Why is suicide illegal?

[woolfe9999]

Do you want the chemically depressed to have the right to kill themselves. Personally, I would prefer the right of society to force chemical injection to end such depression.

I think the right to suicide is only for those who are actually sane in that decision. The issue is how do you differentiate between a sick and a sane decision.

No sir, I can't agree. You're basically saying it should be a crime for someone to take his or her own life just because they were chemically depressed and therefore unable to make an intelligent decision? Chemical depression is a health issue, not a criminal issue, and suicide is a right. No person has superior jurisdiction over your life than you do, no matter how much they may think they know better than you.

As for forcing people to take psychoactive drugs, HELL no.

- wolf

 

[alkemyst]

The reason it's illegal is because when someone gets to the point of taking their own life, they may include others.

If people that killed themselves always did it without collateral damage then I am sure it wouldn't be illegal everywhere.

 

[nobodyknows]

Adultry HAS BEEN illegal for the greater part of our history, in most jurisdictions and perhaps all at one time or another IIRC. Not very well enforced, but illegal nonetheless. And illegal precisely because it's a "sin." I see no reason to believe that the illegality of suicide is not based on the same rationale. The only reason the criminality of adultery has not persisted everywhere is likely because there are just so many people doing it that there is no point anymore. Criminalizing adultery is kind of like the 55 mph speed limit. That, however, it neither here nor there since it's pretty clear that both suicide and adultery have been criminalized for he exact same "biblical" reason.

- wolf

It appears o be illegal in 18 states.

http://www.trueknowledge.com/q/what_states_is_adultery_illegal

In Minnesota it's illegal for a married woman to cheat on her husband it carries a one year prison sentence and a possible fine of $3000

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/12/11/ap/strange/main5968293.shtml

Of course you can punish adulters, but what are you going to do to someone who has killed themselves?? Give them life in prison??

I think as Moonie said, it's so you can't get life insurance and then go kill yourself and also so that other people can't assist you in legally killing yourself. Can you imagine a court defense in a murder trial saying "they asked me to kill them because they couldn't do it themselves"?? What a mess that would make of the legal system.

 

[MJinZ]

The reason it's illegal is because when someone gets to the point of taking their own life, they may include others.

If people that killed themselves always did it without collateral damage then I am sure it wouldn't be illegal everywhere.

Uh, Homicide is already illegal universally.

 

[woolfe9999]

It appears o be illegal in 18 states.

http://www.trueknowledge.com/q/what_states_is_adultery_illegal

In Minnesota it's illegal for a married woman to cheat on her husband it carries a one year prison sentence and a possible fine of $3000

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/12/11/ap/strange/main5968293.shtml

Of course you can punish adulters, but what are you going to do to someone who has killed themselves?? Give them life in prison??

I think as Monnie said it's so you can't get life insurance and then go kill yourself and also so that other people can's assist you. Can you imagine a court defense in a murder trial saying "they asked me to kill them because they couldn't do itt themselves"??

Adultery was illegal in every state as of the late 19th century IIRC.

There are far more attempted suicides than successfully completed suicides. In theory, attempted suicide is an inchoate crime like attempted murder. Those attempting suicide could therefore be prosecuted. In practice it isn't enforced any more than adultery because it is an outdated crime based on biblical morality.

As for life insurance, I don't see the rationale at all. Life insurance policies preclude collecting benefits if you suicide. That is a valid and enforceable contract provision. Suicide need not be a crime because it is enforceable either way as a matter of contract law. There is no justification for criminalizing suicide unless it is to enforce bibical morality.

- wolf

 

[Moonbeam]

No sir, I can't agree. You're basically saying it should be a crime for someone to take his or her own life just because they were chemically depressed and therefore unable to make an intelligent decision? Chemical depression is a health issue, not a criminal issue, and suicide is a right. No person has superior jurisdiction over your life than you do, no matter how much they may think they know better than you.

As for forcing people to take psychoactive drugs, HELL no.

- wolf

I know better than you so watch out. I don't give a fig what your opinion is. I would stop you from killing yourself in a heart beat, if I had that opportunity and it was my opinion you have no reason to die. I once had no reason to live and just by unfathomable grace died before I could kill myself. Remember that when the lover dies in the arms of his beloved time stops and all that remains is eternal joy.

You are talking with your mind but I am speaking from my being.

