A Very Difficult Decision

[effilctar]

Consider this. You are an officer trained with the use of a sniper rifle, working for the state and are currently resolving an incident at a bank or some other establishment of mass public interest, and its workers and clients are being held hostage by a woman threatening to kill all of them, let's say 30 people. She's made no demands, she just wants to kill and the only way to stop the death of 30 is by killing the one, her.

But also consider this: that the woman is 7 months pregnant and so, by killing one, you kill an innocent also. would you make the shot or not?

 

[bodyklok]

1.5 < 30

'nuff said. I think.

EDIT: Also, this could use a poll.

 

[DeadlyYellow]

As unlikely as this situation is, yes I would.

The needs of many outweigh the needs of few.

 

[Sassafrass]

What weapon does she have? Gun, knife, scimitar.

EDIT: It'll help my course of action.

 

[ExaltedK9]

I haven't touched my sniper rifle since...

Urgh...the flashbacks...

 

[SendMeNoodz84]

Really?
Of course I'd make the shot.

30 =/= 1.5

'____'

Besides that, she should've thought of her unborn child BEFORE threatening 30 people.

 

[khaimera]

Ahh, utilitarianism. I saw kill her. Or ask for volunteers of who would mind dying the least.

 

[Go Fighting In The War Room]

Needs of the many are more important than the needs of the few.

I'd take the shot.

 

[effilctar]

What weapon does she have? Gun, knife, scimitar.

Let's say a military assault rifle and she has the hostages in a firing line type of formation

 

[ZeroMachine]

I would tell the teams to ready themselves for entry and then try and shoot her in her stronger arm's shoulder. That would make it so the women would probably not die immediately, and since the baby is seven months along, there's a very good chance it could be saved. Unfortunately, it is the only option.

Very, VERY good situation here! Try and come up with more

 

[TheLastCylon]

Easy, you just disable her. A round through the leg or arm should do the trick.

 

[Deacon Cole]

I'd shoot her in the belly to make sure the baby dies first.

 

[Neonbob]

How is that difficult?
The answer is yes.

 

[Sassafrass]

What weapon does she have? Gun, knife, scimitar.

Let's say a military assault rifle and she has the hostages in a firing line type of formation

Ah, well thats an easy choice then.
I'd shoot her.

 

[Souplex]

With gusto.

 

[Sandernista]

I would shoot her, if I hit her arm, she might through reflex fire the gun, killing people.

 

[Mstrswrd]

Kill her. There's no realy choice. She has to die. Also, at 7 months, the baby could possibly survive if you shot through the head and they got the baby out of the corpse quick enough.

Now, if she was 3 motnhs pregnant... I'd still put a bullet in her head.

 

[Mookie_Magnus]

Blow her arm off. That way, we can take her to the hospital, and in case she dies, get the baby out of her. They're semi-viable at 7 months, albeit premature.

You are strange for asking this question.

 

[Emphraim]

Yes, I would shoot the woman. But not kill her, just to disable her in her gun-holding team or another limb to prevent her from harming anyone else.

I'd shoot her in the belly to make sure the baby dies first.

That sound's unnecessarily cruel.

 

[quiet_samurai]

Maybe, If i could just wound her to the point of incapacitating her I would. But if not then yes.