Poll: Hitman

[Blatherscythe]

Alright, I've heard of this book. It's called Hitman, a guide for independant contractors. This book, as you may have guessed is a book on hitmen, well not only that its a blueprint for murder. You see, it isn't a story, has no plot, no charecters, it's a how-to book. This book deals with subjects like how to create home-made silencers, how to fight hand to hand, how to kill without leaving evidence, how to properly break and enter, how to use blade weapons, how to clean up and how to get employers. This is a book for those who want to be hitmen.

Now if you guys think I'm blowing this out of proportion think again, a hitman was found with this book in his house, he had commited a triple homocide and was payed to do so. The crime he commited and the steps and precautions taken were all from this book, I bet most of you don't know that standing 6 feet away from someone is mandatory to aviod blood getting on you and thats what he did! Needless to say the hitman and his employer were sentanced to life in prison. The police then tracked down the publishers Paladin Press, and as it turns out they publish books like these all the time, they've released, how to be an assasin (knew I'd spell it wrong), how to be a sharpshooter (not illegal I know) and all other violent how-to style books, all like Hitman.

Yet, Paladin Press cannot be sued under the right to free speech and even claim they are not responsible for the actions of the reader. So do you think this company is guilty and iresponsible? Or innocent like they say?

 

[AkJay]

Paladin Press is not guilty. It all depends on what the consumer does with the information. I could print a book on how to be a locksmith, I wouldn't be guilty if someone used the info to be a master safe-cracker, you understand?

 

[CNKFan]

No but that is literally the coolest book that I have ever heard of.

 

[Neonbob]

...obviously, it's not that good a book.
The guy got caught.

And the company may be stupid, but they should not be sued.
Not to mention they're right in claiming they're not responsible for the reader's actions.

 

[MorsePacific]

A book can be written without the desire for people to go out and actually act on the things they learn. It's essentially the same thing as the show Jackass, which warns viewers not to try the things they see.

Sounds like an interesting read, though.

 

[2012 Wont Happen]

I think...

I want that book. Where can I get it? Wait, nevermind, I'll just get out my Paladin released How To Find and Steal Books Encouraging Illegal Actions...

In seriousness, its not really good that the book exists. However, I don't think its criminal.

 

[lostclause]

I think they are to a degree, in the same way that the Pirate Bay is guilty of aiding piracy. They do not encourage it, they do not create the material, they are not responsible for what people do with it, but they facilitate it. It would have been significantly less likely to happen without them so they must bear their share of responsibility, especially when there is no other way in which someone was going to use this material.

 

[Blatherscythe]

Paladin Press is not guilty. It all depends on what the consumer does with the information. I could print a book on how to be a locksmith, I wouldn't be guilty if someone used the info to be a master safe-cracker, you understand?

Well yeah, but what if that book was a detialed guide on how to be a master theif, thats Hitman, no story, no charecters, it's a how-to book on being a killer for hire. Being a locksmith is legal and a book on it would be made with good intentions, this book on the other hand was made with the same intentions but for the wrong cause in a crimal occupation. There is a differance, but I still acknoledge your point.

 

[FluffyNeurosis]

They are about as guilty as Martha Stewart for burning the casserole I made with her recipe last night. It?s the guy?s fault for going out and being a murder, the book didn?t make him kill.