History Main / TechnicalPacifist

* ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfThomasCovenant''. The Vow actually covers technical pacifism, and prevents unnecessary violence.

* Lucky Star, a street-level crime fighter in the ''Roleplay/GlobalGuardiansPBEMUniverse'', who is often called "the luckiest man alive", refuses to start fights, always tries to use reason and understanding to defuse conflict and absolutely, positively refuses to use a weapon, nonetheless is quite capable of kicking ass and taking names when reason and understanding don't work. And heaven help you if you threaten a child in his presence.

* In ''Franchise/StarWars'', the Jedi are made out to be "keepers of the peace" who try to defend life and only kill when necessary. Even when the order is almost defunct, they try to solve problems peacefully rather than rush into battle. Of course, when that fails, they will battle.
** The Naboo are pacifists, with no enemies. Their Royal Security Forces have anti-''tank'' weapons (as they demonstrate against the Trade Federation invasion) and surprisingly effective fighters that carry proton torpedoes, useful against ''capital ships''.

* ''Film/CharliesAngels'' featured this trope in contrast to [[Series/CharliesAngels the original series]], due to producer/star Creator/DrewBarrymore's aversion to glamorizing gun use (as opposed to kung-fu violence). The change is [[LampshadeHanging commented on]] in the [[Film/CharliesAngelsFullThrottle second film]] [[spoiler:by villainous former angel Madison who says "In my day we used guns," before shooting the heroines, hitting their [[{{Stripperiffic}} surprisingly small bulletproof vests]].]]

* In''Film/TheSaint1997'', the Saint neither uses a firearm nor does he take a life, something the prose version of the character had no qualms about. The main gangsters even live to see trial at the end of the film.

* Kazina, from the Roleplay/MSFHighForum, was a perfect example of '[[TropesAreTools Tropes Are Not Good]]'. He decided to be a pacifist, got a tranq gun, called it a day.

* In the {{Ultimate|Universe}} [[Comicbook/UltimateMarvel Universe]], [[TheChessmaster Professor Xavier]] is a technical pacifist due to his desire to have mutants rise above humanity's baser instincts. For example, rather than simply defeat [[strike: WellIntentionedExtremist]] Magneto, he creates an impressive explosion to make it seem as though he perished and then takes it upon himself to rehabilitate him. [[OhCrap It]] [[NiceJobBreakingItHero doesn't work]].

* In ''The Glimmer Man'', Crator/StevenSeagal's character (a police officer) declares he can't fight when he and his partner are held up by some, but then proceeds to fight them (using a razor to slice a couple of throats, then his good old fashions limb breaking attacks and a final kick of one bad guy onto some spiky things). His partner says "I thought you said you can't fight?" to which he answers "It's not that I can't fight; I'm not supposed to. I'm a Buddhist." Prior in the movie, he neutralises a hostage situation because he knew SWAT would most likely kill the hostage taker (a high school student). The character's history also shows a violent person who converts to Buddhism in Vietnam (the war anyway, he wasn't actually in Vietnam at the time) which explains his skill in fighting.

* ''Franchise/TheLoneRanger'' used guns, but only to disarm his opponents in the least painful way possible. Presumably, he was one of the inspirations for Vash the Stampede.

* Libertarians generally follow the non-aggression principle, meaning that they regard it as a cardinal sin to initiate violence against anyone. This however does not prevent them from forcibly defending themselves and others, which is why they support and often practice the right to bear arms.

* Rev. Bem in ''Series/{{Andromeda}}'', being a Wayist[[note]]An extremely pacifist blending of many Human religions especially Zen Buddhism, Christianity, Wicca, and Taoism.[[/note]] priest and a Magog[[note]]A species of murderous predators specifically engineered to kill other sentient species, most famous for killing three ''billion'' people--one by one--during a single planetary conquest.[[/note]] tries to avoid killing people despite being an obligate carnivore who needs to kill his prey in order to digest it. In fights he usually just paralyzes people with his venom and generally refuses to eat anything but fish, even if it means starvation. However, the first thing we see him do is work on salvaging an incredibly powerful warship, to sell it to a dictator with imperial ambitions. He's also more than capable of killing in self-defense during a Magog invasion of the Andromeda... but when the killings go a little beyond self-defense due to his genetic bloodlust,

* Rev. Bem in ''Series/{{Andromeda}}'' being a Wayist priest and a Magog, tries to avoid killing people despite being an obligate carnivore who needs to kill his prey. In fights he usually just paralyzes people with his venom and generally refuses to eat anything but fish, even if it means starvation. However, the first thing we see him do is work on salvaging an incredibly powerful warship, to sell it to a dictator with imperial ambitions.

Unlike the principle of ThouShaltNotKill, the Technical Pacifist is certainly capable of making the killing strike if there was no other way, but they don't ever treat it lightly. In a certain variation they may be perfectly fine with the SelfDisposingVillain who is TooDumbToLive being defeated because of their own VillainBall or being HoistByHisOwnPetard; so long as they don't personally pull the trigger or push them off the building, everything is fine. A MurderByInaction may also be fine. It's all fine as long as they don't do the killing themselves.

Unlike the principle of ThouShaltNotKill, the Technical Pacifist is certainly capable of making the killing strike if there was no other way, but they don't ever treat it lightly. In a certain variation they may be perfectly fine with the SelfDisposingVillain who is TooDumbToLive being defeated because of his own VillainBall or being HoistByHisOwnPetard; so long as they don't personally pull the trigger or push them off the building, everything is fine. A MurderByInaction may also be fine. It's all fine as long as they don't do the killing themselves.

So you end up with the Technical Paci''fist.'' The Technical Pacifist is willing to beat people up as much as he wants. He may even get a few fatalities through the {{fridge|Logic}}. However, once it comes down to [[SwordOverHead a choice]] between killing the villain and not, the Technical Pacifist will [[SaveTheVillain not kill]] the villain.

** Which is all a mask for the real reason; Bruce's parents were killed by a gunman, leading his philosophy against lethal force. Obviously they can't tell the world that, but still. However, this rule does not seem to extend to anything that's not human. In ''ComicBook/TheSupergirlFromKrypton'', you see him standing side-by-side with the Amazons wielding a frickin' BATTLEAXE, which he proceeds to bury in the bodies of numerous clones of Doomsday. His justification? They were never alive to begin with.

* Edmond Dantes of Literature/TheCountOfMonteCristo promises [[ActualPacifist Abbe Faria]] that he won't kill anyone, a promise he keeps even after securing his freedom and the Abbe passes away. Instead, his RoaringRampageOfRevenge against those who ruined his life consists largely of putting his enemies in situations where they are virtually guaranteed to be HoistByTheirOwnPetard, and letting fate take its course.

* Subverted in ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBrothers'': [[BadassNormal Brock]] hates guns and refuses to use them whenever possible. This has nothing to do with a refusal to kill though, as he has quite the bodycount behind him. Rather, it's because he'd prefer to use his badass bowie knife, or his bare hands.
** Might also have something to do with the bylaws of the Guild in the show as well. As long as he avoids firearms, they are restricted in what measures they can use against him and his charges. By sticking to his knife, he prevents escalation of the conflict while keeping it in a realm that greatly favors his skillset.
*** Seems to be confirmed in season 4. Henchman 21 complains that Brock's replacement, Sgt. Hatred, does not share Brock's dislike of using firearms, and thus casualties have increased to the point where 21 feels he and his team need better equipment.

* Batman in ''Film/TheDarkKnightSaga'' most definitely counts.