Topic 8: Homicide or Justified?

The ClubHouse: The Game II - Mysterious Puzzler: Discussions/Challenges: Official Topics: Topic 8: Homicide or Justified?
Homicide or Justified?

You are at a bus stop with several other people. A man runs up, out of the blue, pulls out a weapon and shoots the man sitting next to you right between the eyes. You’re horrified, frozen to your seat.

The killer stands back and says “There was no other way! They just let that SOB out of prison after 7 YEARS. He raped and killed my 14 year old daughter!”

What are your feelings and opinions? %5cb%7bHomicide+or+Justified%3f%7d%0a%0a%5cb%7b%5c1%7bY%7d%7dou+are+at+a+bus+stop+with+several+other+people%2e+A+man+runs+up%2c+out+of+the+blue%2c+pulls+out+a+weapon+and+shoots+the+man+sitting+next+to+you+right+between+the+eyes%2e+You%92re+horrified%2c+frozen+to+your+seat%2e++%0a%0a%5cb%7b%5c1%7bT%7d%7dhe+killer+stands+back+and+says+%93There+was+no+other+way%21+They+just+let+that+SOB+out+of+prison+after+7+YEARS%2e+He+raped+and+killed+my+14+year+old+daughter%21%94%0a%0a%5cblue%7b%5cb%7b%5c1%7bW%7d%7dhat+are+your+feelings+and+opinions%3f%7d

Hostess2

Monday, January 29, 2001 - 10:10 am Click here to edit this post

~bump~

Juju2bigdog

Monday, January 29, 2001 - 12:51 pm Click here to edit this post

What gun?





Didn't Grisham write a book about that?

(seriously, of course, I'd try to keep the guy from shooting me or anybody else and then comfort him while we waited for the police, after he gave me the gun)

Ocean_Islands

Monday, January 29, 2001 - 04:35 pm Click here to edit this post

First, I'd be terrified, probably.

I'd not be certain that this person is telling the truth.

It seems like mafia justice.

A lot of complicated thoughts and feelings, actually.

I don't think execution is a proper punishment for rape. I actually do not believe in capital punishment.

There was no indication of whether the victim had expressed remorse, or whether the person was unrepentant.

Prison is, after all, in large part a remedy for crime. Aren't they supposed to be better when they are released?

The man who did the shooting is certainly a criminal.

To criticize this scenario, it must be said that it is unlikely that the man would have gotten out of prison after only seven years. He may have been out on parole, but the scenario does not say that.

The question does not address what I would do, only my feelings and opinions.

Azriel

Monday, January 29, 2001 - 04:50 pm Click here to edit this post

If I hadn't fainted already, I'd shake my head and say I understand. I don't think I'd be afraid because I'd know that he didn't want to kill anyone but the one responsible.

I would understand, because I think anyone that rapes and murders a child should be put in jail for the rest of his life and never let out. But, that still wouldn't justify breaking the law, in this manner, and I would cooperate with the police to apprehend him if he left the scene.

Guruchaz

Monday, January 29, 2001 - 06:25 pm Click here to edit this post

I'd whip out my pack of Wrigley's Spearmint and say, "Gum?"

uh huh huh

Guruchaz

Monday, January 29, 2001 - 09:58 pm Click here to edit this post

I assume that would be a fairly traumatic situation for me since I've never seen anyone be killed, let alone right next to me and between the eyes.

After he explained his motive, I would at least understand where he is coming from and let him know so and ask him to please put the gun down as to not frighten anymore people.

At that point, the decision is up to him. He's either going to stay put or run (whether he puts the gun down or not). My first initial reaction would be that I wouldn't want to hang around the scene. However, I'd realize that other people are witnesses and would stay to help keep them calm until the police could arrive and we could explain what happened and give a description.

Then, if he was still there, I'd ask him if he wants a stick of Wrigley's Spearmint.

Elitist

Tuesday, January 30, 2001 - 11:56 am Click here to edit this post

This is a tough question, especially since something happened when I was living in Baton Rouge that was somewhat similar. In that case, a young girl was abducted, and when the perpetrator was flown into Baton Rouge for trial, the father met them at the airport, pulled a gun and shot him.

I have thought about this, and in the eyes of the law, this is homicide, pure and simple. But I also know that if someone did the same to one of my loved ones, there could be such a rage and quest for vengeance and outrage at injustice that I could see myself taking such action, knowing full well that my life was probably forfeit also. In the situation described above, though, I don't know if that rage could hold over 7 years. What was described here was not a crime of passion in my eyes, put a calculated, premeditated murder.

And I have to laugh at Ocean's comments about prison is a remedy for crime and they are supposed to be better, and also that it is unlikely that the person would be let out after only 7 years - whether it be parole or not.

Prison has never really been a remedy or reformatory - look at the number of prisoners that are repeat offenders. It is more likely that prisons harden the criminal more than they reform them.

And criminals getting out on parole way before their sentence is over is as common as taxis in New York City. And being on parole doesn't keep you from committing more crimes, it is mostly just a way of keeping track of criminals, and a way to stick stiffer penalties on those that violate their parole. But I bet almost every person on parole has violated their parole pretty freely.

I would really like to hear Juju's comments on these last two points - she has to be the real authority in here on prisons and early release/parole.

Juju2bigdog

Tuesday, January 30, 2001 - 04:02 pm Click here to edit this post

I always used to keep track of my perp's release dates because I knew they would be right back at it again. My objective was to catch them at it and get them back "home" (in the pen) as quickly as possible. I used to think of it as being their vocation. Committing a particular type of crime was their "job." It was just what they did in life, much like having a job as, say, an auditor. They just did what they were good at.

Parolees are not supervised very closely for the most part, but parole does serve as a somewhat handy mechanism to get somebody back in jail more quickly than having to convict them all over again for the original crime. And, yikes, that reminds me, one of my favorite criminals of all time gets off parole in 2001, and at one time that seemed like forever far away into the future. The day is here. I better send out an e-mail to somebody still on the job. thanks for reminding me, Elitist.

Ocean_Islands

Tuesday, January 30, 2001 - 06:39 pm Click here to edit this post

As much as you might not like to believe it, prison is the only way that society has to make criminals pay for their crimes. Except in some jurisdictions where they put prisoners to death for certain crimes.

I was being facetious. I hardly think prisoners are rehabilitated, for the most part. However, I prefer to keep the idea of a benefit of the doubt instead of becoming totally cynical. I'll leave that to law enforcement professionals who have more time for that.

As much as you might not like to believe it, people can overcome a criminal nature and become useful members of society.

What if this executioner is lying? You haven't even addressed the possibility.

There is no mention of parole nor of whether the person got off.

How do you know this executioner has the right person? Maybe it is just someone who looks like the killer.

"And criminals getting out on parole way before their sentence is over is as common as taxis in New York City."

There are no criminals who get out on parole AFTER their sentence is over. Anyone who is out on parole is out before their sentence is over, that's why it's called parole instead of freedom.

Elitist

Tuesday, January 30, 2001 - 09:05 pm Click here to edit this post

I know Ocean - it appears you are as dense as I am when someone is being facetious.

Juju2bigdog

Tuesday, January 30, 2001 - 09:15 pm Click here to edit this post

<Juju2bigdog sniffs, screeches:>

Alliance!