Drug dealer a murderer?

Question

Considering that often times drugs lead to death, shouldn't a drug dealer be charged with murder? Even though it is the buyers’ choice, couldn't it be considered assisted suicide, which is what Dr. Kevorkian did?

-Harley Quinn-

Thanks to those who have an intelligent answer.

-Harley Quinn-

Answer 1

ummm i think they should!!

Answer 2

It's an interesting idea, but I don't think so. Most of the time, taking illegal drugs doesn't lead to death, and the dealer may well have no particular reason to think that the drug deal he makes today is going to be the one somebody overdoses on.

And what about other people who facilitate the reckless behaviour of others by making legal sales? Should a speedboat salesman be charged with murder if someone buys a speedboat from him and crashes it and dies? We all know speedboats can be dangerous. What if you sell somebody alcohol and they take it home and get roaring drunk, then drive off a bridge?

I think charging drug dealers with dealing drugs is enough. In the US, at least, the penalties are pretty harsh because they take into account the harm that it could potentially cause. If you're not going to charge the liquor store guy and the speedboat salesman with murder for selling people dangerous recreational products that resulted in their accidental death, it's not really fair to charge a drug dealer with murder on top of the drug dealing charges.

Answer 3

Intriguing proposal....sort of like holding the government accountable for murder if a repeat drunk driver kills someone in a traffic accident while under the influence. Would that it were so, but until then, charges are brought and cases tried based on tangible evidence directly linking a person with a crime. We're not far off from your proposition, however, when you consider a girl can be charged with manslaughter or child abuse if she is proved to have taken drugs or drank alcohol to excess while pregnant.

Answer 4

"But, in reality, do all drug dealers end up killing people?" No. It's bad for business. "t just seems stupid to me that a drug dealer would kill somebody who owes them money." Victims of drug related crime are not people who owe the dealers money. They are typically aggressive competitors. "After all, a dead person still can't pay you." Actually, that's not really true either, as the victim can also be someone who had saved $$ w/someone else. That person can pay and, in all likelihood, will pay.

Answer 5

I understand your point of view, but that would be a very complicated thing to achieve. Especially considering that drug running involves a lot of people, and therefore the blame would be shared and then severely lessened...

I can't honestly see its going to happen, but I do see where you are coming from.

It would be like a Beer company being charged after a fatal DUI accident.

Oh, and it would be very VERY hard to prove which exact batch of drugs killed a particular user.

Answer 6

Most drugs--legal and illegal--are toxic when used in high quantity or great frequency.

Some--again, legal and illegal--are toxic even when used in low quantity or infrequently.

Shouldn't the people who manufactured and allowed distribution of phen-fen, Celebrex, and other drugs that were inadequately tested and/or shown to cause death when used according to directions be charged with murder?

We've got lots of people and companies that need to be addressed before we get to drug dealers, whose customers already know that the illegal product they are purchasing is contaminated, unreliable and most certainly lethal.

Answer 7

No. Cause the person did it to himself by buying the from the dealer. I think all dealers should go to jail and the people that buy it too. And the government should make stronger laws. Now if a doctor helps you . And If you could proof it.Yes the doctor should go to jail.

Answer 8

Yep, I agree. But it does not work that way. Instead they charge people like me with two counts of attempted murder, when it was self-defense...did I mention the "victims" were drug dealers???

Answer 9

not really.

b/c the drug dealer isn't saying 'HERE. THIS WILL KILL YOU'

and Dr. Kevorkian talked to those people about killing themselves.

Drug Dealers just supply them with weekly/daily 'needs'

Answer 10

sometimes dealers are charged, but not very often. i also read your vigilante question. revenge is the way to go. you can take your time, be creative. there are lots of ways to get even. it wont right the wrong, but sometimes it feels good to be bad especially if you feel justified. remember, revenge is a dish best served cold.

Answer 11

not at all

a drug dealer has very little connection to a murder

thats like saying a chainsaw company is the reason so many trees are illegaly cut down