Could you kill someone?

[catweazle]

There are, of course, people who can legally kill another person - soldiers, drone pilots, armed police etc etc.  When, in the course of their duties, they do kill someone, how do they disassociate themselves from it? The dead individual, a criminal, a terrorist, whatever, still was another human.  Do the legal killers sit down at home at the end of the day and think about the subjects "other" life?

Could you kill someone? How would it sit in your mind?

( We no longer have a death penalty, but how did someone like Albert Pierrepoint square things with having killed literally hundreds of people?)

[MissWolf]

There are days when I'd like to kill certain people....but no I don't think I would be capable of taking a life.

But then saying that in certain situations, say if you are fighting for your life then I think we all have it in us to take a life if it means saving ourselves 

[RandomGuy99]

I've known a few soldiers. Yes, they sit at home and think about it.  They're not robots. They have feelings. It impacts them. However, they do it because the person they killed was a threat and probably going to kill them.

[cunnyhunt]

I was evaluated some years ago in a previous work life and the answer to the question is Yes. I was told I was able to compartmentalise (?) so it had no effect on me.

[Thephoenix]

 I dad 2 years national service in Australian army and served in Vietnam.
I was prepared to kill, but thankfully didn't need to.

To me it was a simple case of doing my duty for my new country.

Thankfully on returning to civvie street most of my working life was dedicated to saving lives.

Would I be prepared to kill in civilian life?
Absolutely to protect my family.

[puntingking]

There are, of course, people who can legally kill another person - soldiers, drone pilots, armed police etc etc.  When, in the course of their duties, they do kill someone, how do they disassociate themselves from it? The dead individual, a criminal, a terrorist, whatever, still was another human.  Do the legal killers sit down at home at the end of the day and think about the subjects "other" life?

Could you kill someone? How would it sit in your mind?

( We no longer have a death penalty, but how did someone like Albert Pierrepoint square things with having killed literally hundreds of people?)

No, I be scared where i be spending my afterlife 

Put it this way, I couldn't even kill someone if they killed every person in my life. I know that is pathetic but I just wouldn't be able to bring myself to it. There are times when I have felt really angry but in my anger I still couldn't kill someone.

[JontyR]

You never know until the situation arises, but I am not sure I could for myself. To protect others though, then yeah.

I suppose though it depends on the method, I can't see how I would ever have the means to kill someone. Run them over in my motor perhaps.

If there was a lone shooter and I was behind a doorway with a shovel, then yeah, I'd probably have a go knowing that if I didn't drop him with one hit then I'd be next.

Still my first instinct would be to run unless I had to protect someone. 

[hullad]

I was an armourer in the RAF and not expected to do anything involving getting close to danger . I had a liking to using different weapons on the range and was very used to the noise, smell and feel of live weapons. My weapon issued as a Sterling machine gun not an accurate weapon, but handy to work and have on my back. I have used many weapons over the years and I was once called upon to use one in anger.

I never flinched in using it and I did have a few bad nights post event but not since, I am OK with it I did not start it and I needed to defend myself and my comrades.

[southcoastpunter]

there's a few on here that i sometimes think i could happily murder!! haha

But being serious - as said above, you never know for sure until you are in a certain situation but i am pretty sure i could/would to defend myself, my family and friends! (but in my mind, that wouldn't be "murder", more "self defence")

[akauya]

I believe anyone could kill someone. Given the right circumstances. Or as Stanley Tucci said in the Inside Man  “everyone is a murderer. You just have to meet the right person.”

[Ahalfa Carling]

As a former nurse who has been present at the turning off of life support for patients, I have to say that it is the hardest and most distressing thing ever.

[alabama1]

As a former nurse who has been present at the turning off of life support for patients, I have to say that it is the hardest and most distressing thing ever.

I would think there are more distressing things happening in A & E

[PepeMAGA]

I think it's a different thing where you're given " license" to do it, eg as a soldier, executioner etc.
It's a different thing again killing someone in self defense where you have the decision to make.
Then different again where there is no justification in the case of murderers.

[RandomGuy99]

There were only two. I have a new patio now. Sshhh!

[Munter84]

I don't think I'm likely to - I've never come close, and I'm not a violent or confrontational person in general - but then again you never know what people are capable of, especially in a moment of stress or (perceived) self defence.

They say you're more likely to be killed by a scared man than an angry one.

[Strawberry]

I rescinded my armed forces application form, because I didn't think I had the ability or right to kill another person.

[Stevelondon]

Yes.

But of course it is entirely down to circumstances.
I am definitely not the kind of guy who could just go out and kill somebody.
But to protect my loved ones it’s a firm yes.
I’d also add I would definitely have it in me to exact revenge on anyone who harmed my loved ones. They would have to hope the law kept them safe from me.

Just saying……….. I know myself 

[FiveKnuckles]

Kill someone or something (animal) in cold blood, other than self defense, I could never.   I guess the people that kill first time have pumped themselves up, then the others are adrenaline rushes, similar to the feeling we have when we get to the door for a punt? 

I could never been a ground force soldier.  Bullets whizzing past.   

Drone operator or Apache pilot that appears and levels the opposition, I think I can do.  Pushing a few buttons and seeing things go boom, I wouldn't get too emotionally attached. 

[Stevelondon]

Kill someone or something (animal) in cold blood, other than self defense, I could never.   I guess the people that kill first time have pumped themselves up, then the others are adrenaline rushes, similar to the feeling we have when we get to the door for a punt? 

I could never been a ground force soldier.  Bullets whizzing past.   

