Is it wrong?

That was back in the 'old west', maybe even as seen on TV.

Now about the only you could get away with shooting him in the back is if he is shooting at someone and you just hapen to get behind him. Unless he has a weapon out you probably can not shoot him at all by todays standards.

Yes. I thnk it's one of those Bible commandments .. but don'r let that stop you .. John T.

Ethically or legally? It should be pointed out as recently as the 30s it was common for the FBI to ambush criminals and shoot them in the back. Dillinger is a good example. He was shot in the back of the head without a warning. The rules are somewhat different now unless the HRT shows up. Then bushwhack killings still go on. Ask Randy Weaver.

Unless you are in Texas and he is on your property???

No idea. What tickled me about the old westerns was the good guy hauling the dead bad guy to town on the bad guy's horse. The bad guy apparently never got ripe during the trip.

Good point Dean.

Wanted posters don't say dead or alive anymore.

Today it is probably wrong. When I hear about a shooting of any sort and the news reports the shooter was killed, I just figure, justice served, quickly and cheaply.

I just looked at a couple of posters for the FBI's most wanted and they say caution they are dangerous but no Dead or Alive:

Long lead line.

It was a secret who killed him but his sons ppointed a gun at the head of the hotel desk clerk (who had admitted to hearing the shot and running to the door to see what had happened. The son said, Didn't you hear shots every night. Why did you run to the door?). So threated to kill him if he didn't talk. He resisted but finally said it was Marshall Dillon.

So one of them is calling out Marshall Dillon, and he's telling them they're making a mistake. Eventually their father admits that he shot their brother.

I meant wrong, not illegal.