Punishment

[Centipede2]

Why, when punishing gun-murderers, does it matter how many shots are fired? With the outcome the same - death - why would it matter if it took someone 3 or 4 shots to achieve it? There are many different circumstances, but this seems to be the general case. Even if this shows that the murderer had more "hate" or the crime was more "violent", what does it matter in prosecution? These are just emotions and don't really have to do with anything, really. You can kill someone, you can cause them varying degrees of pain, and you can destroy their body. If someone shoots a dead person, that's just destroying their body more - why is there not just a separate charge for this, instead of varying degrees in the subjective manner the murder was made?

[IcarusTheFool]

It shows how "emotional" the person was at the time. For example if it was just one shot to the back of the head, it would be more likely that it was a premeditated action; if the person empties the entire clip you could make the argument that it was "just" a fit of rage and could be a lesser charge.

[Centipede2]

Because if you fire a shot in anger then are all like "omfgwtf did I just do" and run away it makes you less of a cold hearted badass than standing there unloading the entire clip into someone's body and therefore more likely to reform.

But why does it matter? :confused:

I don't get how a court system which is based of the law, how it can get so subjective.

[Resign the King]

I don't know anything about law but I would guess that they go over every single thing in extreme detail. They aren't just like 'hey I don't know maybe it was three bullets fired maybe it was four, who cares he's dead case closed'. I bet they go over everything even completely mundane things in excruciating detail.

[ripley]

I don't know anything about law but I would guess that they go over every single thing in extreme detail. They aren't just like 'hey I don't know maybe it was three bullets fired maybe it was four, who cares he's dead case closed'. I bet they go over everything even completely mundane things in excruciating detail.
There is nothing more tedious than a criminal court case. Nothing. You can find some transcripts online if you're interested, but that shit will put you to sleep quicksmart. Days and days and weeks and months of endless monotony, of games with fine-tooth combs. That's not to say the outcomes always make sense, or are fair or reasonable, but it's certainly thorough.

[Mantikore]

I don't get how a court system which is based of the law, how it can get so subjective.

i think it is because one can never be exactly sure of a person's intent or remorse, so it comes down to a lot of guesswork in that sense

[LiquidIce]

You can't get into the head of a criminal but you can count how many shots he took and guess whether he emptied a magazine in anger or just took one fine shot.

[Cliche Guevara]

Im no expert on law or anything really but Its up to the judge to determine the sentence and the people to determine guilt. The law determines guilt and guidelines for punishment. Its up the judge and his subjective reasoning to determine what punishment (according to the guidelines) the convict will recieve, which as people have mentioned takes into account emotion, remorse, etc.

[ArmsMerchant]

It "matters" because juries tend to consist of morons--excuse me, emotional and ignorant lay people who know about as much about the law as I know about Etruscan art history.

[Zay]

But why does it matter? :confused:

I don't get how a court system which is based of the law, how it can get so subjective.

It MATTERS because they have to make a judgment as to whether the person is fit to re-enter society, if ever.

[Centipede2]

It MATTERS because they have to make a judgment as to whether the person is fit to re-enter society, if ever.

So it's better to have people who shoot kill you with one bullet instead of five? I'd personally go for the less accurate shooter to re-enter society.

[ripley]

So it's better to have people who shoot kill you with one bullet instead of five? I'd personally go for the less accurate shooter to re-enter society.
It's also the case that people who commit a crime of passion are less likely to reoffend.