Is it OK to kill someone that killed your family and got away with it?

Question

This is assuming that you witnessed them kill your family but were unable to gather enough evidence to convict them in court.

This is DEFINATELY a hypothetical question, lol

Answer 1

I would.

Answer 2

According to the positive law, no, the legal system does not (nor could it) condone vigilante justice. But would that be right? Some may say that the vigilante killing here would be right because he killed your family and therefore deserves to die. This argument implicitly endorses the "eye for an eye" model of justice, and such a model of justice is not uncontroversal, especially, I would presume, among practicing Christians, who at least theoretically subscribe to the "turn the other cheek" model. In addition, perhaps Ghandi was right in saying that the eye for an eye paradigm will make the whole world go blind.
But there is something disconcerting about letting the bastard go. We want revenge. But is this desire for revenge sourced from animal, primitive instinct or from a moral law to which we all refer when making moral judgments? For a good argument postulating that this desire is mere animal instinct and not worthy of following, see John S. Mill, On Justice. For a rebuttal of Mill's position, see the Old Testament.
Finally, even if the eye for an eye model is not the best system of justice, perhaps killing this man could be justified by the fact that, by killing him, you disable him from killing someone else's family. In other words, perhaps you could justify it on the grounds that you're taking a very dangerous and malicious man off the streets. On the other hand, one may ask whether this is your real reason for killing him. To wit, would you kill him if he hadn't killed your family but you just knew he was planning on killing someone else's family? If no, then taking a violent person off the streets is not your real reason.
As you can see, I've provided no answers to your question, as I don't have any. This debate over justice (eye for an eye v. other models) has been debated for a long time. Yet I have hoped to provide some insight.

Answer 3

Of course not. Murder is against the law, except for VERY few exceptions (self defense, etc) But I also understand the frustration of the court system failing to provide justice to the family of the deceased. The last thing you need to do is get thrown in prison for the rest of your life to an "eye for an eye" feeling.

Answer 4

Nope! My brother was murdered while buying milk for his children (ages 1-5) & they caught them. The shooter got the death penalty but a liberal appointed Judge of the Appeals Court overtuned the death penalty. His wife & I were furious - the law had been applied but because he killed him while robbing him no death penalty. Stealing is not an excuse (he stole $8.27 from him before shooting him) for killing except in NC. I still can not become the animal that he is - sometimes our laws work & sometimes they do not work. I am sorry for your loss.

Answer 5

I'd want to and I think I might bid my time and try and get them in away it could never come back to me. I think it would be quite natural if the system did nothing. Its easy to say, oh, no, you can't take the law into your own hands, no matter what. When its your family its a whole different ball game.

Answer 6

depends on circumstance. Not legal according to government. And would you be able to live with yourself after. Some go by the rule - "eye for and eye" Others - 2 wrongs dont make a right.

Answer 7

I believe that the 'someone' should be given to you, by the courts, to do to them what they done to your family! If this was practiced then I think crime would be cut back tremendously!

Answer 8

if your willing to face the same punishment you wanted your accusure to face.

The justice system is very precise.. if he was let go, he was probably innocent.

I wouldnt let my emotions get the best of me.. just because your mad that someone killed your family.. and you had hopes of knowing who did it, but it turned out false.. doesnt mean you can punish that person with DEATH..

You'd be doing the same thing to that man as did to your family.

If one did... it would be stupid... it might bring closure (denial closure at best..) ... but it wont serve justice.

If sumone killed the person... and he was innocent...

then that still means the person who really did it is still out there.

you'd do bigger service to your family by finding the person who REALLY did it... rather then the one you wish had did it...

Answer 9

well it depends on a person mindset . a fanatic individual will go for blood for blood ,but a law abiding peson will go for judicial justice.After all , there are countless examples of authorities solving the cases .have faith in judiciary.tats it!!

Answer 10

NO, if you know the murder, call the freakin popo. the murder will get locked up or put to death. dont kill em' urself. cuz then youll be the murderer. and we all know what that means. You get raped in shower in prison. so let that mofo be the one getting anal raped everyday in the shower, and laugh upon him, while your chilling with your friends.

Answer 11

No. Never!

If you did that you would be in the SAME evil position; and you would - by your actions - condone their crimes by repeating them!

Vengeance is NOT the answer...