Drone operator or Apache pilot that appears and levels the opposition, I think I can do.  Pushing a few buttons and seeing things go boom, I wouldn't get too emotionally attached.

Rumour has it Oppenheimer got a tad emotionally attached.

[standardpostage]

Yes.

[Blackpool Rock]

Yes.

But of course it is entirely down to circumstances.
I am definitely not the kind of guy who could just go out and kill somebody.
But to protect my loved ones it’s a firm yes.
I’d also add I would definitely have it in me to exact revenge on anyone who harmed my loved ones. They would have to hope the law kept them safe from me.

Just saying……….. I know myself 

I knew someone 25+ years ago whose child was murdered, it's amazing how often the subject of murder comes up in normal everyday conversation and people were regularly blurting out things like "If Joe Blogs does XYZ then i'll kill him" etc and then immediately realising and apologising

Anyway years after he was able to talk about things and he raised how often the subject of killing came up and that beforehand he was / would have been firmly of the opinion that if someone murdered his child then he'd want to exact revenge.
However he then said that for him he didn't actually feel like that after the event as he just felt numb and knew the best way was for the courts to do what they needed to do.

He was also approached by a number of different individuals who were well known criminals and asked if he wanted the convicted murderer to take a fall or worse inside as they had plenty of contacts and associates who could arrange it.

He declined and concluded that until you are actually put in a situation then you can't be 100% sure what your actions may or may not be

[timsussex]

I have always believed that everyone has a breaking point - at that point you either kill yourself or the Bastard that put you in that situation !

[Watts.E.Dunn]

Rumour has it Oppenheimer got a tad emotionally attached.

Well he was doing what was asked of him but theres this lenghty video that analyses a few photos taken by a very shocked young reporter three hours after the detonation. it analyses what happened on a bridge were some people, mainly children congreated to try to get away from the buring city its reflective of that time. Yes of course the Japanese goverment also had a lot to answer for in that film a young child tries to get help from a solider, but she wasnt considered "worth" helping wonen and children were of no use to the war effort!

It ought to be seen by all world leaders to see what happenes to ordinary people subject to a nuclear blast the fortunate ones were to be killed direcly under the mushroom cloud but its well worth a look as involved as it is...

External Link/Members Only

[jackdaw]

Well he was doing what was asked of him but theres this lenghty video that analyses a few photos taken by a very shocked young reporter three hours after the detonation. it analyses what happened on a bridge were some people, mainly children congreated to try to get away from the buring city its reflective of that time. Yes of course the Japanese goverment also had a lot to answer for in that film a young child tries to get help from a solider, but she wasnt considered "worth" helping wonen and children were of no use to the war effort!

It ought to be seen by all world leaders to see what happenes to ordinary people subject to a nuclear blast the fortunate ones were to be killed direcly under the mushroom cloud but its well worth a look as involved as it is...

External Link/Members Only

Watching “Grave of the Fireflies” might have an impact too. (It might seem odd to say this about a cartoon film, but I think it is profoundly moving.)

[m4rmite]

We're all killers,  we just haven't met the person who pissed us off / angered us the most.

So it's a yes from me.
Let me just clarify that at my age/physical strength,  that i would likely have to run them over with my car. 

[Xtro]

Rumour has it Oppenheimer got a tad emotionally attached.

"We knew the world would not be the same. A few people laughed, a few people cried. Most people were silent," he told NBC in a 1965 documentary.
"I remembered the line from the Hindu scripture, the Bhagavad-Gita; Vishnu [a principal Hindu deity] is trying to persuade the prince that he should do his duty, and to impress him, takes on his multi-armed form and says, "Now I have become death, the destroyer of the worlds'. I suppose we all thought that, one way or another."
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Also from the archives: Robert Oppenheimer in 1965 on if the bomb was necessary;
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Complete documentary - OPPENHEIMER: The Decision to Drop the Bomb (1965);
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In contrast, 2001 interview with Paul Tibbets, the pilot who dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima;
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I can only imagine I could shoot someone if I had to (assuming a gun in hand), but I doubt I could cut the skin off their head and face, open up their chest and pull their beating heart out, which appears to be the latest way to execute a rival in the world of the drugs cartels!   

[Stevelondon]

I knew someone 25+ years ago whose child was murdered, it's amazing how often the subject of murder comes up in normal everyday conversation and people were regularly blurting out things like "If Joe Blogs does XYZ then i'll kill him" etc and then immediately realising and apologising

Anyway years after he was able to talk about things and he raised how often the subject of killing came up and that beforehand he was / would have been firmly of the opinion that if someone murdered his child then he'd want to exact revenge.
However he then said that for him he didn't actually feel like that after the event as he just felt numb and knew the best way was for the courts to do what they needed to do.

He was also approached by a number of different individuals who were well known criminals and asked if he wanted the convicted murderer to take a fall or worse inside as they had plenty of contacts and associates who could arrange it.

He declined and concluded that until you are actually put in a situation then you can't be 100% sure what your actions may or may not be

I agree.
But I also know myself and not the guy you are on about. 👍🏻

[Belgarion]

There are, of course, people who can legally kill another person - soldiers, drone pilots, armed police etc etc.  When, in the course of their duties, they do kill someone, how do they disassociate themselves from it? The dead individual, a criminal, a terrorist, whatever, still was another human.  Do the legal killers sit down at home at the end of the day and think about the subjects "other" life?

Could you kill someone? How would it sit in your mind?

( We no longer have a death penalty, but how did someone like Albert Pierrepoint square things with having killed literally hundreds of people?)

It depends, if my life or the life of a family member were at risk and there was no way to disable them without killing them, I would.

How I would deal with that afterwards is what I do not know.