Starfleet Academy, the bottom half of graduates.

[Discofan]

Even today (in my country) nonlethal weapons are taking the place of formerly lethal ones among forces specialized in dealing with unruly crowds up to riots. In fact, the only people who died lately in the hands of specials forces are outward terrorists who were guilty of assaults that had cost the lives of several people. I can't believe that people in a so-called ideal future would be less enlightened than today's people in a much less than ideal present. If you can incapacitate an assailant, why would you need to kill them? Assuming you're not a barbarian that is...

 

[The Wormhole]

Besides, I don't understand why his gun wasn't set on stun. The effect is the same as the person becomes unconscious and you can restrain her with strings or manacles and then call the authorities. At least you will not have killed anybody. Something a so-called civilized citizen from the future should be very pleased about. Why wasn't his rifle set on stun? Maybe next time he'll kill some pranking kid instead of an alien...

Well, if you want to be that way, why did the security officers on the NX-01 kill all the Suliban they shot when the Suliban boarded to abduct Klaang? This combined with the way Reed emphasises the fact the phase pistols have a stun setting makes me inclined to believe the phase pistols were the first weapons to have both a kill and stun feature.

Although this falls apart when you factor in that the EM-33s are later retconned to have a stun setting, but what's Trek without inconsistencies?

 

[c0rnedfr0g]

The very scene being discussed exemplifies exactly why gun rights are necessary.

A better question would be why should Farmer Moore NOT have a gun?

 

[The Old Mixer]

The guy is guarding grain! What big animal do you know that will enter a grain silo? Giant rats?

He had fields, not just a silo. The ship crashed in one. The Suliban were chasing the Klingon through the fields.

 

[matthunter]

Having observed weapons fire outside, the likelihood is that his thoughts were guarding his FAMILY, not the grain.

 

[Discofan]

Having observed weapons fire outside, the likelihood is that his thoughts were guarding his FAMILY, not the grain.

How about go to the safe place and call the authorities?

 

[The Wormhole]

How about go to the safe place and call the authorities?

Even in the 22nd century, the farm is probably in a remote region and it would likely still take time for the authorities to get there. Facts in the moment are, a ship crashed on the farm, the silo blew up, and there's an armed alien present. These are valid enough circumstances to believe you and anyone else present at the farm may be in danger, making shooting the alien in self defense a legitimate option.

You'll note Farmer Moore wasn't arrested or charged with assault or attempted murder afterwards.

 

[Discofan]

Even in the 22nd century, the farm is probably in a remote region and it would likely still take time for the authorities to get there. Facts in the moment are, a ship crashed on the farm, the silo blew up, and there's an armed alien present. These are valid enough circumstances to believe you and anyone else present at the farm may be in danger, making shooting the alien in self defense a legitimate option.

You'll note Farmer Moore wasn't arrested or charged with assault or attempted murder afterwards.

First, we don't know that.

Second, people who live in gun lobby heaven shouldn't write fictions about so-called peaceful futures.

 

[The Wormhole]

First, we don't know that.

Considering the plan was to kill Klaang anyway before Archer intervened, I don't see why Farmer Moore would be arrested or charged.

 

[Discofan]

Considering the plan was to kill Klaang anyway before Archer intervened, I don't see why Farmer Moore would be arrested or charged.

That was the plan of the Vulcans. I hope they're not controlling the judicial system on Earth!! Are you implying that they are?