Gun deaths shaped by race in America

[jimmy the one]

4. Suicide Illegal, ha.

dkf: You don't think maybe that's a personal decision?
Suicide used to be illegal in many states but most got rid of the law

Ha. That's because the state would penalize the suicide victim's family or estate (or both) by confiscating property or taking large tax levies, regarding the one committing suicide (I suppose they would justify it as him copping out of his further responsibility to the state to produce during his lifetime).
I suspect suicide was made illegal to keep a spiteful person from depriving his relatives what was fully due them upon his/her death.

There was really no 'penalty' to the victim by his 'illegal act of suicide', just that others in his family tended to suffer. Why, I believe, they got rid of the law making suicide illegal. (Tho attempted suicide also could be illegal, a different kettle of fish)

But the law making suicide illegal wasn't based upon whether it was a personal decision, just that it was deemed both state selfish & unfair to the suicide victims family or inheritors (if I remember correctly).