This is what cuse said on a podcast to why ben shot locke

CUSE: "Ben took Locke out to see JACOB as sort of a litmus test. He wanted to find out if in fact John Locke really was special, and if John Locke really could see or hear JACOB, that would indicate that Locke really WAS special. So when Locke DID hear JACOB, that really got...that freaked Ben out. That was a threat to Ben and his primacy. So he led him over to the pit and he shot him, 'cause he doesn't want his leadership of the Others challenged by John Locke.

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Hurley: What about the B-O-D-Y-S?
Michael: What are spelling, man? Bodies?
Walt: B-O-D-I-E-S.

Hurley: Dude, you've got some Artz on you.

Bernard: I'm a dentist, not Rambo.
Rose: And don't forget that!

Can't be two Alpha males! Ben doesn't really have any friends, he only has his power-trip.

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`Dear, dear! How queer everything is to-day! And yesterday things went on just as usual. I wonder if I've been changed in the night? Let me think: was I the same when I got up this morning? I almost think I can remember feeling a little different. But if I'm not the same, the next question is, Who in the world am I? Ah, that's the great puzzle!'

-- Alice, from “Alice’s Adventure’s in Wonderland”

I thought he shot him because he disbelieved there was a Jacob.

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Only over half a year to go for series 4.

Ben shot Locke because Locke heard Jacob. This makes Locke a threat to Ben because upto now only Ben has been able to hear or see Jacob.

Ben was very jealous of Locke being able to hear Jacob. He has this whole mentality im the only one who can be special! and there is no room for 2 special kiddies!

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Because all we really need to survive is one person who truly loves us. And you have her.

Yeah, I agree with others that Ben was just jealous and threatened by John hearing Jacob. But is the reason Ben wanted John to kill his father, because he had to kill father?

I think it was more along the lines of Ben had to give Locke a task to do, something to prove to the Others that he was worthy of joining their group.

But Ben really didn't want him to join their group because he saw Locke as a possible threat to his (Ben) leadership. So Ben picked something that he knew Locke wouldn't do. That way it Ben can say "hey I gave him a chance and he failed"

The only thing is Richard Alpert helped Locke outsmart Ben.
Then since Locke technically accomplished the task of killing his father. Ben had to go on and bring Jacob to Locke.

When Locke hears Jacob, Ben is threatened again and so he tries to get rid of Locke by shooting him.

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Doctor playing golf. Woo, boy howdy, now I've heard everything. What's next, cop eating a donut?

Does it strike any one else as odd....that before locke is shot by ben, when ben is explaining the gassing of the initiative, that as the camera pans up one of the skeletal remains...... it has a bullet hole in the front of its skull

Clean up from one of the little revolutions which Ben probably had to put down over the years. Humans are creatures of habit. The whole reason Ben brought Locke there was because he had probably used similar methods before.

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