To Kill, or not to Kill?

[Thomas Vince]

How many of you think you are capable of taking the life of a human being, and under what circumstances would you deem it necessary. Would the Law or the consequences matter, and if so how or why?
Thomas

[hongkongfuey]

I think that it is a difficult question to answer, when not faced with the situation that demanded it.

I think if I was in a situation serious enough to have to kill someone (i.e. kill or be killed), then the law and consequences would be irrelevant as I would have already ruled out all other choices.

The circumstances would have to be life threatening for me or a member of my family (or close friends) where there was no other option.

[Melanie]

Hi Thomas,

I'd have to agree with HKF here. I have used this as an example on another forum - so sorry to repeat to those of you that use both! I have a 3 year old niece, she is the most glorius creation in all the world! If I was to be around in her time of need I would give up my life for her in a moment. But I would kill for her too. I personally feel I would find it easier to kill someone if my motivation was the protection of any of my close friends and familly. Fortunately, I am only very close to a few people!

I don't mean to sound...I don't know...odd, but if it was just me that it was a case of kill or be killed, I'd probably try any other option first before deliberately reaching that conclusion...I mean...it is ONLY me...if I could take the knife, gun or even hands away from me, I think I'd try it.

[LilBunnyRabbit]

I've no idea, but I can certainly consider doing it in theory if the consequences of not doing so would be worse than those of doing so.

[waya]

Yes, if I thought it was necessary I would take another person's life. If I reach that point, the law and the consequences won't affect my decision even though I will be aware of them. The worst consequence is living with yourself and dealing with it in your own mind, nothing the law can do will equal that.

Rob

[Saz]

I've been angry enough in the past to have at least have had a go at it, but that was an extreme situation (I had been attacked). I'd like to think I've grown up enough now to walk away if i'm ever in a situation like that again.

Fact is I would do it if I thought it was nessecary to save a life, mine or someone else's, especially my close family, like maybe my fiance or my brother. :woo:

As for living with the consequences, you can either live with the fact you've killed someone, or live with the fact that you could have saved someone close to you and didn't. That would bother me more to be honest

[Thomas Vince]

The moment had come, you had a gun, would you shoot Him!
You had a knife would you stab him?
Would you know where to shoot, or where to stab?
Have you practiced shooting a gun or stabbing with a knife?

[Melanie]

I have had some firearms training. If I had to shoot them - to kill it would be the head. If the option was there. I'd shoot their arm (the one with the gun in it) or leg. Obviously the arm would be more effective, however, not many people can ignore a shot to the leg.

Stabbing. I have had no experience with this. I suppose in the throat would be a good place or inside thigh. Major arteries, both would kill in 4-5 minutes. Otherwise, I would cut outside arm (one with the knife) - I would imagine that hurts?

This is all theory of course. If the option was there I would Kick them in the knee and break their leg backwards and run like a bat outta hell!

[LilBunnyRabbit]

I can use a knife fairly well, part of my training as an assistant instructor so that I can provide a challenge in knife drills. Guns I've only used a few times, but I'm reasonably accurate with them. I'd probably aim for the chest, but it would depend on the caliber of the gun. With the chest I'd be more likely to hit and stop them than if I aimed somewhere else.

[waya]

I have firearms training in urban combat situations, as well as military rifleman training, and some knife training but mostly my bladework is reflexive and more from personal experience with them. I would not fire a shot to the head first..... 2 shots to the body, then one to the head if I feel it's necessary to fire again. The "double tap" generally ensures a knockdown that 99 out of 100 people won't get up again from even if you only wounded them, and the chest shots are much more likely to score quickly than if you have to take the time to aim for a head shot vs using reflexive shooting and combat point aiming. With a blade, it depends on the situation. Immediately ending the situation would be more thrusting into the soft part of the body ie abdomen, kneck, down behind the collar bone, etc. If they are also armed and more fencing I strike at the arms and use a shallower cut (this is a rare thing though) and aim more for energy depletion due to blood loss.

And yes, I know I sound like I need committed now lol
Rob

[Thomas Vince]

Great Meatloaf Album!
Melanie, the throat is a great idea for the knife, and keep in mind that you can also cut the inside of the arms closer to the wrists where the tendons and ligaments are closest to the surface and when these are severed the hand ceases to functions. Not to mention the bonus of hitting the radial, ulna, or medial nerves and the corresponding blood supplies from arteries! Besides working on the inside of a knife opens up cavity strikes. Kenpo seeks to disable, distract and set up for the finish.

