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  • zedzed@mstdn.party
    Apr 26, 2026, 9:38 AM

    After another assassination attempt on Trump, you’ll hear alot of people say that “violence is never the answer.” Unless you’re a Quaker (or some other actually pacifist religious group), anyone saying that is being dishonest to themselves.

    And if you do actually think violence can be acceptable, you need to actually figure out where the line is. Going based of vibes is not enough.

    Attached is a screenshot of where I currently am with the question “when is violence morally acceptable?”

    A screenshot of the Notes app that reads: When is violence morally acceptable? Scenario 1: • In exigent circumstances where unjust violence is already occurring. • Only the minimum amount of violence to stop the exigent circumstance is acceptable. Scenario 2: • When a grave injustice is occurring. • There are no laws in the jurisdiction where the injustice is occurring that make illegal the injustice. • Creating such laws is implausible. • Only violence that is likely to reduce the chance of the grave injustice is acceptable. Scenario 3: • When a grave injustice is occurring. • There are laws that cover the injustice, but it is implausible that they be enforced. • Only violence that is likely to reduce the chance of the grave injustice is acceptable.
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Replies

  • zedzed@mstdn.party
    Apr 26, 2026, 9:40 AM

    Today, with Trump, we’re the closest to Scenario 3:
    A grave injustice is occurring: The Trump government is effectuating an immoral war in Iran, funding state sponsored terrorism, and mass-deporting largely innocent civilians in America, among other things.

    However, there are laws against his government’s abuse of power. The plausibility of their enforcement depends on Democrats taking bake the House, Senate, and then the Presidency. And then also prosecuting his crimes…

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  • zedzed@mstdn.party
    Apr 26, 2026, 9:44 AM

    We don’t need another Ulysses S. Grant “let us have peace” moment or a Gerald Ford pardon moment. We need full on prosecutions of every crime this government is committing, including challenging all of the past and forthcoming illegal pardons.

    But here’s the main reason why a Trump assassination isn’t moral: the injustice is being committed by the Trump government, not him personally.

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  • zedzed@mstdn.party
    Apr 26, 2026, 9:46 AM

    And because the problem is the Trump government, not simply Trump himself, assassinating just Trump would not stop the ongoing injustices.

    And then practically, his crimes would never be prosecuted (so you’re actually denying justice its course).

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  • scott fscott@carfree.city
    Apr 26, 2026, 9:50 AM

    @zed if you ever want to read a 3,300-page answer to this question, with exhaustively researched historical sources, check out William T. Vollmann’s Rising Up and Rising Down

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