You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
Just plain unbelievable stupidity in MA: Assisting a suicide by firearm
- Thread starter takhtakaal
- Start date
- Status
-
Not open for further replies.
jrfoxx
Member
Kind of a tough call on this one, IMHO.I was fairly sympathetic to the guy at first, and felt he shouldnt have gotten prison time, but after reading that he RELOADED THE GUN for her when she tried to shoot herself and it didnt fire, they guy is a COMPLETE idiot, and pretty well lsot my sympathy, and really did make himself liable for damages for certain, and definitely criminally negligent too.Maybe manslaughter and 5 years is still a bit harsh, but I would say he did commit a crime when he KNEW she was trying to shoot herself, and reloaded the gun for her so she could do it in frot of him.VERY dumb.If he wanted to help her kill herself, which IMHO she has every right to do in the privacy of her own home, as long as she doesnt put anyone else in danger, he shoud have just loaned her the gun at her house, and left.Then it would be on her, IMHO.Helping someone by loaning them the meansis one thing, shouldnt be a crime in my opinion, as she would have done it anyways, but being an ACTIVE participant like he was, goes beond that, and is a crime in every state that I'm aware of, and I'm not really sure it should't be.Active particpation in assisting suicide, if our a medical doctor (and a reasnable attempt to disuade suicide is made first, as is the case in the states, like here in OR,where its legal is one thng, but when your just Joe Shmoe down the street, no.Dont think I buy his story about "caling her bluff" either, as if that were the case, he would have given her an unloaded gun, or at least when she tried to fire it and it didnt go off, dont freaking reload it for her to try again, as it's OBVIOUS she's serious, and your no longer just "calling her bluff", you KNOW shes going to do it.
Still a tough one for me though, as I thnk people should be allowed to kill themselss if they really want to, and I dont have an issue with doctors helping, but I dont think just any body should be allowed to help by being an ACTIVE particiant (and I realize that it's kinda hypocritical on my part, and makes little difference in many ways WHO does the helping, but thats how I feel regardless.)At least a doctor has some experiance in dealing with this (or at least the ones I think should be allowed to legally help shoul have some training in psychology, suicde prevention, etc to make sure the person REALLY,REALLY wants to die, and its not just some "momentary crisis", or treatable chemical imbalance depression or "teen angst", etc).
Still a tough one for me though, as I thnk people should be allowed to kill themselss if they really want to, and I dont have an issue with doctors helping, but I dont think just any body should be allowed to help by being an ACTIVE particiant (and I realize that it's kinda hypocritical on my part, and makes little difference in many ways WHO does the helping, but thats how I feel regardless.)At least a doctor has some experiance in dealing with this (or at least the ones I think should be allowed to legally help shoul have some training in psychology, suicde prevention, etc to make sure the person REALLY,REALLY wants to die, and its not just some "momentary crisis", or treatable chemical imbalance depression or "teen angst", etc).
bloodedsky
member
- Joined
- Oct 18, 2007
- Messages
- 166
"Guess we call that one a little bleach for the gene pool."
Do I have to explain how vicious a statement this is? How unfounded, malicious, coldhearted, and completely devoid of any compassion?
Do you know what that woman was like before all of those terrible things happened to her?
Do you understand just how stressed out she had to have been to behave the way she did?
Of course you don't know these things about her, because you didn't know her. What a nice person to say that about someone you know nothing about.
On a purely logical note, she already has a son.
Do I have to explain how vicious a statement this is? How unfounded, malicious, coldhearted, and completely devoid of any compassion?
Do you know what that woman was like before all of those terrible things happened to her?
Do you understand just how stressed out she had to have been to behave the way she did?
Of course you don't know these things about her, because you didn't know her. What a nice person to say that about someone you know nothing about.
On a purely logical note, she already has a son.
Chipperman
Member
I fail to see how this tragedy or the court case that followed have anything to do with the state in which they occurred.
1. She needed help
2. He was stupid
3. He should do time
1. She needed help
2. He was stupid
3. He should do time
Erebus
Member
So the only person that is in any way responsible is the trigger puller, right?
What if instead of announcing her intentions to shoot herself she had announced her intention to shoot her husband and kids? And then did it after he loaded the gun and gave it to her?
"Oh she would have just gotten a gun somewhere else."
"There's nothing he could have done to prevent it."
She was sitting right in front of him, there's plenty he could have done to prevent it.
Stopping someone that hasn't made their intentions clear may not be possible. Stopping someone that is sitting directly in front of you when they make their intentions crystal clear IS possible. And to then assist them in carrying out their intentions is criminal.
What if instead of announcing her intentions to shoot herself she had announced her intention to shoot her husband and kids? And then did it after he loaded the gun and gave it to her?
"Oh she would have just gotten a gun somewhere else."
"There's nothing he could have done to prevent it."
She was sitting right in front of him, there's plenty he could have done to prevent it.
Stopping someone that hasn't made their intentions clear may not be possible. Stopping someone that is sitting directly in front of you when they make their intentions crystal clear IS possible. And to then assist them in carrying out their intentions is criminal.
Assisting a suicide is a very different issue than assisting a murder. The lives of her family are not hers to take. Her own life however is hers to do with as she likes. It seems like he may be a terrible human for not trying to help her through her depression but society does not benefit by paying to lock him up.What if instead of announcing her intentions to shoot herself she had announced her intention to shoot her husband and kids? And then did it after he loaded the gun and gave it to her?
- Status
-
Not open for further replies.