinion. definitely justified

if someone killed/raped a friend or loved one of mine in cold blood, i would hunt their ass down for some swift vengeance.

 

[khmp]

Murder can not be justified. We do it to get by and you must admit we are pretty damn good at it. Whether it be to survive to see tomorrow, protect something or destroy something. I guess I should elaborate. War, self defense, mercy killings. It's all in the spin. You can convince yourself and others the positives outweigh the negatives. Reason through logic that it was the right thing to do. Trust in your religion. Trust in your government. Him or me. Someone still pays with their life. They may have harmed, maimed, killed so they in turn must suffer for their doings. I agree, I won't say they don't deserve their fate. Kill them, murder them, but don't turn around and say it isn't murder. Don't sugarcoat a very deadly truth.

The only part I'm not sure how I feel is abortion. I don't consider it murder even after writing the paragraph above. But I can't logically fathom why. I guess I don't see a fetus as a human yet. I know that sounds cold hearted but I just don't know.

 

[JesseG88]

Where I live (Kentucky, United States), if a robber breaks into your house, car, or workplace, you can shoot and kill him with no fear of legal consequences (We have a castle doctrine).

(1) The use of physical force by a defendant upon another person is justifiable when the defendant believes that such force is immediately necessary to prevent:

• (a) The commission of criminal trespass, robbery, burglary, or other felony involving the use of force, or under those circumstances permitted pursuant to KRS 503.055, in a dwelling, building or upon real property in his possession or in the possession of another person for whose protection he acts; or
• (b) Theft, criminal mischief, or any trespassory taking of tangible, movable property in his possession or in the possession of another person for whose protection he acts.

(2) The use of deadly physical force by a defendant upon another person is justifiable under subsection (1) only when the defendant believes that the person against whom such force is used is:

• (a) Attempting to dispossess him of his dwelling otherwise than under a claim of right to its possession; or
• (b) Committing or attempting to commit a burglary, robbery, or other felony involving the use of force, or under those circumstances permitted pursuant to KRS 503.055, of such dwelling; or
• (c) Committing or attempting to commit arson of a dwelling or other building in his possession.

(3) A person does not have a duty to retreat if the person is in a place where he or she has a right to be.
Effective: July 12, 2006
History: Amended 2006 Ky. Acts ch. 192, sec. 5, effective July 12, 2006. -- Created
1974 Ky. Acts ch. 406, sec. 33, effective January 1, 1975.

If someone attempts to rob me or burn down my house, I would have no moral objection to killing him.  Hopefully, no-one will ever try, but better safe than sorry.


As for the abortion scenario, that would be... difficult.  I am a very pro-life, right-wing, conservative.  I strongly oppose abortion except in extraordinary circumstances.  For example, if a woman's life is in danger, and an abortion would significantly increase her odds of survival, and there are no feasible alternatives, an abortion should be allowed.  To prevent abuse of the woman's-life-is-in-danger exception, a panel of experts would hold a hearing where the woman is under oath, and decide if her life is endangered.

 

[Legendary]

Murder can never be justified. Killing someone can be, but murder is unjustifiable in ANY form. As for the abortion scenario, I'd say considering abortion is quite justified under the circumstances. She probably WANTS to carry the baby to term (or it would have been aborted by that point), but has no real choice if she wishes to survive, and can't guarantee the baby's survival. Better that the woman should be saved, then both be lost, in my own opinion, especially if more children can be produced.

 

[candle]

Where I live (Kentucky, United States), if a robber breaks into your house, car, or workplace, you can shoot and kill him with no fear of legal consequences (We have a castle doctrine).

(1) The use of physical force by a defendant upon another person is justifiable when the defendant believes that such force is immediately necessary to prevent:

• (a) The commission of criminal trespass, robbery, burglary, or other felony involving the use of force, or under those circumstances permitted pursuant to KRS 503.055, in a dwelling, building or upon real property in his possession or in the possession of another person for whose protection he acts; or
• (b) Theft, criminal mischief, or any trespassory taking of tangible, movable property in his possession or in the possession of another person for whose protection he acts.

(2) The use of deadly physical force by a defendant upon another person is justifiable under subsection (1) only when the defendant believes that the person against whom such force is used is:

• (a) Attempting to dispossess him of his dwelling otherwise than under a claim of right to its possession; or
• (b) Committing or attempting to commit a burglary, robbery, or other felony involving the use of force, or under those circumstances permitted pursuant to KRS 503.055, of such dwelling; or
• (c) Committing or attempting to commit arson of a dwelling or other building in his possession.

(3) A person does not have a duty to retreat if the person is in a place where he or she has a right to be.
Effective: July 12, 2006
History: Amended 2006 Ky. Acts ch. 192, sec. 5, effective July 12, 2006. -- Created
1974 Ky. Acts ch. 406, sec. 33, effective January 1, 1975.

If someone attempts to rob me or burn down my house, I would have no moral objection to killing him.  Hopefully, no-one will ever try, but better safe than sorry.


As for the abortion scenario, that would be... difficult.  I am a very pro-life, right-wing, conservative.  I strongly oppose abortion except in extraordinary circumstances.  For example, if a woman's life is in danger, and an abortion would significantly increase her odds of survival, and there are no feasible alternatives, an abortion should be allowed.  To prevent abuse of the woman's-life-is-in-danger exception, a panel of experts would hold a hearing where the woman is under oath, and decide if her life is endangered.

I am so glad you posted a source, because I would have had a hard time believing it otherwise

 

[Dissonance]

The only part I'm not sure how I feel is abortion. I don't consider it murder even after writing the paragraph above. But I can't logically fathom why. I guess I don't see a fetus as a human yet. I know that sounds cold hearted but I just don't know.

They're not, because they're not yet intelligent beings.

It actually takes quite a while for a human to grow into an intelligent being.  We've got a lot of people here on .org that haven't made the transition yet.

 

[JesseG88]

I think a better name for the thread would be something like "Can killing a human being ever be justified?"  The reason:  If it's justified, it's not murder.  Murder is by definition unjustified.  Killing, on the other hand, can be justified under certain circumstances.