 

[Moonbeam]

Or vice versa?

Don't most (if not all?) life insurance policies have suicide clauses?

Yes, because it's illegal. Otherwise the clause would not be able to be enforced.

 

[nonlnear]

Uh, Homicide is already illegal universally.

No it's not. There are categories of homicide which are legal - and rightfully so. Now if you meant murder, well that's a different matter altogether.

 

[woolfe9999]

I know better than you so watch out. I don't give a fig what your opinion is. I would stop you from killing yourself in a heart beat, if I had that opportunity and it was my opinion you have no reason to die. I once had no reason to live and just by unfathomable grace died before I could kill myself. Remember that when the lover dies in the arms of his beloved time stops and all that remains is eternal joy.

You are talking with your mind but I am speaking from my being.

Mano-e-mano, you could try to stop me from killing myself and you're entitlted to feel however you want about it. That would be a matter between you and me. It takes on quite a different cast when the state gets involved, however, because the state has the power to coerce.

- wolf

 

[Perknose]

It appears o be illegal in 18 states.

http://www.trueknowledge.com/q/what_states_is_adultery_illegal

This site makes the count 27 states, but may be outdated and/or using a broader definition of the term: http://www.mcwilliams.com/books/books/aint/505.htm


My fave is "Alienation of Affection" laws, still on the books, as of 12/2009 in Hawaii, Illinois, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Dakota, and Utah.

An alienation of affection lawsuit is one in which a spouse can sue a third party if his or her partner leaves the relationship for another person.


To win, an alienation of affection lawsuit needs to prove that:

• Love between the married spouses must have existed.
• The marital love must have been alienated and destroyed.
• The third party's conduct has to be proved to be malicious interference with the marriage relationship.

Most states in the United States have abolished this type of lawsuit as it is considered to be archaic and an unacceptable form of revenge.


Historically, the alienation of affection law was based on the belief that a wife was the property of her husband. Therefore, when a woman was emotionally or sexually involved with another man, she was considered to have been stolen.

http://marriage.about.com/od/legalities/a/alienation.htm

http://marriage.about.com/od/legalities/g/alienationdef.htm


The most famous trial on this count was that of Henry Ward Beecher.

 

[nobodyknows]

Mano-e-mano, you could try to stop me from killing myself and you're entitlted to feel however you want about it. That would be a matter between you and me. It takes on quite a different cast when the state gets involved, however, because the state has the power to coerce.

- wolf

Ity seems to me that the State is in no more of a position to stop you from killing yourself (if you really wanted to) then Moonie is, so???

 

[LunarRay]

It is illegal for a few reasons but one is that Life Insurance Policies don't pay on self inflicted Homicide.

 

[hal2kilo]

It shouldn't be because..............

Through early morning fog I see
visions of the things to be
the pains that are withheld for me
I realize and I can see...

[chorus]:

That suicide is painless
It brings on many changes
and I can take or leave it if I please.

I try to find a way to make
all our little joys relate
without that ever-present hate
but now I know that it's too late, and...

[Chorus]

The game of life is hard to play
I'm gonna lose it anyway
The losing card I'll someday lay
so this is all I have to say.

[Chorus]

The only way to win is cheat
And lay it down before I'm beat
and to another give my seat
for that's the only painless feat.

[Chorus]

MASH
The sword of time will pierce our skins
It doesn't hurt when it begins
But as it works its way on in
The pain grows stronger...watch it grin, but...

[Chorus]

A brave man once requested me
to answer questions that are key
'is it to be or not to be'
and I replied 'oh why ask me?'

'Cause suicide is painless
it brings on many changes
and I can take or leave it if I please.
...and you can do the same thing if you choose.

 

[woolfe9999]

Ity seems to me that the State is in no more of a position to stop you from killing yourself (if you really wanted to) then Moonie is, so???

The state can make it harder by prohibiting assisted suicide. If I'm terminally ill I have be able to pull the trigger myself or else suffer? I can't have a doctor put me to sleep comfortably? The state just needs to keep their hands off of it. I should be able to choose the time and place of my demise if that is my desire.

- wolf

 

[Fern]

Yes, because it's illegal. Otherwise the clause would not be able to be enforced.

No Moonie.

Life insurance is a mutually agreed upon contract, even if suicide weren't illegal nothing precludes an insurance company from refusing to cover it.

