Guilty or not?

In psychology, we are studying emotions and today we talked about a very relevant one, which is fear. In the light of this topic, the book presented us with a story that later turned into a debate. This is it:

One couple decided to go on holidays for a weekend and they were sure their 12 year-old daughter was at a friends' house. When they came home, on a saturday morning, the girl had arrived earlier and was planning to scare her parents, to play with them, so she hid in her closet while making noises. The couple came in the house and the man, hearing the sounds, went to pick up his gun and went upstairs, to his daughters' bedroom. She kept doing these noises and, all of a sudden, she jumped out of the closet screaming "Booo" and laughing. The man immediately shot her in the neck. 12 hours later, the little girl died in the hospital.

(This was a veridic story that took place in the U.S.A, in '99.)

Points of view in the class:

- He shouldn't be blamed for anything because that was a consequence of the fear he had, and his reflex was to kill the intruder.

- Either way, he didn't even see the "intruder" and he HAD plenty of time to run away from the house, or even walk away, and call the police. He was NOT in a face-to-face encounter, and his LIFE was NOT at risk.

- The fault is in the gun, itself. IF he hadn't had a gun there, he would have never
killed his own daughter, and his first thought would be to run away, which wouldn't harm anyone.

- Who is to know if this was an accident and if they man didn't really want to kill his daughter? How can you judge if he had the intention to do it or not?

// What are your views on this?

They could of called the cops. Knowing just what you posted he could of called out and said I have a gun show your self with your hands up or something like that.

My view is it was a reaction he had. That he thought it was an intruder and didn't mean to kill his little girl.

He didn't need to run there is a law called the castle law that says you do not have to try to escape or get away from someone who breaks into your house. They break in you can assume they will try to harm you and shoot them.

I fail to see how it is the guns fault the gun didn't pull its own trigger.

Quoting Jennybananna:" They could of called the cops. Knowing just what you posted he could of called out and said I have a gun show your self with your hands up or something like that. "

That's all I know from the book. That's all they left for debate. And I do actually agree with you. killing the person when given the option of turning away and calling the police.. it's not justifiable even.

The part about the gun being to blame is bull smurf. But no I don't think he should have been found guilty he will beat himself for the rest of his life..

I don't think he should have been so quick to grab a gun and shoot without even knowing who he was shooting at. Why didn't he even consider that it might be his daughter in her own room? Why didn't he demand whoever it was in the room to come out or something? If he was that scared he could've called the police and waited outside.

Quoting Doodles mommy:" The part about the gun being to blame is bull smurf. But no I don't think he should have been found guilty he will beat himself for the rest of his life.."

He had many options... He choose to kill. It was HIS choice. To me, he's guilty.

I think he was reckless. He should have left and called the cops. He was not in immediate danger he could have and should have left. I don't think it was premeditated and I don't think it was just an accident. I think it's stupid and unfortunate.

Quoting ♥ inês:" That's all I know from the book. That's all they left for debate. And I do actually agree with you. ... [snip!] ... agree with you. killing the person when given the option of turning away and calling the police.. it's not justifiable even."

That being said the man will pay the rest of his life knowing he killed his own daughter so while I think he had better options I personally wouldnt send him to prison.

Quoting I Love Dem Baybees!:" I don't think he should have been so quick to grab a gun and shoot without even knowing who he was shooting ... [snip!] ... whoever it was in the room to come out or something? If he was that scared he could've called the police and waited outside."

 

Exactly.

The little girl should have never been left there by herself without her parents knowledge.

Quoting ♥ inês:" He had many options... He choose to kill. It was HIS choice. To me, he's guilty."

It doesn't matter what you feel and that he chose to kill. it is a jury's duty to decided weather or not a law was broken. In the US there is a law saying you have the right to defend yourself in your own home there fore the law was not broken.

Quoting Jennybananna:" That being said the man will pay the rest of his life knowing he killed his own daughter so while I think he had better options I personally wouldnt send him to prison."

I actually hold.
Someone who owns a gun has to be responsible and know when and how to use it. This was clearly not a responsible act...

<blockquote><b>Quoting Jaye Lynn:</b>" The little girl should have never been left there by herself without her parents knowledge."</blockquote>

This as well.

Quoting ♥ inês:" I actually hold. Someone who owns a gun has to be responsible and know when and how to use it. This was clearly not a responsible act..."

Legally though he broke no law. From a moral stand point thats one thing but legally with the current laws he did nothing illegal.