Oh yes, of course!
irmoz
joined 2 years ago
I'd say that lethal force is rational when used as proportional self-defence. Or, in the words of Malcolm Reynolds, "if someone ever tries to kill you, you try to kill 'em right back."
I think the Gandalf quote, however, is specifically referring to death as a punishment for "just" being a thoroughly contemptible, evil and heinous person.
"Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends. I have not much hope that Gollum can be cured before he dies, but there is a chance of it. And he is bound up with the fate of the Ring. My heart tells me that he has some part to play yet, for good or ill, before the end; and when that comes, the pity of Bilbo may rule the fate of many - yours not least."
- Gandalf, The Fellowship of the Ring
Got me there, tbf