There’s talk in the news of US Marines killing “in cold blood.” Which is a bit ironic because, isn’t that exactly what we expect of the people whom we, as a society, grant the power to use deadly force? We don’t want them firing out of passion. We want them to have come to a deliberate, rational decision—guided by laws, regulations, & orders—that deadly force is warranted.

None of which is meant to excuse any mistakes or wrongdoing. There is a difference between a deliberate, rational decision that’s lawful & one that’s not. We shouldn’t let our rhetoric, however, gloss over the fact that our society requires certain of our citizens to make the decision to kill—or potentially kill—in cold blood.

last updated 1 year ago #