Poll: Your Daily Dose of Morality

[zhoominator]

This really is a rather silly question and as much as I abhor guns and killing, in that situation I certainly would shoot. However, if this were a thief who intended on just making us sit in the corner or something it might be a totally different story and would depend on the guns we both had and the positions of the different people in the room at the time.

 

[VegetaPrinceofSaiyans]

I would shot this man even given my religious beliefs because, at that moment, I would most likely realize that this "god" I have dedicated my life to and toiled away for, and lived a certain style of life just to please, is just going to let me die this way. I would then shot the intruder to save my family, and forsake my ridiculous religion and any ties to this false deity that I may have, because if he was such a kind and righteous "god", he would have protected my family, but he did not and I was forced to do it myself...instant Atheism!

 

[Jedoro]

Well, since my beliefs are to shoot to kill if someone is a serious threat, then he'd be dead before he could even tell me he'd kill them.

 

[nondescript]

Numerous flaws in this hypothetical scenario.
1) You're a pacifist, but happen to have a fully loaded gun right by you? "My god doesn't approve of killing." "THOU SHALT OWN THIS COLT .45." "... I guess he's making an exception. Thanks, god!"
2) Pacifist or not, why did you stand there and let what is apparently a homicidal lunatic round up your family? It's fight or flight, so if you see a guy with a gun, and you don't want to shoot, run.
3) This guy didn't just appear out of nowhere (but the imagining of a hypothesis). Someone saw him drive/walk up, kick down the door (pacifist or not, I lock mine) and enter what was obviously not his house. If cops aren't behind them, they will be. That indicates this is a hostage situation and he's using my family to ensure he's not in jail or perforated. I say whether you shoot the guy or not, use that gun and distract him from the swat team about to break in.
4) I can imagine a couple conditions that might make it either hit or miss, but not Kill-shot or No Shot. You're absolutely certain if you fire you're weapon he will die, instantly? Especially if the cops are there, there is always a paramedic to rush said man to the hospital. Besides, as a pacifist, once you're family is safe, wouldn't you make an effort to save this man's life? (and maybe soul - wish I knew what weird NRA-pacifist religion I was talking about. Maybe they believe in souls and candy corn as the road to heaven.)
5) This is probably the most subtle but most crucial. You aren't asking "save my family or die a martyr", you're asking whether we're more comfortable burning in hell (or whatever underworld bad people go to in this NRA-approved, deer-in-the-headlights, pacifist group) for failing to follow one tenet of the faith during a life-or-death scenario, or willing to let ourselves and those we care for die (perhaps horribly) at the hands of someone who has no idea who you are or what you believe. Burn for being disobedient or let your family die in righteousness at the hands of a heathen.

That said, shoot the loony and pray your tree-hugging god won't hold it against you.

 

[VegetaPrinceofSaiyans]

4) I can imagine a couple conditions that might make it either hit or miss, but not Kill-shot or No Shot. You're absolutely certain if you fire you're weapon he will die, instantly? Especially if the cops are there, there is always a paramedic to rush said man to the hospital. Besides, as a pacifist, once you're family is safe, wouldn't you make an effort to save this man's life? (and maybe soul - wish I knew what weird NRA-pacifist religion I was talking about. Maybe they believe in souls and candy corn as the road to heaven.)

Well, as far as the NRA/Pacifist religion goes...it sounds to be awful familiar to fundamental southern Christianity, at least from my perspective.

 

[nondescript]

in any right or sense the death of the intruder or me cannot be justified on any grounds except the law, even if he did killed my family I couldn't kill the intruder with any good justification.

The moral question, I think is about upholding one's arrogance or how much arrogance you have so really I would have to say that I would kill him due to personal reasons like having to kill someone without the law (social norm) declaring it as an act of immorality

Wait wait wait wait... WHAT!?!
So you wouldn't shoot to defend your family, but you'd totally ice this guy because his level of arrogance was offensive to you? Are you even noticing the gun and death threat to yourself?

 

[Chris^^]

stupid question, anyone threatens me, my family or my friends then they better make damn sure i'm incapable of harming them in any way, because i refuse to be held accountable for my actions in any such situation.

i'd probably shoot out his kneecaps before killing him, just to make damn sure i'd made my point

 

[lewism247]

Would I shoot them?

Hell yeah

1 person willing to murder a whole family < innocent family

 

[Zykon TheLich]

Stupid question.

You are asking if I would kill someone if I was the sort of person who wouldn't kill someone.

 

[Broady Brio]

I'd prefer to kill 1 then be responsible for me + 3 other people's deaths.

Plus he shouldn't be in my bloody house!

 

[Anticitizen_Two]

When I'm just sitting in my chair typing this, it's easy to say that I would do it. But if it actually happened to me, I really don't know if I would be able to. I mean, I don't even kill bugs.

 

[Julianking93]

This shouldn't even be a question.

He tries to kill me, I kill him. It's that simple.

 

[Cpt_Oblivious]

In your situation where it is against my beliefs to kill another then a question arises: Why would I own a gun if everything I believe in goes against killing another?

Anyway, since that does not describe me in anyway I refuse to answer your question as it does not test my morality if it is not me being questioned. It is someone else with very different beliefs to me.

 

[Dags90]

Wouldn't owning a readily accessible handgun and ammo sorta hint that you had already made this decision ages ago?

in any right or sense the death of the intruder or me cannot be justified on any grounds except the law, even if he did killed my family I couldn't kill the intruder with any good justification.

At least one standard of morality would say that not only can it be justified, but you have a duty to try and save the other people.

 

[Yorgmiester]

I have a friend who used to be a radical pacifist (he's not anymore, thank god, although he's still opposed to violence). Anyways, I was having a discussion with him about it and I slapped down this question: If you walked into your house late on night and found a strange man raping your little sister, would you attack him?

My friend said no.

Radical pacifism is pretty much the most fucked up belief there is, even worse than radical violence, in my mind. Being opposed to violence and war is understandable, but refusing to fight for any reason whatsoever is just plain retarded, and a sure-fire way to get yourself and those you love killed, as the example scenario proves.

 

[TaylorPaige09]

Well, I would probably try to reason with the fellow first. Then if that fails (and it probably would..) without a doubt I would shoot him dead.
Then I would ask for forgiveness.

Then I would realize that it is self defense and I have every right to do so.

Note: Police would be alerted immediately if this guy kicked in my door. Thanks to an alarm system

Not to mention that if this guy has the balls to walk into my house and threaten to kill my family, how many other families has he done this too? Obviously, he's a criminal and I think shooting him would be doing the world a favor so he wouldn't be able to continue with this shit.

 

[InnerRebellion]

Honestly? Kill him without a second thought.

 

[Arkhangelsk]

Rather one dead bastard, than 3 dead good people.