[LilBunnyRabbit]

The problem you often find when people are holding knives is that the knife is treated as the only weapon, people forget they've still got two legs, another arm, a head, shoulders, elbows, knees, and so on.

[Saz]

This thread is getting scary....

Myself, I'd go for a few shots to the knees or stomach if I had a gun.. make sure they wouldn't get up and let them die slowly. If I had a knife, I'd probably go for the chest or throat. Then I'd run

I'm not bad with a gun, i won a teddy bear at the shooting stall at the fairground once for shooting all the cans down. Good innit :)

[Freeform]

I think that if it came to the crunch that I could do the job. I mean, I've got no problem mauling someone if the situation calls for it (and I have) so if you think in terms of extrapolation then I think I could.

The knife can also justed be used as a distraction whilst you kick the guys knees out. Anyway, if your using the knife correctly then your opponent shouldn't be able to see it.

Thanx

[alienladd]

I agree with Kyokushin_girl .... this thread is scary and also gives me the shivers.

You guys come up with some REALLY tough subjects ... DON'T YOU HAVE SOMETHING BETTER TO DO???? ...like spar and grapple and break each other's bones???!!! :D

When I was doing guard duty at night for the South African army up there in South West Africa near the Angolan border it really got me thinking .....

..... what would I do IF a terrorist soldier came crawling through the shrubbery .... would I be able to shoot him with the hand machine gun with which I was armed???
I never found out, but the thought of having to do so clearly bothered me.

Why, I remember when I was twelve, and had just come from Germany to South Africa and went to an English school; I had decided that no one will ever know that in Germany there was always some kid who tried to bully me and I would run away.

So I acted the TOUGH guy; and GUESS what? it worked! No one dared to touch me; I never had to fight; everyone older or younger, guys almost twice my size would back off!

And then it happened!
A fellow and I were facing each other, fists at the ready. It was a case of whoever hit first would have to make that first blow also be the final blow.
Well I hit first! I have this aversion of hitting someone in the face; a fellow could get hurt after all.

So I hesitated ... and ended up with a black eye ... and cried all the way home.

END of SUPREMACY at this school.

Well I don't know, I hear people talk tough; how they will shoot someone down or kill without hesitation, but I have never seen anyone DO it.
So I really wonder ... would they really, really be able to do this.

As for myself, I hope I never have to find out.
Unless you have really been in such a life threatening situation I can't imagine that anyone REALLY knows what one is capable of.

I dont own a gun and don't want to, I'm just plain scared of them.
As for knives, well I have done just a teeny bit of defence training but not nearly enough.
The thought of having to face one in the hands of an unsavoury character simply chills me.

If this story of mine has bored you to death, why then that might just be the best alternative weapon .... ???!!!

[Greyghost]

alienlad,

couldn't have said it better myself....whether i could kill someone or not is not the question...if i had to...well..if that ever happens then i'll guess i'll find out the hard way.

the real question is...could you live with yourself if you did take a life , even if it was the life of a "bad " person...i couldn't.

those people who calmly suggest that they could kill and then go back to the tea and crossword are deluding themelves...surely the act of killing takes something from you that you can never replace.

here endith the lesson.

[Thomas Vince]

Well everyone,
Yes I agree the thread is scary, but real life is almost certainly more horrific than anything we could conjer up!
See you all on the other side!
Thomas
PS
If any one was wondering if I could take a life or not in the thick of it?
What do you think?

[Thomas Vince]

GreyGhost,
I am concerned. You say that you could not live with yourself if you had to take a life?
What if the person where trying to kill you? What if they were killing your parents or your family?
Could you live the fact that they were dead when you could have saved them?
Just trying to understand.
Thomas
Is my concern worthy of an answer?

[Trinity]

GreyGhost,
I am concerned. You say that you could not live with yourself if you had to take a life?
What if the person where trying to kill you? What if they were killing your parents or your family?
Could you live the fact that they were dead when you could have saved them?
Just trying to understand.
Thomas
Is my concern worthy of an answer?
I could not live with my self if i killed or if one of my family members got hurt but there are other options to killing i think it is better to say that you would do everything possible to stop the attacker from hurting your loved ones. I am sure that a guy with a couple of broken legs would not be a problem any more.