E.g., a flood is not illegal, but my (and many others') insurance companies refuse to cover it.

Fern

 

[Acanthus]

So what's the punishment, life?

Death Penalty.

 

[sandorski]

Do you really want to live in a World where Serial Suicidal Maniacs are roaming the streets??

 

[nobodyknows]

The state can make it harder by prohibiting assisted suicide. If I'm terminally ill I have be able to pull the trigger myself or else suffer? I can't have a doctor put me to sleep comfortably? The state just needs to keep their hands off of it. I should be able to choose the time and place of my demise if that is my desire.

- wolf

You mean like centerfield at half time during the Superbowl?

I personally have a semi-baked plan to kill myself if the need should arise. A few valiums, a bottle or two of some nice wine, maybe a little weed if I have some, then go start the car in the garage with the doors closed and play In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida with the volume cranked up. I'll bet the drum solo will sound fantastic!!

 

[hal2kilo]

You mean like centerfield at half time during the Superbowl?

I personally have a semi-baked plan to kill myself if the need should arise. A few valiums, a bottle or two of some nice wine, maybe a little weed if I have some, then go start the car in the garage with the doors closed and play In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida with the volume cranked up. I'll bet the good drum solo will sound fantastic!!

lol.

 

[nobodyknows]

No Moonie.

Life insurance is a mutually agreed upon contract, even if suicide weren't illegal nothing precludes an insurance company from refusing to cover it.

E.g., a flood is not illegal, but my (and many others') insurance companies refuse to cover it.

Fern

I thought I rememered hearing about a time provision for suicide clauses.

http://www.finweb.com/insurance/be-aware-of-these-life-insurance-clauses.html

The suicide clause is designed to prevent people who are contemplating taking their own lives from obtaining life insurance. To accomplish this, the clause states that if the insured commits suicide within a specified period of time, the policy will automatically be voided. The amount of time varies, but it's usually the same length as the incontestable period: one or two years. The clause applies whether the insured is sane or insane at the time of the act.

Once the mandated period of time has elapsed, the insurance company must pay the claim even if the insured commits suicide. However, if suicide occurs while the time limit is still in effect, the company will usually only refund any premiums that the policy-owner has paid for the coverage. Accrued interest on the premiums typically won't be refunded, as the company will use it to offset part of its costs in initially setting up the policy.

Although some states may not specifically mention the suicide clause in their laws, insurance companies generally use the silence as tacit permission to include the clause in their policies.

 

[alkemyst]

You mean like centerfield at half time during the Superbowl?

I personally have a semi-baked plan to kill myself if the need should arise. A few valiums, a bottle or two of some nice wine, maybe a little weed if I have some, then go start the car in the garage with the doors closed and play In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida with the volume cranked up. I'll bet the drum solo will sound fantastic!!

This all works great until your 'garage' is below others living there too.

 

[nobodyknows]

This all works great until your 'garage' is below others living there too.

Well my little garage is not attached to the house and is insulated so I'm "good to go".

You could always drive to some desolated spot and run a hose from the tailpipe into the car, problem solved. Where there's a will, there's a way.

 

[MovingTarget]

Because it is hazardous to your health?

 

[ericlp]

what I found funny is that this dude on death row that was scheduled to be terminated tried to take his own life... but they revived him so he could die next week...

OK, well this dude is suppose to Die... So we spend money to revive him and send him to the hospital just so we can spend EVEN MORE money to kill him later in the week...

Waste of tax payers money. The reason is because it's not the Christain thing to do. Religious freaks AKA, Pro Lifers would flip out and start killing doctors that killed people!

I think we should have suicide booths right along with abortion booths! Fuck religion!

Kinda like the ones on futurama ... they convert the phone booths into suicide booths and you gotta put a quarter in to get it over with!

 

[alkemyst]

Well my little garage is not attached to the house and is insulated so I'm "good to go".

You could always drive to some desolated spot and run a hose from the tailpipe into the car, problem solved. Where there's a will, there's a way.

the problem is most of these aren't really planned out as far as the final event. It's a crime of passion more or less.

One day dad just pulls himself into the familiy garage like he always has, no one jumps up anymore to see him at the door anyway...so he just puts on some relaxing music, shuts the garage door and leaves the ignition running.

A few days later they discover his whole family dead of CO poisioning.