2006-12-28 22:14:44.571115+00 by Dan Lyke 4 comments
If someone grazes you with a bullet while indiscriminately discharging a firearm and you shoot and kill them, you're a hero. If someone grazes you with an automobile and you shoot and kill them, then all of a sudden you're the bad guy. Why?
[ related topics: Ethics Law Automobiles Bicycling ]
comments in ascending chronological order (reverse):
#Comment Re: made: 2006-12-29 01:42:57.408165+00 by: meuon
Because the automobile industry has better lawyers, and "everyone" drives a car.
#Comment Re: made: 2006-12-29 19:05:29.22183+00 by: Mark A. Hershberger
Because people fear gun-wielding maniacs but almost all of them they ARE car-wielding maniacs.
#Comment Re: made: 2006-12-30 06:16:31.937256+00 by: dexev
Because someone that just missed you with a bullet almost certainly has another one ready and waiting to shoot at you.
Someone that just missed you with an automobile doesn't have another one waiting. If they turned around and came toward you again, you'd be a hero for shooting them, too.
The shooting in your first case isn't a 'revenge' issue, it's a 'stop them from hurting me' one.
But you weren't really looking for an answer, were you?
#Comment Re: made: 2006-12-30 22:54:15.727933+00 by: Dan Lyke
Actually, I think the difference between the cases you mentioned is merely one of immediacy. Both are likely to hurt people, neither may be shooting directly at you, they're just behaving indiscriminately.