They should be shot

Posted by Abe on May 23, 2005

In Reply to: They should be shot posted by David FG on May 22, 2005

: : What's the origin of "they should be shot"?

: Presumably that the people in question are so unspeakable that they deserve the ultimate penalty of death by shooting.

: DFG

In the Western US I get the feeling that "they should be shot" is used facetiously more often than seriously. If kids were to repeatedly leave their toys in front of someone's apartment door "They should be shot." might be an appropriate string of expletives.