Here is a puzzling thing

Is it the same people though? Are the ones calling for Putin to be done away with the same people who don't agree with the death sentence?

I've no idea, but the death sentence is reviled by more or less everyone (who has posted) whenever it has come up on here.

It’s a different thing entirely. A political assassination.

So, meting out a death sentence is ok if it's political?

Sometimes it’s been a necessary means to an end where an evil dictator is concerned.

I don't generally agree with the death sentence but I would like Putin done away with. I guess I am making an exception for a mad dictator who is capable of so much evil. Who knows what more he could do? I don't think I could kill him myself though.

I understand how you feel MissAdventure. There are so many people who seem to have two different minds that think differently on different versions of the same subject.

I always admired a Jewish friend who said quite honestly that although he had opposed capital punishment, when, in the 1960s, Adolf Eichman was arrested and found guilty of horrendous war crimes, he was among those who believed that the only possible sentence was death and therefore he could never again describe himself as opposed to capital punishment.

I am opposed to capital punishment and I am opposed to anyone saying Putin should be killed. Apart from anything else, it is just as easy to arrest and imprison someone as kill them.

And if I feel completely vindictive - and we all do at times - . I think that killing is the easy way out. Why not leave the person stuck in gaol for life, and able to suffer themselves for as long as possible as they made others suffer.

There are plenty of prisons in Russia that could provide him with suitable quarters.

It's more just a philosophical discussion point for me.
Just that we don't have a forum for philosophy. Interesting, though.

There are people in the most armed forces trained to do this. It’s totally different to passing the death sentence in a criminal case, where there may turn out later to have been a miscarriage of justice as has happened in the past.

It's still the taking of a life, though.

Some things are necessary for the greater good.

If Putin is ‘put away’, whatever title you choose to give it, it would be either murder, which is against the law here or the death sentence-which is against the law here.
Choosing when, or under which circumstances you think either should be allowed is a dangerous move.
Who will be allowed to choose? Under what circumstances? Will it be written into the laws of the country that X person has the right to choose whether the murder or death sentence should be permitted.

They are.

Yes!
Those are the issues I'm pondering, Molly.

... I suppose the only difference (if there is one) is that we would not be in doubt about whether we'd executed the wrong person. If you see what I mean.

I'm not sure that in the murky world of warfare, 'taking someone out' (who might be threatening world peace) is in quite the same category as trying defendants for murder in civil life.

... but, murder is murder. I'll let others decide. I'm not very good with these things...

Is Putin mentally ill, though?

That was to Callistemon.
Fortunately Mollygo any decision that a political assassination should take place is way above our pay grade and it’s singularly unlikely that the identities of the persons ordering or committing it would ever be known by the public.

Killing by a member of the armed forces pursuant to a lawful order is not murder.

Would that make it right, though?
Shouldn't we vet people before giving them free access to 'take someone out'?

I wouldn't be surprised if he had a double like one of his predecessors.

My only worry regarding the death sentence is …….what if the accused is innocent?

MissAdventure

Would that make it right, though?
Shouldn't we vet people before giving them free access to 'take someone out'?

Yes, of course they would be vetted and acting under orders, not as a maverick.

If his generals turned on him that would be welcome news

I d be more than happy for Putin to be contained for the rest of his life somewhere where he can’t kill any more He doesn’t need to be killed just a nice little self contained cell somewhere
I suppose there is a slight difference I m dead against the death sentence for two reasons one I think a killing is a killing and second how can you ever be sure you have the right person Well in this case there s no doubt about the right person and if a bomb dropped on him I m not sure I d be mourning too much but should he be stalked and beheaded no a little empty cell will do me with a very big key

Even if he is mentally unwell?