What would you do if you learned that a member of your family committed a heinous crime?

[Stanchetalarooni]

Or your spouse?
Or your best friend?
Your next door neighbor who helps you with those plumbing projects?
Or a teacher at your kids school?
Or your local grocer?
Or your local councilman?
Or the local mill operator?
Or...........
Your tv talking head?
Your state representative?
Your priest or rabbi or minister?
Your congressperson?
Your Senator?
Your President?

[atreides1]

1. Take them to the authorities

What would you do?????

[jobycom]

2. I once learned that a friend of my brother's first girlfriend's sister shoplifted.

:shrug:

[angstlessk]

3. I dont think shoplifting is considered henious..maybe by the chamber of commerce?

perhaps?

[jobycom]

11. Oh yeah, how about shoplifting a newborn baby from the maternity ward?

Hmmm?

(Sorry, wanted to see what it felt like to be Bill O'Reilly. Now I need to vomit.)

[LostinVA]

4. Murder, rape, stuff like that?

I would turn them in to the authorities.

I remember a thread on DU one time, probably two years ago or so, where quite a few posters thought that someone shouldn't
betray" their family. You better believe I would, for a violent crime.

[JuniperLea]

17. Don't snitch... runs deep... n/t

[Name removed]

5. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. 
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[mainegreen]

6. depends on who and what, just like most things in this life. n/t

[emlev]

7. Millions of us have: incest, spousal abuse, child abuse...

You pose the question as if it's a highly unusual situation. It's not. Sadly.

[Solon]

8. I would disclaim them and claim it isn't my REAL family member...

or member of my community.

"Sir, can you comment on your brother being arrested for killing those people?"

"I don't know him, what an evil thing to do."

"You don't know him? But he's your twin!"

"He stole my face."

[silverweb]

9. Define 'heinous crime."

Gratuitous violent harm to another person? Notify the appropriate authorities. Absolutely.

Violence in self defense? Likely nothing.

[sinkingfeeling]

10. Turn them in to law enforcement. Unfortunately, the president is exempt , or that's what the GOP

claims.

[Evoman]

12. It would depend on the crime and the person.

If it was robbery or anything like that, I probably wouldn't turn them in. If it was murder, I would...although, I suppose it might depend on WHO they murdered (innocent vs. a thug of some sort). ANY type of sexual assault (rape or pedophilia), fucker gets sent to jail. I will not abide rape. Especially since rapists never stop at one. I couldn't stand being responsible for a women being raped because I didn't turn in a family member.

[warren pease]

13. These days, nominate them for the federal bench or for an ambassador posting n/t

[Madspirit]

14. Depends on the Crime

Unfortunately the death penalty makes this a difficult question. I do NOT under any circumstances support the death penalty. So if it was a one-time killing thing but they would be subject to the death penalty, I would not turn them in. If they were a serial killer, I would turn them in anyway because I would have to think about ALL the victims and future victims. I hate the government for putting me in this position.
A rapist, child abuser, etc....crimes that are not subject to the death penalty but are heinous, I would turn them in in a New York minute.
Stealing...I wouldn't turn them in. I would tell them what I think but I don't think of stealing as heinous. To me, heinous only would include things like murder, child abuse, rape...violent crimes against others....
Lee

[Javaman]

16. Odd...

It appears to be a body count issue for you...

"So if it was a one-time killing thing but they would be subject to the death penalty, I would not turn them in. If they were a serial killer, I would turn them in anyway because I would have to think about ALL the victims and future victims."

But then you go on to how it would effect you and not the poor people who were killed.

Then you go on to say...

"Stealing...I wouldn't turn them in. I would tell them what I think but I don't think of stealing as heinous."

So long as they are not stealing from you it's okay, right? What if a person who is a complete stranger to you, stole your car, but then you found out that this persons brother refused to turn him in, that's okay with you?

But then you contradict yourself by saying...

"To me, heinous only would include things like murder, child abuse, rape...violent crimes against others...."

Killing and murder are usually the same thing, but what do I know? Most people concider killing a violent crime against another.

Sigh. I get so tired of living in an alternative universe.

[Madspirit]

18. FU

Yes, it's a matter of body count. The state makes it this way. No, I probably wouldn't turn someone in for stealing.

Go pick on the people who say they wouldn't turn in family members even if they were Charles Manson and leave me alone.
Lee

[Javaman]

20. A little testy aren't we? I just pointed out your contradictions and you

get all emotional.

Touched a nerve?

you said...

"Yes, it's a matter of body count. The state makes it this way."

Sadly no, whether it's one person killed or many, murder is still murder. I think you are getting the media's definition of what they consider a story confused with reality.

but please enlighten me as to the difference between murder and killing? That one still has me curious.

