Quote Originally Posted by MMI View Post
True. But the right to use lethal force can only be granted in very limited circumstances. It must be limited to circumstances where the killer can show s/he was facing certain death him/herself. Otherwise, if s/he would rather kill than take the chance, then s/he deserves everything the judiciary can throw at him/her.
So what you're saying is that the only possible reason to kill someone is because you are absolutely positive they are going to kill you? That's absurd! Until they actually fire the weapon there's no possible way to know your attacker's intentions. Is that man coming at you with a knife to kill you? Or just to cut your face up? Or maybe just to frighten you? How can you know until the knife is buried in your chest?

No, in the US, at least, everyone has the right to defend himself and his property at all times, even if it means the death of an attacker. There are limits, certainly, but a general rule of thumb is that the criminal is responsible for all actions occurring during the commission of a crime. The victim, or a good Samaritan coming to the victim's aid, cannot be held liable if the criminal is killed.

And the threat of violence is enough. There is no possible way to expect a victim to accept rapes, beatings, serious injuries, anything short of death, without defending herself to the max. And one thing is certain: a dead rapist is never going to be a repeat offender.

And for the record, any convicted rapist, or home invader, or mugger, is likely to leave prison long before the emotional damage done to his victims has passed. Those who survive, at least.