You Would Never Shoot to Kill......or Would You?

There was a tragic case a few months back. A father and his two sons ages 12 and 11 were pushing the back-end of their truck after it broke down while his wife and daughter sat inside. A 20 year old drunk driver came along crashed into the truck killing his only 2 sons.

The father took matters into his own hands and shot the drunk driver in the head at the scene. He now awaits trial on a $450,000 bond.

Most of us are not natural born killers and would never dream of having even the slightest notion to kill another. But imagine witnessing your own child or loved one dying in front of your eyes as a result of something stupid like this drunk driver.

Do you think this father should go to jail for reacting in a moment of extreme circumstances? Also what about the parents of the 20 year old son that was killed for drunk driving. Do you think they should press charges against the father?

What do you think you might do as the father who lost his boys or the parents of the drunk driver who was murdered?

Lips

Hmmm, well I honestly don't think he should go to jail for that. He probably will because if you commit a "crime" you go to jail but it was a natural reaction. We're human. In that moment I might have done the same.  It's not a crime in this situation imo.

I don't think he should either. Nor should the parents of the drunk kid press charges.

he wont go to jail if he has a good lawyer....PTSD...or "temporary insanity" which is EXACTLY what happened....he should walk and i hope he does

ok lets play bit of a devils advocate here....

what if that drunk driver was your brother or maybe a son? Wouldn't you want justice for him? And wouldnt you want the father who shot him convicted for a murder ( which in essence really is )...

I believe in the right to SHOOT in self defense.  This was not self defense.  He was being a vigilante.  Though, we have compassion for his loss, a civil society cannot allow revenge killing.

Killing somebody can not be justified, except when it's in self defense. I can understand what he was going thorough, he was obviously in shock, but what he did is still murder. However, I think he will benefit from some leniency from judge and jury but I don't think he'll walk.

Secondly, does it really matter if the relatives of the victim press charges? It's a murder case, no need for that as far as I know.

I am sick and tired of the ever turning 'wheels of justice'.  I can pretty much guarantee this was NOT the first time the man drank and drove.  He would have most likely got a slap on the wrist or a little jail time and then back on the road drunk.

A kid I knew in high school was driving his motorcycle drunk and got in an accident.  He was injured badly and his girlfriend, riding on the back, died.  He served a bit of time, got out and then killed a mom and her 5 kids while driving drunk. 

Was the father justified?  Well, let's just say if I had a C&C, I would have shot him too if he killed any member of my family.  I have never committed an act of violence but when it comes to my family.. hell yeah.

I have had dreams about hearing someone break into my home.  I quickly get my kids hidden, grab a gun, call 911 to tell them I am going to shoot an intruder if they enter my home then sit on the steps hearing the knob jiggle.  When the door opens, I asses the situation, quickly, and then fire away, saving myself and children.

Or, how would you feel if it was your child who was killed by a drunk driver?  Would you pity the fool who made the CHOICE to get wasted and take your child's life?

Respectfully disagree.

The point isn't whether or not the father will stand trial because obviously he will. The question is in theory if it was your son that was shot and killed after driving drunk killing two children would you want this father to go to jail and do the time. If it was up to you would you press charges.

It's a tough call because here is a son that took out two kids lives yet their own son was murdered.

When my son was growing up, I swore I would harm anyone who every harmed him.  That still stands so in this situation, I would certainly harm the drink driver but I couldn't kill somebody else.

I think the father should do jail time - after all he did kill someone.

This was not a case where the father went home, thought it over, sought him out and killed him later. Imagine you are on the scene when your children, or anyone you love, is killed by this idiot. If you had a gun in your hand how can anyone be so sure that emotion wouldn't take over. You would be anything but rational at that moment.

I think I would have to look at this man's background before making a call on this one.

If he's a clean, upstanding citizen simply overcome with instant grief, I'd cut him some slack.

On the other hand, if he has a criminal history, particularly involving gun violence, then I'd be a little more harsh on him.

Either way, I feel bad for both families, but yes, Drunk Drivers are seriously out of control & under prosecuted.  Jeez, they want to crucify smokers, but drinkers are ok. 

As long as there is a slightest amount of compassion to any kind of crime, crime will exist. At least thats what I think. And this guy murdered another guy which is a murder by all means. These kinds of things need to stop someday if we are to live as a civilized society.

Today, a sad thing happened in Serbia, a guy gone berserk and killed 13 people with a gun, all of them his neighbours and he even shot his own wife after which he killed himself. It is said on news that he was a very kind and peaacefull person. No matter what his reasons were he did what he did, and if random peaople start taking justice in their own hands, could you imagine how many of similar cases would appear in no time. There is no justice in it for anyone, just more murdering.

I would return a dead sentence as a punishment for murder however, I strongly believe its necessary to keep at least a bit of order in all this reign of chaos.

you wouldnt have to do ANY thinking about what you would do...because if you experienced PTSD or went insane,  you wouldnt be able to think about it...your actions would be uncontrollable

I think it is a clear cut case of temporary insanity. I i suppose you have to live it to know how you'd actually react. Seeing his children killed in front of his eyes had to be devastating. I can hardly imagine that type of trauma. I hope the court has leniency.

It is frustrating when someone commits premeditated murder and they get off on a technicality or have a lawyer that finds some loophole and they are set free. Yet someone like this, in a situation like this, will most likely spend the rest of his life in prison.

Lips

No, I guess I wouldn't.

I can't imagine how it feels, to watch your kids dying or being killed, but the father killed the drunk driver. I assume the he, as a father, has no regrets about what he did. I'm sure that he doesn't even think about the trial.

Well, I have to admit, if I was on the jury and heard the case (The drunk kills 2 kids, the Father kills drunk) I'd be VERY inclined to let the guy walk free....He's lost what he values most, a lifetime in prison won't change a thing.

That is very true and i am no advocate for drunk drivers but if he had lived the rest of his life would be a prison of guilt if he was a decent man being behind bars or not.

For me, I believe in karma.. i would never kill or take someone else's life. I have no right.