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In reply to the discussion: BBC: Kenya rangers shoot dead five suspected poachers (110lbs. of elephant ivory recovered) [View all]Johnny Rico
(1,438 posts)42. They certainly have the right to determine their own laws, yes. But...
As I read the story, the poachers weren't killed because they killed some elephants, but rather because they violently resisted arrest (the story speaks of a gun battle). That being the case, there is no death penalty for killing elephants, any more than there's a death penalty in the U.S. for bank robbery...but robbing a bank can get you killed!
In any case, I sill don't understand exactly where you're coming from; you consider the killing of an elephant to murder, but not the killing of a mosquito. What is your criteria for determining this sort of thing? Is it murder to kill a lion?
A deer?
A duck?
A frog?
In each case, if not, why not? I'm really curious as to your answer.
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BBC: Kenya rangers shoot dead five suspected poachers (110lbs. of elephant ivory recovered) [View all]
Poll_Blind
Apr 2012
OP
Remove the dead poachers teeth and send that to an Asian jeweler that processes ivory
bloomington-lib
Apr 2012
#4
Legal hunting and safari, while not popular here, has proven to be a boon to wildlife populations
Drahthaardogs
Apr 2012
#11
Can't feed your family with 110lbs of ivory, but you could with 1,000lbs of elephant meat.
Poll_Blind
Apr 2012
#28
While I share your sentiment about gravedancing, these people are very bad and need to be stopped.
cbayer
Apr 2012
#31
Having spent some time around groups of elephants, I will maintain that this is murder.
cbayer
Apr 2012
#34
So if someone kills an elephant with malice aforethought, what should the penalty be?
Johnny Rico
Apr 2012
#37
The problem is that when you use the term "murder" to describe the killing of an animal, it has a
Johnny Rico
Apr 2012
#47
I understand that and was using it more for impact than for it's literal meaning.
cbayer
Apr 2012
#51
Understood and I apologize. Will be more thoughtful (or use quote marks) in the future.
cbayer
Apr 2012
#54
While I don't believe there is, in Kenya, the death penalty for poaching per se.
oneshooter
Apr 2012
#58
I was just reading about the death penalty issue, and from what I see, you are correct.
cbayer
Apr 2012
#61
You may maintain that "this is murder" to your heart's content. You may do so at great length.
11 Bravo
Apr 2012
#48
If elephants can be "innocent", don't they by definition have the capability of being "guilty"?
Johnny Rico
Apr 2012
#52
Only males get shunned? Discrimination! I won't have it...harumph, harumph!
Johnny Rico
Apr 2012
#57
I wish they'd had those gun barrels up each other's asses when they pulled the trigger instead of...
Poll_Blind
Apr 2012
#26
It's funny...post that you're glad that a murderer is dead and you'll get attacked for being a
Johnny Rico
Apr 2012
#24
The key to enjoying DU is expecting that nomatter what you post someone is going to hate you for it
Poll_Blind
Apr 2012
#25
The poachers were more than ready to kill humans. They don't sound like the victims here.
freshwest
Apr 2012
#41