killing someone who is trying to rob you

[wtfsvi]

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pergesu, wtfsvi,

Who makes up the courts? Individuals, each prone for error? Or robotic scientists who always get the facts right?

[/ QUOTE ] Courts are definitely not perfect, but I can't think of a better solution.

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Say some dude breaks into my house. Threatens me, wants my worldly possessions. Some big committee can more accurately assess what was going on there than I can? They're going to be right more often than I am? Based on second hand accounts, and input from the mugger's lawyer who's getting paid to clear his client's name?

[/ QUOTE ] Say this dude is crazy and thiks your house is really his house. He thinks finding you there means he has the right to kill you. This is his morality. Or say he thinks he has the right to steal your stuff, and if you try to stop him he can kill you. Why is your morality any better than his? Who do you think has the authoroty to decide who is right? The law and some big commitee probably? Also, no. I don't think a big committee will be better suited to figure out what happened than you are, but I do think that a big committee will be better suited to give a fair punishment (like not the death penalty). I also think this horrible person hired to clear the criminal's name is a great thing, because I think the criminal has the right to tell his side of the story as well. These are the main reasons we can't leave it up to individuals. People have different oppinions on what is right and wrong, especially when it comes to the degree of punishment. Then there is the slippery slope earlier mentioned by pergesu.

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You're essentially arming the criminals with your philosophy. It's much safer to threaten when you don't have to worry about any violent, potentially deadly repercussions. And your assessment of the average citizen is insulting, frankly. We're not a bunch of retards who can't think, discriminate between right and wrong, and need a parental government to get us through a sticky situation.

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Sure. Everyone can discriminate between right and wrong. The point is that everyone will discriminate differently because everyone has their own set of moral codes. Do you propose everyone gets to do whatever they feel is right, or does that only apply to you and people that agree with your morality in the situation at hand?

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But I believe whole heartedly in a person's right to defend himself.

[/ QUOTE ] Good for you. So do I.