[Madspirit]

21. This was a SUBJECTIVE question

As I said, go pick on the people who wouldn't even turn in their Charlie Manson relatives. ...and yes, it is the fault of the state. ...kind of like all those countries who won't extradite if we ask for the death penalty. Get a grip. Pick on someone else.
Lee

[Javaman]

22. I'm not picking on you...

I just find it interesting that you pick and choose your definitions based on odd logic.

As for the Charles Manson issue. If you read history, you will see that he didn't commit murder, he was just the "brains". However Jeffery Dahmer committed murder and killed people. I also believe he ate them.

So again, you are okay with a sibling killing someone as long as it's not on a mass scale?

And please, when you figure it out, get back with my on your definitions of murder and killing, okay? I would love to hear it.

In the future if you are going to post contradictory statements, please have the courage enough to defend them without going off half cocked.

Have a nice day. :)

[Madspirit]

23. I don't even know what you're talking about

Murder and killing are the same. Including when the state does it. Now go pick on the people who would not turn in family members for even mass murders.

...and actually, I left home at 15 and have no links with anyone who shares my DNA. This was just an idiotic question to begin with. The question MADE ME the judge and jury. If my cousin killed her husband...this cousin I haven't seen in 20 years, I might not turn her in. If she was down killing people every day, I would. This was a subjective question. See a dictionary for "subjective".
Lee

[Javaman]

24. Okay, I will quote you again...

first you said...

"So if it was a one-time killing thing but they would be subject to the death penalty, I would not turn them in. If they were a serial killer, I would turn them in anyway because I would have to think about ALL the victims and future victims."

then you said...

"To me, heinous only would include things like murder, child abuse, rape...violent crimes against others...."

so if your sibling kills someone, is it a heinous crime of murder? if so, by your logic you would turn them in, but that concept contradicts your first statement.

That was all I was trying to point out and you went nuts on me.

[Madspirit]

25. hahahahaha

It was the serial part that made it heinous not the different use of the words "murder" and "killing" oh bright one. Of course it would be murder if it was my sibling.

...BUT I do want to thank-you. What would the world be without nudges around to point out all our little demons, contradictions, flaws, illogic, etc...ON SUBJECTIVE MATTERS. Wow, without people like you...perfect and all...what would the rest of us do....man.
Lee

[Javaman]

27. boy, you have some serious issues...

One I have been polite to you.

two I was merely inquiring to your contradiction in your post. because it reads as, if your sibling killed someone (unless if it was a mass killing) you wouldn't turn them in.

Yet later in your post you consider murder heinous.

So once again, by your logic, you wouldn't turn in your sibling, even though they commit a heinous crime by your definition.

I'm not parsing words here, I'm using what you said.

I was just pointing this out, yet you choose to make it out to be something that it is not.

I do find your other comment odd, such as...

"If they were a serial killer, I would turn them in anyway because I would have to think about ALL the victims and future victims."

[Madspirit]

28. Yawn....n/t

[Javaman]

31. Well what ever...

way to act like an adult.

[Madspirit]

33. Yeah Right

...because it is SO adult to continue to engage in a circular pile of crap. Yeah, that's adult.
Lee

[treestar]

29. There would still be a judge and jury

So the ultimate burden would not be on you (unless you are totally cynical about the system and don't think it would ever give your relative a fair trial).

I can see having the problem with the death penalty, though. Personally, I would turn them in but still protest the death penalty as with anyone else.

And of course the question is sort of lop-sided, in that it presumes guilt - most of us would believe our relative's story and probably be claiming they were innocent up to the end - that's just human nature.

[Madspirit]

35. Notice

I did say death penalty case. Most murders are not death penalty cases.

In fact, the average sentence for murder is 12-15 years, depending on which year you check:

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/crimoff.htm

In which case I would turn in my relative/friend whatever.
Lee

[murloc]

15. Depends on the crime and which family member

Such a thing would definitely put one to the test.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

19. By "heinous crime" do you mean one that is harmful to others?

That's where I draw the line. If harm is being done to others then I can't stand by and pretend not to notice.

[depakid]

26. Make sure they got a good lawyer

If they were a danger to others- depending on the circumstance, one might have to go further....

[Raine]

30. Turn them in

I turned my neighbor in for spousal abuse, I won't tolerate someone committing violent bullying of any kind. x(

[Madspirit]

32. I turned in a pedophile I knew.

They weren't a friend but were a friend of a friend. They were letting their 15 year old have a relationship with a 31 year old. I turned them in so fast their nasty little heads spun around.
Lee

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

34. My Spouse? Help Her Conceal It.

My best friend? Depends on the crime but would probably help conceal or turn the other cheek to most.

The rest? Depends on the crime. There are wayyyyyyyyy too many variables in the OP to give any real sort of answer; shy of posting something a mile friggin long just to incorporate them all.

[SoCalDem]

36. My husband and I did take our son to the police when he

stole our car, and came home high as a kite.. he was 14 at the time.. they laughed at us ..IN FRONT OF HIM:(

Needless to say, it only emboldened him :grr: