Grump wrote: >>But in a way it is exactly that casual--or thoughtless--reference to unnecessary killing which is problematic, and helps makes the term offensive!

All too PC for me, Grump. The language is the language and merely wishing it otherwise will not make it change. Your desire to eradicate the phrase from the language may well succeed if you campaign vigorously enough across the entire English-speaking world. I wish you well with it. Good luck!

- Pfranz