History Main / WouldNotShootAGoodGuy

* The ModestyBlaise short story "I Had a Date with Lady Janet" (published in the collection ''Pieces of Modesty'') describes a situation dating back to when Modesty was the leader of a criminal gang in which a lucrative robbery job was cancelled due to Modesty being unable to work out a plan that didn't involve police officers being hurt.

* In ''AlphaProtocol'', Mike has one or two opportunities to shoot at police and other aggressors that are "just doing their jobs", mainly in Taiwan. Doing so will often score him negative points with his handler. Mina's opinion of you will drop by 1 point ''per kill'', making it possible to go from "best buds" to "worst enemies" faster than you can say "[[InstantSedation but I didn't have any tranquilizer darts]]!". Fortunately, both these sedative darts and non-lethal melee takedowns let you TakeAThirdOption, albeit often painfully hospitalizing the target in the latter case. ''Additionally'', characters may remark on your lethality (or lack thereof) and appreciate that in later meetings, especially Albatross in regards to [[spoiler:infiltrating one of the G-22 facilities and engaging a number of soldiers there]].

Because [[HangingSeparately they ought to be on his side]]. They're good guys, and he knows it.

* {{Dexter}} wasn't willing to kill Doakes, instead keeping him held hostage for a couple episodes after the latter discovered that he was [[SerialKillerKiller the Bay Harbor Butcher]]. Luckilly (or Unluckilly), though, [[BigDamnVillains Lila came along]]... Though Dexter wasn't exactly grateful.

* A variant in ''FullmetalAlchemist''. Roy Mustang and his men are willing to return fire when fighting the military but specifically avoid shooting to kill. Any other enemy would have been [[KillItWithFire burned to death]] instantly. The army interprets this as Mustang trying to mess with their heads and tries harder. On the other hand, the Briggs forces (including Falman, formerly of Mustang's group) really have no choice but to kill Central forces, who [[VillainousVallor are shown as equally brave against the odds]] as the heroes.

* A variant in ''FullmetalAlchemist''. Roy Mustang and his men are willing to return fire when fighting the military but specifically avoid shooting to kill. Any other enemy would have been [[KillItWithFire burned to death]] instantly. The army interprets this as Mustang trying to mess with their heads and tries harder.

* In an issue of Superman where he goes to EarthPrime, which is basically our world with all its mundanities, an army commander orders his men to shoot on Superman. They do so, thinking he's some sort of impostor or crazy person, but when the smoke clears and he's just fine, the men turn on their commander.

** Also, Frank usually takes it easy on superheroes who get between him and his targets. Of course, "taking it easy" for Frank Castle still usually involves fisticuffs, stabbings, and on one occasion, a ''steamroller''.

* In ''AlphaProtocol'', Mike has one or two opportunities to shoot at police and other aggressors that are "just doing their jobs", mainly in Taiwan. Doing so will often score him negative points with his handler. Mina's opinion of you will drop by 1 point ''per kill'', making it possible to go from "best buds" to "worst enemies" faster than you can say "[[InstantSedative but I didn't have any tranquilizer darts]]!". Fortunately, both these sedative darts and non-lethal melee takedowns let you TakeAThirdOption, albeit often painfully hospitalizing the target in the latter case. ''Additionally'', characters may remark on your lethality (or lack thereof) and appreciate that in later meetings, especially Albatross in regards to [[spoiler:infiltrating one of the G-22 facilities and engaging a number of soldiers there]].

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* A variant in FullmetalAlchemist. Roy Mustang and his men are willing to return fire when fighting the military but specifically avoid shooting to kill. Any other enemy would have been [[KillItWithFire burned to death]] instantly. The army interprets this as Mustang trying to mess with their heads and tries harder.
* In BusouRenkin, this is why [[spoiler: Kazuki]] refused to kill the [[spoiler: Alchemist Warriors sent after him when he is about to go Victor.]]
* Totally and completely [[AvertedTrope averted]] in the first season of [[GhostInTheShellStandAloneComplex Ghost in the Shell]]. After [[spoiler: the whole of Section 9]] is falsely accused of a crime, you would need an accountant to keep track of the dead among the black-ops military team sent to ''arrest'' them.

* {{Dexter}} wasn't willing to kill Doakes, instead keeping him held hostage for a couple episodes after the latter discovered that he was [[SerialKillerKiller the Bay Harbor Butcher]]. Luckilly(or Unluckilly), though, [[BigDamnVillains Lila came along]]... Though Dexter wasn't exactly grateful.

* This is one gameplay option in ShadowTheHedgehog and Shadow's canon modus operandi from now on. He'll still fight Sonic, but they're each other's {{Worthy Opponent}}s and Sonic appreciates the excitement, plus it's technically sparring. Sonic himself wouldn't attack a good guy outside of sparring either. Or when fighting for his life against a misguided Silver.

* Shirou has this attitude during the [[FateStayNight Grail War]], which causes every single one of his allies to pacepalm is threaten him with death. Seriously, only going after bad guys in a ThereCanBeOnlyOne fight to the death?

* {{Dexter}} wasn't willing to kill Doakes, instead keeping him held hostage for a couple episodes after the latter discovered that he was [[SerialKillerKiller the Bay Harbor Butcher]]. Luckilly, though, [[BigDamnVillains Lila came along]]...

[[{{Ptitle6kzs9a5e}} But why isn't he shooting back]]? Why is he just defensively dodging?

All about the complex, soldiers are hunting for our hero, with orders to shoot to kill. They've taken shots at him. He may even be wounded.

[[WhyIsntItAttacking So why isn't he fighting back]]? Why is he just defensively dodging?

* Totally and completely [[AvertedTrope averted]] in the first season of [[GhostInTheShellStandAloneComplex Ghost in the Shell]]. After [[spoiler: the whole of Section 9]] is falsely accused of a crime, you would need an accountant to keep track of the dead cops.
** To be fair, the armed adversaries were mostly from a black-op style JSDF, used to do the more dirtier stuff the gov needed. Not the regulsr street cops or regular JSDF.

** Also, Frank usually takes it easy on superheroes who get between him and his targets. Of course, "taking it easy" for Frank Castle still usually involves fisticuffs, stabbings, and on one occassion, a ''steamroller''.

* In ''{{Salt}}'', the titular protagonist tries her very best not to fatally injure any of her "good guy" pursuers. Sure, she causes them a lot of pain and broken bones, but nobody dies. [[spoiler: and especially not the Russian President, who is merely knocked out with spider venom.]]

* This is one gameplay option in ShadowTheHedgehog and Shadow's canon modus operandi from now on. He'll still fight Sonic, but they're each other's WorthyOpponents and Sonic appreciates the excitement, so it's cool.

* A variant in FullmetalAlchemist. Roy Mustang and his men are willing to return fire when fighting the military but specifically avoid shooting to kill. Any other enemy would have been [[KillItWithFire burned to death]] instantly. The army interprates this as Musting trying to mess with their heads and tries harder.