Ethics... (what would you do?)

[Ash]

Let's say that you just found out that your wife, mother, father, brother, sister, or any member of your immediate family purposely murdered someone.
It could have happened years ago or recently.

You learned that they picked up a gun and shot another person to death.
Would you turn them in?  Or would you protect them and keep it a secret?

You'll notice that I chose not to add the option, "It would depend on the circumstances" in the poll.  (that's for another thread)
This is strictly a yes or no question.

If one of your close relatives committed premeditated murder, would you turn them in?

[RCMerchant]

My ex-brother in law murdered my ex-wifes boyfreind. It was wrong....totally cold. I didn't have to turn him in. He turned himself in after running for about a day. Would I have....even though I liked the guy.?..yes. It was  a cowardly,sensless act...he shot the guy in the back with a 12 gauge. F^ck 'em...he's in prison,good riddance.

[nshumate]

Ash, I replied to the question as written, but I do think the "It depends" stuff is where the meat of ethical discussion lies.

What if I discovered that my wife had killed (for example) a terminally ill uncle who desperately wanted to be released, but whose estranged wife wouldn't allow withdrawal of care because of problems with the will?

What if I discovered that my wife had killed a serial rapist who gloated in the fact that his brother the sheriff wasn't even going to arrest him?

[Ash]

Ash, I replied to the question as written, but I do think the "It depends" stuff is where the meat of ethical discussion lies.

I originally thought if I added the "It depends" option, no one would vote yes or no.

Very well,  I've added the new option.  

[trekgeezer]

If it was cold calculated act or performed during some kind of robbery of something, I definitely would be calling the cops if they didn't turn themselves in.

The euthanasia thing is something for another discussion.

[Allhallowsday]

I am loyal to a fault, and though I would first offer a disclaimer of the "it depends" ilk, in my gut I am moral and certain behaviours are just wrong.  For me, knowledge of murder would be impossible to overlook or live with.  ...So, that's a definite maybe.   

[Killer Bees]

I chose "it depends".

If it was my arsehole middle sister, I would absolutely turn the b***h in, regardless of her reasons.  Same with my mother.

If it was my son or my youngest sister (and I adore them both), I would find out why they did it and who they did it to.  But regardless of that, I wouldn't turn them in.  They are both such wonderful people that for them to resort to that act would mean they were doing it to save themselves or someone else.  It wouldn't be "because they felt like it."

As for anyone else, I would turn them in in a second.

[Jack]

I wouldn't turn anybody in.  I'd want to know all the detail of course, most importantly "Are you planning on doing it again?" but their secret would be safe with me.  Even close friends or extended family.  If they were some low life criminal always committing crimes and it eventually built up to their first murder, then I'd turn them in because it might save someone else's life, but I don't know anybody like that. 

[Trevor]

I chose "It depends", Ash.

I lost family and friends in the Rhodesia / Zimbabwean war of 1965 ~ 1980: I would not hesitate to confront and kick the living s**t out of the so-called "freedom fighters" who did this. 

My biological parents abandoned me as a baby: I would gladly go to jail for their murders, as well as the people who abused me as a teen. 

If a member of my family killed someone, I would have no hesitation in turning them in: if a member of my extended family hurt or killed an immediate family member, they would have to deal with me first. I can promise you that they would not see another sunrise.

[odinn7]

If someone I knew killed someone in cold blood for no reason, I would most likely turn them in. If there was sufficient reason for them to do it, such as the killing of someone like a molester or rapist...no, I wouldn't.

Ash...I need to ask...did you start this thread for any particular reason or you were just curious as to the answers?

[Ash]

did you start this thread for any particular reason or you were just curious as to the answers?

I was just curious.
The idea popped into my head out of nowhere so I thought I'd ask.

[odinn7]

It's actually got potential to be a good topic. I was just wondering if you were harboring a criminal somewhere...

[BeyondTheGrave]

I'm pretty much going to echo what eveyone else is saying it depends. I don't know anyone who would kill but I would really have to question them on why they would do it.