What are your views on the death penalty.... Do they only execute people who have committed crimes, or do innocents get killed? Is it worth killing some innocents to make sure the majority of murderers lose their lives? I thought about posting this topic when I read that Jon Corzine in NJ commuted all death sentences in 2007: These people have commuted the most sentences: Should the death penalty be abolished in a modern civilized country? I am against the death penalty, based n the fact that so-called justice is not always just...
My opinion is that if there is a chance, no matter how small, that an innocent person will be executed then nobody should be executed. Even if there was no way an innocent person could be executed i'd be against it on the grounds that having the state kill people is abhorrent, in no way a deterant and as statistics show places which have the death penalty have a far greater amount of violent crime than places that don't. There is no argument for the death penalty that stands up to scrutiny and all even up being arguments for nothing more than barbaric revenge, which isn't justice.
I am for the death penalty in limited circumstances. In cases where there is any question about identity I do not think it is appropriate. In cases where the evidence of identity is clear, such as a videotape, then I have no problem with certain people facing the death penalty. People who rape children People who Rape and Murder adults People who Murder multiple people So, Major Hasan, is a prime candidate for the death penalty. There is no question he was the perpetrator and he has killed multiple people in a premeditated fashion. He has forfeited his right to walk on the Earth with civilized people. Someone who is on video molesting/raping a 3-year old child also deserves to be put to death. Someone who tortures, rapes, and kills a woman should be put to death. If there is any question about the perpetrator's identity then I think life in prison is sufficient. There is no argument for allowing people who rape and murder children to live - that is not justice. Some people are just defective units that need to be returned to their maker.
I think we should expand the death penalty to include misdemeanors, traffic violations, and overdue library books. [OK, maybe not, but I've answered this one in so many forums I can quote all the arguments from both sides.]
Just quote yours, I'm interested on what the regulars of DP think about the death penalty or whether they have changed views and if so why.
Oh yes... and forum trolls, they must die too. =-p I dont for a second agree that "if it just saves one innocent life we should eliminate the death penalty"... because there have been MANY innocent lives lost to people that should have been executed but either intentionally or accidentally ended up on the street to murder again. Trying to be compassionate ends up showing little compassion for future victims. There are cases where I wouldnt use it in cases that might seem out of character. Major Hassan is one of them. He's educated, an officer and gentlemen by act of Congress, and wanted to be a martyr. I'd like to see him spend the rest of his life reflecting on everything he threw away in return for a brief moment of jihad. He can rot in Leavenworth until age takes his life. As for the garden variety murderers and child molesters, they're lower than roadkill and I have zero compassion for them. Hang 'em. OK, I answered. Many will agree, many will disagree, depending on the venue. If you disagree, get out and vote. Talking at me won't change anything.
So it is for vengence brownpants? Thanks for proving my point. rob, having the death penalty hasn't saved any lives. The choices aren't death penalty or unconditional release. Anyone qualifying to be murdered by the state will otherwise be in prison until they die.
Would you be so flippant about innocent life, if you were the innocent one, imprisoned and waiting to die?
It isn't "flippant" ... we'd have to accidentally kill a stack load of innocent people to lose a fraction of the innocent lives we lose to second offenders. You be compassionate to the accused, I'll be compassionate to the real victims. I dont have any fantasy about the system being perfect, I just think messing it up further by erring toward turning killers loose on society wouldnt be an improvement. Pretty sure you expected my opinion to diverge from yours... next time if you dont want to hear it, dont ask for me to give it.
There are usually four goals when incarcerating people. Deterrence, Punishment, Retribution, and Rehabilitation. The last does not apply in death penalty matters. I see nothing wrong with a child rapist and muderer being put to death for all of the reasons. He is being punished, the victims family gets vengeance, and society gets permanent deterrance with this criminal and potential deterrence with others. What bothers you about killing a guilty child rapist and murderer? As for the rest of your post it is just standard European bs. They just sentenced a man in Germany to life, err 15 years, which is what they deem a life sentence there. People with life sentences get out all the time both in the US and in Europe. It is disingenuous to argue otherwise. A Russian-born German who stabbed to death an Egyptian woman in a courtroom was given Germany’s highest possible sentence for murder yesterday — 15 years’ jail with no chance of early parole. lol, life sentence.
You sounded pretty casual to me, sorry if I'm wrong. I'll phrase it totally appropriately, if you would be so kind as to answer... Would you stick to what you said as quoted below: If you were the innocent one, imprisoned and waiting to die? Is life without parole compassionate? In your opinion... I think most people are compassionate to the victim, compassion does not equal taking revenge for those who you feel compassionate towards. That's a false dichotomy, life in prison is not turning killers loose, is it? How would I know if your opinion differed? I just thought you could have posted instead of saying to the effect 'this as been talked about a lot'. I do want to hear it, and discuss it. I'm not attacking you.
It is not a character of civilized man to kill another man... but if there is no death sentence... people wont fear to do crime..... even right now death penalty is existing then also crime rate is high. think of suppose if it is removed from the law.. what would be happening and the prisons would be filled up prisoners and most of the people would be in jail.
I just summarized quickly. I've written dissertations on it in so many forums even I tire of hearing me. Feel free to check out the parallel discussion at V7n that wrapped about a week ago... I was in a more eloquent mood there. Still I dont labor under the impression anyone comes to these discussions seeking an answer... generally people do it to give their answer to others. Mine isn't an off the cuff ill-considered position I came up with today, it is the result of a half century of experience. Your mileage may vary. That's your prerogative.
I've heard it costs more to kill an inmate than it does to incarcerate then for the rest of their natural life. If we could bring down the cost of killing these people, I'd be all for it.
I'll check v7n... If you were the innocent one, imprisoned and waiting to die - would you hold that same opinion?
Do you care what reason someone has for raping and murdering a 3-year old? Why does the 'reason' matter?
Reason needs to be taken into account. Judge: what reason did you kill Jenny? Defendant: I hit her by accident in my car, I'm sorry but a dog ran in front of my car, I tried to avoid it and hit her. A Judge that is only interested in the act, would probably give him the death penalty, after all he did kill her.
I might make an exception for me, but if it were you... I'd say we take our chances. =-p The idea that if it saves "JUST ONE" is misdirected sympathy... it pronounces a death penalty on the many innocent people such offenders have been known to murder later. The same argument can be redirected to ... "if executing murderers saves ONE child from being the guys next victim... then it is worth it". Or I could reword YOUR argument... "If it was YOU that would be his next victim, would you still want to leave a murderer alive?" One exceptional case makes a lovely argument but lousy law. We should make societal rules based on the big picture. Telling me that everyone that should have been executed is really just as well given life in prison flies in the face of the many times that just didnt work out. There are plenty of cases where people got out and murdered again. They've been let out accidentally, they've escaped, etc. OTOH, nobody ever murdered again after being executed... dead offenders have a 0% rate of recidivism.