Semantics as they relate to death, killing, etc.

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Why are semantics so heavily utilized when it comes to matters of death and killing?

With animals we'll say things like: "put it out of its misery" rather than kill it.

War is an example. I never understood how war zones are commonly referred to, by those in military as "theaters". You don't kill an enemy, you "neutralize the threat".

Abortion is another example. You don't kill the unborn child, you "terminate the pregnancy" or "evacuate the byproduct of pregnancy" or other such terms. As an aside, I also don't understand why the pro-choice movement doesn't take a firm approach and be direct rather than employ semantics as it always has. Capital punishment is legally sanctioned killing of a human being. Granted, there are people who weigh in on both sides of that issue, but with capital punishment, we don't employ semantics. Abortion is legal in the U.S. Abortion is the legally sanctioned killing of an unborn child. If as a society we can say capital punishment is the legally sanctioned killing of a human, it seems to me to be conflict to not be able to regard Abortion as the same thing in its essence (legally sanctioned killing of a human).

Why the semantics about killing?

Semantics shape opinions and it's all about portraying a point of view.

For example:

"Freedom fighters liberated the land" versus "Terrorists occupied the land" convey a different message.

thus for example, when discussing anything political such as gun control or abortion, people will choose their words carefully. News are always biased, because even if you take a photo - you can't see the whole picture.