Thoughts on the death penalty?

KillerGremlin · 07-07-2009, 04:49 AM

Maybe the death penalty is a good idea in a world where the justice system is flawless and where every convicted criminal is guilty. I dunno. I have a few thoughts but am interested in what you all think.

Apologies if this thread has been done before.

Edit: http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/p...ast_words.html
Some of the last words are touching....some of the last words are humorous. I don't know how you could crack a joke when staring death in the face.

Professor S · 07-07-2009, 09:12 AM

Human life is not ours to take unless it is to save our own.

manasecret · 07-07-2009, 09:52 AM

Like you said KG, maybe if a justice system were flawless then capital punishment would be ok. But as we've seen over and over people are acquitted all the time after many years in prison or on death row, or, after being put to death.

Making amends for putting an innocent person in prison for years is already tough enough. But how do you make amends for putting to death an innocent person?

Now, even if we had a flawless justice system, I think on principle I would still be against the death penalty, I don't believe killing is right when you don't have to. If you have someone in custody, in prison, he's no longer much of a threat to society. And I think life in prison (which is essentially the death penalty by old age) is much worse of a punishment than putting someone out of their misery quickly.

Typhoid · 07-07-2009, 01:58 PM

Well, here we go.

You'd think I'd be for it, but I'm not. The chance of having an innocent person in the place of a guilty one is too big of a risk. If that variable is taken out entirely, then maybe I'd think about it.

One of my best friends was murdered 4 years ago, and I wouldn't wish the death penalty on the kid who did it. It might sound more barbaric, but I'd much prefer he stays in jail his entire life knowing full-well what he did, each and every day. Death would be the easy way out.

Bond · 07-07-2009, 03:40 PM

Personally, I am against the death penalty. I don't find it to be an act that is indicative of the civilized world.

Legally, it should be left to individual states to decide.

KillerGremlin · 07-07-2009, 04:12 PM

I never understood how indirectly putting someone to death through the justice system equates to the loss one would have if their loved one or family member got murdered. Of course I cannot speak on behalf of any victim's family or friends because I don't directly know any immediate family or close friends who have been murdered.

2 points....

1) The family has to endure the long and intense emotional stress of court and trial in order to sentence someone to death row (usually).

2) Killing another person doesn't bring back your lost loved ones.

Professor S · 07-07-2009, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bond

Legally, it should be left to individual states to decide.

Agreed.

Jason1 · 07-13-2009, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bond

Legally, it should be left to individual states to decide.

Uh, correct me if im wrong, but isnt it currently up to the states to decided? Maybe it was just the wording, but the way you said that makes it sound like it SHOULD be up to the states to decide, like it is not that way currently.

Personally I dont have a big problem with the death penalty, I think some people dont deserve to live. That may sound harsh but its what I believe, some people are just that terrible.

Professor S · 07-13-2009, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason1

Uh, correct me if im wrong, but isnt it currently up to the states to decided? Maybe it was just the wording, but the way you said that makes it sound like it SHOULD be up to the states to decide, like it is not that way currently.

It should and is decided by the states. The conversation was more universal in context, and I think Bond wanted to emphasize that this decision is a very subjective one that should be made by communities, not nations. I think this should be the case with most subjective/social issues (death penalty, smoking in public places, abortion, etc.)

Quote:

Personally I dont have a big problem with the death penalty, I think some people dont deserve to live. That may sound harsh but its what I believe, some people are just that terrible.

So makes that decision? Would you feel comfortable sentencing someone to death? What if they were innocent and you never found out until after they were killed?

TheGame · 07-13-2009, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Professor S

So makes that decision? Would you feel comfortable sentencing someone to death? What if they were innocent and you never found out until after they were killed?

Yeah that question is the problem with it in the first place.. there needs to be some dramatic overwhelming evidence for the death penalty to be valid. Lets take the opposite situation..

Think of someone you love who is under the age of 18 (boy or girl), and lets say that there is video evidence of a man on trial brutaly raping the kid then killing them, and then selling the videos over the internet and making money off of it. And in the courtroom they are 100% unremorseful for it, and claims they enjoyed it and would do it again if they had the chance. Would you feel like that guy deserves a chance at life?

What would you consider a fitting penalty for that?

Dylflon · 07-13-2009, 01:28 PM

In the future, death row convicts will fight in gladiator arenas for our amusement.

Go ahead. Quote me on that.

Professor S · 07-13-2009, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheGame

Yeah that question is the problem with it in the first place.. there needs to be some dramatic overwhelming evidence for the death penalty to be valid. Lets take the opposite situation..

Think of someone you love who is under the age of 18 (boy or girl), and lets say that there is video evidence of a man on trial brutaly raping the kid then killing them, and then selling the videos over the internet and making money off of it. And in the courtroom they are 100% unremorseful for it, and claims they enjoyed it and would do it again if they had the chance. Would you feel like that guy deserves a chance at life?

What would you consider a fitting penalty for that?

Maximum security prison for life with no chance of parole. The question isn't about punishment, but about the value of human life and who gets to make those decisions. I don't think we get t make those decisions unless we are trying to save our life or others. If prison can fit that need just as well, we should use it. Besides, prison is NOT pleasant and I would consider a life term a fate worse than death, honestly.

Also, the main reasoning behind the death penalty isn't that it is appropriate punishment, but that it is a deterrent. Maybe it used to be a deterrent, but it's so behind closed doors now that it's almost mythic in character. If it were made public, perhaps it would deter, but then we'd have something more abhorrent than I'd like to comprehend.

You don't have to kill someone to take their life. A lifetime of hard labor can be punsihment enough. Keep in mind, I'm also for alternative punishments as well. Say, if a child molester elects to castrate himself for parole, I'm all for it. The goal should be to correct and/or prevent behavior, not to apply vengeance.

BlueFire · 07-07-2009, 06:52 PM

I'm against it as well. People say it's a cheaper alternative to life in prison, but I'm not convinced (especially because I'm pretty sure it's not true).

I'm curious.. is there anyone here that is for it?

Fox 6 · 07-07-2009, 08:01 PM

Shoot them all and let god sort them out.

Combine 017 · 07-07-2009, 08:33 PM

Some people deserve to die.