Perfect example of rationalization in the minds of one who is inclined to kill in the name of defending the innocents.

 

Should I conclude that you would have been against murdering Hitler in the summer of 1939 even if you knew that by murdering Hitler it would save 50 million lives?

One thought that came to my head.

 

To me, the death penalty is only acceptable when we have no other means to protect society from the criminal. And if you view this man as a serial murderer (with 60,000 victims) and a state that heavily, heavily endorses (and funds) this type of behavior, you can get desperate.

 

Now, I'm not saying I'd kill the man, or that I think it is acceptable to do so, but it is scary thoughts in your head. (For clarity's sake, let it be known that my morality, and the teachings of the Catholic Church, do NOT allow the above logic to be an excuse for this version of the death penalty- it can only be justly handed out by the authorities when there is no other resort)

Should I conclude that you would have been against murdering Hitler in the summer of 1939 even if you knew that by murdering Hitler it would save 50 million lives?

 

You cannot conclude that.

Should I conclude that you would have been against murdering Hitler in the summer of 1939 even if you knew that by murdering Hitler it would save 50 million lives?

Are you comparing Tiller to Hitler?

 

Hitler's orders led to the death of millions of people. I know that some people feel the same way about Tiller, but shouldn't the blame be placed instead on the shoulders of the women that chose to undergo his procedures?

Are you comparing Tiller to Hitler?

 

Hitler's orders led to the death of millions of people. I know that some people feel the same way about Tiller, but shouldn't the blame be placed instead on the shoulders of the women that chose to undergo his procedures?

 

I think the question was geared towards the line of thought that it be done all in the name of saving innocents regardless of how the person being killed goes about doing his day-to-day "line of work."

I think Tiller was probably killed because he committed atrocities against innocents. I think the recruitment station soldier was probably killed because he recruited soldiers to kill people in the Middle East.

 

I guess I don't understand where you are going with it????:confused:

 

I think this is where he's going...

 

If the person who killed Tiller was pro-life, thus sympathizing with unborn babies, the motivation for the murder was to prevent Tiller from performing any more abortions and killing unborn children. Thus, a pre-emptive strike.

 

Likewise, if the person who killed the solider was a Muslim sypmathizer, the motivation was likely to prevent more Muslim deaths at the hands of US soliders. Again, a pre-emptive strike.

 

I'm not advocating either view, just telling you what I think he's getting at.

I've thought about this from a different POV.

 

Much has been made about the threats that Tiller had faced, the vandelism at his clinic (I really wanted to say butcher shop) and the past attack on him. Despite all of this he continued. While I still don't even try to excuse what happened and definitely not where it happened, Dr. Tiller knew the risks. He could have stopped what he was doing.

I've thought about this from a different POV.

 

Much has been made about the threats that Tiller had faced, the vandelism at his clinic (I really wanted to say butcher shop) and the past attack on him. Despite all of this he continued. While I still don't even try to excuse what happened and definitely not where it happened, Dr. Tiller knew the risks. He could have stopped what he was doing.

I'm not an expert on the man or his practice. But wasn't what he was doing legal?

I've thought about this from a different POV.

 

Much has been made about the threats that Tiller had faced, the vandelism at his clinic (I really wanted to say butcher shop) and the past attack on him. Despite all of this he continued. While I still don't even try to excuse what happened and definitely not where it happened, Dr. Tiller knew the risks. He could have stopped what he was doing.

 

While I agree with your assessment of his activities, does ANYONE know the risk of being murdered as he/she worships in a church?

I've thought about this from a different POV.

 

Much has been made about the threats that Tiller had faced, the vandelism at his clinic (I really wanted to say butcher shop) and the past attack on him. Despite all of this he continued. While I still don't even try to excuse what happened and definitely not where it happened, Dr. Tiller knew the risks. He could have stopped what he was doing.

 

Does the "he knew the risks" thinking apply to people who do jobs you are OK with?

I'm not an expert on the man or his practice. But wasn't what he was doing legal?

Yes, no matter how horrible or distasteful someone thinks it is.

While I agree with your assessment of his activities, does ANYONE know the risk of being murdered as he/she worships in a church?

I haven't read anything about the case, but I wouldn't be surprised if Tiller wore a bulletproof vest to work and took a lot of precautions coming to and leaving his office.

 

I doubt that he took the same measures while attending church.

I've thought about this from a different POV.

 

Much has been made about the threats that Tiller had faced, the vandelism at his clinic (I really wanted to say butcher shop) and the past attack on him. Despite all of this he continued. While I still don't even try to excuse what happened and definitely not where it happened, Dr. Tiller knew the risks. He could have stopped what he was doing.

Pizza Delivery Murder

 

I guess Hassan knew the risks involved with delivering pizzas (working at night, going to unknown locations, etc.) and could have stopped doing so too.

Pizza Delivery Murder

 

I guess Hassan knew the risks involved with delivering pizzas (working at night, going to unknown locations, etc.) and could have stopped doing so too.

 

Everyone knows the risk of delivering pizza to my house.............I will get violenty aggrivated if the pizza isn't still hot when it gets there!

Figured that would get a rise out of people.

 

The fact that what he was doing is legal is not germane to the situation even a little. If threats are made against you while you are doing something legal and you continue doing it you know the risks of continuing. I am not excusing anything merely stating that Tiller knew that there were people that wished to harm him and continued his "medicine"

 

I'm not an expert on the man or his practice. But wasn't what he was doing legal?

Doesn't matter. See above.

 

While I agree with your assessment of his activities, does ANYONE know the risk of being murdered as he/she worships in a church?

While I find it loathsome that anyone would desecrate a church in such a way the location of the crime has nothing to do with my point either.

 

Does the "he knew the risks" thinking apply to people who do jobs you are OK with?

Yes

 

I haven't read anything about the case, but I wouldn't be surprised if Tiller wore a bulletproof vest to work and took a lot of precautions coming to and leaving his office.

 

I doubt that he took the same measures while attending church.

Maybe he should have. Policemen (at least the ones I know do) carry their guns to church. I'm sure they don't go expecting to use them.

 

I guess Hassan knew the risks involved with delivering pizzas (working at night, going to unknown locations, etc.) and could have stopped doing so too.

You're right. The same would apply to taxi drivers, liquor and convenience store clerks and others.

 

 

Again, I'm not excusing anything just commenting on the fact that Tiller and his family should have known this was a possibility in light of past occurances.