[Matman]

Just curious.. How many people have you ever shot and killed before?

My greatest fear since joining the military years ago, was never about my battle buddy dying, or even myself getting blown to bits... The only thing that has scared me thus far, is looking through my M-68 (optics, laser sight), and seeing a red dot on someone that had no clue that I could end his life in a matter of seconds. So before you feel so confident that you can do it and walk away with a smile on your face, you need to reevaluate the person you are... Its way too easy to talk the talk on a website full of armchair generals, presidents, and bs'ers.

You know one of our greatest heroes in the Army has been a pacifest from Tennesse. I have found the ones who don't want to fight are the ones that are quickest to defend their friends. Its the tough guys who talk a good game that hesitate. It is difficult to take a life. I am a shamed to say it, but its something you become a customed to. However as i have found out it comes back to haunt you later in life.
I'm split on the death penalty though. I don't think we should employ anyone to be a death dealer. But at the same time i wonder what deters some of these criminals. Even inmates in prison for life still continue to commit crimes. They continue to kill, other inmates and staff. Just yesterday i seen an inmate whos serving life try to take another inmates life. He would not quit even after warnings and warning shots. Less than lethal couldn't even slow him. The only thing that saved the other inmate is the M16. However prison to me is not punishment. Its more like time out. We take them out of society so that they we do not have to live with people who refuse to obey the laws of humanity. They go into another society with more luxeries than they had on the street. They then make prison worse with their prison politics.