To Defend a Killer

To Defend a Killer



To Defend a Killer

“Why do we electrocute men for murdering an individual and then pin a purple heart on them for mass slaughter of someone arbitrarily labeled “enemy?” (Plath). Death comes for us all at some point. Hopefully it does not come in the form of murder. Most people who are considered to be civilized think murder to be wrong. Depending on the circumstances, one who takes the life of another does deserve to die.
There can be many factors to this equation. What quality does the killer poses and what were their intentions. What about the events leading up to the murder of the victim? Does the victim have a part to play in his or her own death? Is there a societal view of this death? Determining what these questions mean will help formulate an answer.
A murderer who knowingly wanted to take a person’s life without logical reason, but for that of entertainment would be looked at as candidates for death themselves. However, they could also be looked at as insane and unable to make a true connection that to kill is to break a Social Contract. John Locke said of this “ the law of Nature teaches all mankind who will but consult it, that being all equal and independent, no on ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty or possessions” (Newton, 102). If they are deemed unfit for a trial for murder, place them in a mental institute for their safety and that of the people who live around them. If this person killed others through neglectful actions they may also be labeled a murderer. Did they become intoxicated, and then get in their car only to become a missile looking for an unintended target? The death of the individual in this case was unintentional, but still died at the hands of another’s irresponsibility. Did the victims assist with their own demise? Such as if the victim was the one intoxicated and walked into traffic. If the driver was not breaking any traffic laws and struck this person they could reasonably be considered innocent....

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