[Red_Devil 232]

Just wondering what makes a murder into an assassination?

Does the person murdered have to be a high profile politician and killed in a public setting?

Is it the way the person is murdered; gun shot from 300 meters away, car bomb, poison?

I know without a doubt in my mind that this was an assassination and I don't mean to make lite of it.

I know if I were to be killed by gun shot or a car bomb I would be a victum of a murder not assassination.

[Nebraska6804]

I think if you are a former national leader or a current viable candidate to be a major leader it’s called an assasination. I’m not sure the manner of death is important. So yeah, I think the term is reserved for high profile politicians, but I’m not sure the method or setting really manner.

[Polybius]

Just wondering what makes a murder into an assassination?I know without a doubt in my mind that this was an assassination and I don't mean to make lite of it. I know if I were to be killed by gun shot or a car bomb I would be a victim of a murder not assassination.

It seems to be a matter of the degree of preparation taken to kill the victim, the targeted nature of the killing of a particular individual and the importance of the victim.

According to Webster's definition (below), it seems that if you were important enough to have somebody take the all the trouble to kill you with a car bomb, you would have the honor of being "assassinated" instead of merely "murdered".

Being shot by a robber at a 7-11 for being at the wrong place at the wrong time only qualifies you for "murder".

**********

1 : to injure or destroy unexpectedly and treacherously

2 : to murder (a usually prominent person) by sudden or secret attack often for political reasons

[Free State Four]

assassinate:
Date: 1607
1 : to injure or destroy unexpectedly and treacherously
2 : to murder (a usually prominent person) by sudden or secret attack often for political reasons

[the808bass]

I know if I were to be killed by gun shot or a car bomb I would be a victum of a murder not assassination.

Interesting question. According to the dictionary definitions I looked at "assassination" is a murder with political implications or the murder of a public figure.

[PLMerite]

“Just wondering what makes a murder into an assassination?”

I would say that assassination is because of what you are - president, leader of some organization, a symbol of something. It requires you to have some power.

Murder is more personal.

If you kill a guy because he’s the leader of a country, it’s an assassination. If you kill the same guy because he’s doing your wife, it’s murder.