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The question is whether it's okay to shoot first at a gang of heavily armed criminals, or whether you have to attempt an arrest first.

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Yes, you have to attempt an arrest first. Poaching is not a capital crime.

I think Kenya is one place where poaching is a capital crime. They issued a shoot to kill order some years ago. It made the news and I'm not sure of the efficacy of such programs.

Importantly, this isn't poaching. This was lawful collection of elephants. Morality aside, this does provide funding for cash- strapped nations and some of that funding goes to protection of stressed animal populations.

> Morality aside

Yeah let's not do that.

I'm not comfortable attempting to force my morality on other people and other cultures, and I think it detracts from our ability to be objective.

I personally dislike zoos and don't visit them. At the same time, I'm not comfortable telling you how you should feel.

Bank robbery is not a capital crime either but cops shoot as soon as they see an armed gang. Isn't this a good comparison?

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