Do you think abuse is an excuse or a defense for commiting violent crimes? Why or why not?
by 
ADIMADMOM
ANSWERS: 8
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I don't think it's an excuse, nor should it be used as a defense, unless the person who committed the crime(s) is a child. Even then it may be subjective. I do, however, see it as a reason sometimes. But adults are responsible for their own actions and decisions.
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A contributing factor, maybe, but neither an excuse nor a defense. Most people who suffer abuse do not commit crimes.
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Nope. All abusers are losers and so are those who defend them .End of story.
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These days it's more of an excuse. I'm fed up hearing that someone molested a child because they were molested, abused threir wife because they were abused or committed a robbery, rape, assault etc because they had a tough home life. A lot of us were abused as children but we don't touch others inappropriatley or beat and rob strangers. It's harder to stand up and say "yep I'm guilty and I should be punished", so they blame their parents, society or anything else they can think of just to escape punishment.
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Just because on is abused does not mean that we must in turn take out our past offenses on other victims.. There are plenty of people who were abused who turned out to be normal people...
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It is neither a defense nor an excuse, but a way to see why said person may have come to the conclusion that they need to make the choices that land them in jail. Actions are chosen, period. Experiences do not make your choices for you.
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I recently saw a show on the History channel, or something, about people who commit murder. The psychologists from that show claim that there are three main commonalities in most murderers: mental illness (such as depression or schizophrenia...), trauma to the head (like falling out of a tree), and physical or sexual abuse. So, I think abuse is definitely just a contributing factor to what makes a deadly cocktail.
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No I do not think abuse is an excuse to comitt violent crimes unless maybe you are talking about killing or seriously injuring your abuser. My Father would give me a good crack across the face with his huge heavy hand on an almost daily basis for years if I dared got out of line. Somwetimes he used a leather strap across my ass or back of the legs. It didn't take much to set him off. In spite of the almost daily abuse I endured at his hands I grew up to be a respectful law abiding citizen. I think too many people try to find excuses such as abuse or other issues to justify their actions and garner sympathy from the public. Again unless the violent act was perpetrated against the actual individual responsible for the criminal's abuse then there is no valid justifiable reason for comitting a violent crime against someone.
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