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January 13, 2005Answers:
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my questions are simple.
I'd like to see your opinion on my latest moral quandry. hypothetically put yourself in the shoes of a soldier in iraq or afghanistan, you have the fortitude to engage and destroy the average insurgent with whatever weapon you can grab, be it a bayonet, or a mark 19 grenade launcher. you are on patrol in the streets of samarra or some other craphole city, and some 12 year old boy comes around the corner with a PKM(russian assault rifle) and opens up on your squad.
1: would you open fire with the intent to destroy the target, or to injure and disarm?
2:is it right, in a moral sense, to shoot and kill this kid?
those of you who instantly say no are missing the point of this exercise. use quotes if you feel the need.
you fellas that like to act like a box of rubber dicks, please contribute.
you normal civilians are welcome to answer, i just like to let those specific groups know that their opinion, no matter how depraved, is still valuable.
thank you for your time and patience.
-gunner
It's not right to shoot and kill a kid because, if he has grown up in this environment, he knows no better. I personally think I would carry a gun around if soldiers were in my town lol.
On the other hand, if he is posing a REAL threat (i.e. if he is not a real threat he will probably drop his gun and run once he sees a bunch of soldiers turn their guns on HIM, so if he actually fires the gun) then shoot to injure, yes. Not to permanently injure. Not to kill. Maybe even not to injure, just shoot at the ground by him or something to scare him off. Just be careful he's not gonna get angry and shoot right back...
I would not 'open fire'. I would somehow or other assign one person to 'fire' and the others to raise their guns but not to use them. Until you know whether this child is fully aware of his actions and completely intent on killing you or not, I don't believe you have the right to set a load of guns on him. One is enough for anybody.
The real question is not is it moral, but could you live with the fact that you had taken away a twelve year old's life?
(Rating: 5) well put, very valid point in the closing sentence. thanks- gunner