The Good Samaritan Question: What would YOU do if you saw a person being murdered on the street?

Question

1. How would you feel?
2. What would you say?
3. What actions would you take in that very moment to try and stop it from happening, if any? (Not everyone is a Good Samaritan and sometimes it is NOT advisable to put yourself in danger)
4. If you were not able to help at that moment, would you find any satisfaction in knowing that the person doing the killing would be condemned by society and would most likely get their due punishment from the law, giving some consolation and a feeling of justice to you and to others?
5. Would you feel somewhat protected knowing that legal punishment would also increase the chances that the person would not be free among our society to do it again to someone else?

ANALYSIS (MY PERSONAL OPINION ABOUT THE ANSWERS TO MY QUESTION)
1. How would you feel? The large majority of answers say something to the effect of “scared” or “horrified”. Do you wonder why you’d be scared, even if you were a safe distance away? It is because we, as human beings, don’t respond well to seeing another human being murdered. Part of our fear, but only one part, is that the wrath of the murderer will eventually be turned on us. Keep that in mind when speaking to a pro-life person. They, in good faith, truly believe that abortion is murder, and feel fear and horror when thinking about it. After all, if it’s ok today to murder an unborn human being, is it so far-fetched to conclude that someday it will be socially acceptable to murder YOU? And if that day comes, consider the additional horror of knowing that it’s not even remotely possible that anyone is coming to your defense.

2. & 3. What would you say / do if you saw a murder-in-progress? All answerers said that they would do SOMETHING, ranging from “call 911 and drive away to a safe place” to “shoot the murderer dead”. I venture to say that not one person would, or at least admit that they would, continue on their merry way and not do a thing. It’s the same with abortion, my “pro-choice but morally opposed” friends…driving by and saying nothing against something immoral is never justified. If you are morally opposed to the act of killing an unborn child, then you are obligated to speak out against it…vociferously. There just may be someone out there who hasn’t heard all of the facts and hasn’t considered your point of view, which has validity simply because it exists.

4. & 5. If you were not able to help at that moment, would you find any satisfaction in knowing that the person doing the killing would get justice and be stopped from doing it again by the legal system? Most ignored these questions, but some said that, no, they wouldn’t find satisfaction in that because, as we all know, man’s law is flawed and incomplete. My conclusion is that the current legality of abortion does not make it a right, sane, or moral thing to do. The legal system is not built on itself, but is imperfectly built on and constantly changing in an attempt to live up to a universal set of principles of right and wrong, which are constant and finite.

In conclusion, many who wouldn’t even consider driving by a murder-in-progress without acting also claim not to give credence to the actions of those in the pro-life movement. Many who are “pro-choice but morally-opposed” will even disparage the things that pro-lifers ARE doing by pointing out the things that they AREN’T. This is as misguided as saying that someone who would only call 911 during a murder-in-progress is any less helpful or caring than a person who felt equipped to walk up the murderer and kill him. Individuals do what they can with all of the variables that they are given; strength, resources, time, knowledge.

LEE B: By Good Samaritan, I was not referring to current Good Samaritan laws; I was referring to the traditional idea of the Good Samaritan as we know it, which is a person who doesn’t hesitate to stop and help someone in need if presented with such a situation.

PAPICULO: Great answer! :-)

Answer 1

1. the word mortified comes to mind
2. if anything, probably curse words
3. depending on the situation, without putting myself in a position to be killed, I would look for a weapon of some sort and try and beat them off. if not, call immediately for the police and give a good description, follow the killer if possible to give location.
4. satisfaction? not much. too many get away with it, and america is apathetic from too much violence numbing our sensitivities
5. feel protected? no, too many get off, or get out too soon. I would live in fear of retaliation for squealing.
I would only "feel better" if you could call it that, if the person were shot dead by the police. then I would KNOW they could never do it again

Answer 2

Most states I am aware of have a good Samaritan law, that being said, you need to be a Samaritan. That is: Someone who believes in the law and the spirit of the law.
Unfortunately, there are many who would rather look the other way more than help when they see the crime of murder in progress or being performed.

The reason I added the above to my answer is to illustrate that there has to be a mind set in order for a person to be a good Samaritan. You can't just think of what you would do! If you have a rock solid value system and instantly know you would say something if faced with a right or wrong situation you probably wouldn't hesitate to do what needed to be done in the situation you describe.

I would like to think I would instantly get involved immediately if I were witnessing a murder however, on the heels of saying that: Does the perpetrator of the crime know I am watching? Can I out wrestle the person? Does the murder have a gun? Would it be better to wait and call the authorities?

There are so many answers and none are exactly correct. Bottom line, I would do what I thought was the most decent and correct thing to do with out getting killed myself!

Answer 3

I'd have to get into it. As humans we have an obligation to our fellow man and if we can help them we must do so in such a situation. It depends on numbers and such how I would respond but I would definately take some sort of action.

Anybody who would just drive or walk on is pathetic and doesn't deserve the protections of our society. There can be no solace after allowing another person to be murdered without action.

Answer 4

I would be scared S*****ss & haul @zz. Then call 911 from a safe distance, as should all without a death wish.

As for the post about Good Sam laws. That has to do with rendering aid in the case of an injured person. It says basically that if rendering aid in good faith, reguardless of your level of training, you can not be held liable for any further harm. It has nothing to do with this question.

Trust me Margaret, this I know as fact. I am a Paramedic.

Nuff said. Now give me my thumbs down.

Answer 5

This is awfully silly. I don't think a 'good Samaritan" extends to stopping a murder.
My son (an attorney) was one of many who actually witnessed a murder in front of his office building about 2 months ago (was on the news). The perp stabbed his ex-wife as she was entering the building, she fell, and people stopped to help her (not being aware of what happened). while they where attempting to help, he came back and stabbed her repeatedly. This all was in the space of around 20 seconds. People then chased him and wrestled him to the ground.
All of your numbered points are worthless. Violence occurs too quickly and is too intense an experience to allow anything other than reaction. All the things you're asking can only occur later, in retrospect.

Answer 6

1.shocked
2.probably wouldn't be able to speak
3.find some people to help/call police
4.not really - it does not bring back the victim. murder continues despite all the laws
5. no - there are many legal loopholes that enable criminals to go free. and even if you lock up one, there are still many out there who have not been caught or will at some point commit murder.

Answer 7

I would snap pictures with my cell phone while dialing 911 and reporting the location of the crime to the cops. Then I would scream at the perp to stop! I would keep sufficient distance and cover to protect myself, but I would keep yelling at the top of my lungs until help arrived.

Answer 8

What's with the pro-life undertones? If a PERSON was being murdered, I would call 9-1-1.

If some guy was just stomping on a little bit of cellular gunk, well, I can't stay I would react very strongly either way.

Answer 9

I would get on my cell and call the police. If I thought I could do it safely, I would try to destract the murderer by blowing my horn, or calling for help. I would not just go by without doing something.

Answer 10

1. i would definitely be shocked and traumatized.
2. i would probably say "oh my god" and cry.
3. i would call for help.
4. depends on the people and why they did it. if they killed someone just because, then the murderer deserves to be punished of course.
5. yeah