Do you agree with the death penalty?

[Apollo.]

Hey guys, just to get away from the religion debates and debates about gays I thought I'd try a different subject for you guys to debate.

Do you think the death penalty is a fair punishment for a serious crime? Are you of the opinion that a killer should pay with his life or do you feel no law should have the power to take a life?

What do you think is worse death or life imprisonment?

[Taurus]

I believe that the death penalty should be banned. Multiple studies have shown that the death penalty is unequally sentenced to ethnic minorities for the same crime a white person committed.
In other words, if a white person commits murder, s/he is far more likely to be sentenced to life imprisonment. If someone belonging to an ethnic minority commits murder, they are more likely to be sentenced to death.

I also think it's worse to live with the knowledge of what you have done.

[PinkFloyd]

In my opinion, triple homicide or worse is when the death penalty should be in effect. I mean people that killed say one person sure do deserve life in prison -- just not DEATH.

[Professional Russian]

An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. I think you can figure it out from there

[Harry Smith]

I'm actually undecided on the death Penalty.I'm fine with not having it in Britain because I doubt it would ever pass through the commons and I can't think of many cases where it would have actually been used since most of our big homicide's are by people with 101 mental problems. Also you hear cases of people being on death row for 20 years having appeal after appeal. However I think that in cases of High Treason I may agree with it.

[Jess]

I'm against it. Who are we to decide if a person should die? Do we teach others killing is wrong by killing killers? Also, death is too quick of a way out for killers. They should suffer life imprisonment. What if they're mentally ill, or what if they end up being innocent? And I believe I read somewhere, or at least in other death penalty debates, that countries with the death penalty banned have less crimes or murders or something.

[TapDancer]

I'm against it. Who are we to decide if a person should die? Do we teach others killing is wrong by killing killers? Also, death is too quick of a way out for killers. They should suffer life imprisonment. What if they're mentally ill, or what if they end up being innocent? And I believe I read somewhere, or at least in other death penalty debates, that countries with the death penalty banned have less crimes or murders or something.

I agree. But also, I believe live imprisonment is worse. Thinking what I did for the rest of my life, in jail, eating disgusting food, in solitary confinement, or, I don't know if the raping in jail is true, but if it is, I would rather death.

[CaliforniaMatt]

I 100% support it. Keeping someone in jail for life is very expensive, death row+execution is more cost efficient. Death Row is usually long enough to prove any points that need to be made. Better to keep these people off the street, I don't agree with the quote "An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind."

[xmojox]

I 100% support it. Keeping someone in jail for life is very expensive, death row+execution is more cost efficient. Death Row is usually long enough to prove any points that need to be made. Better to keep these people off the street, I don't agree with the quote "An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind."

Actually, life imprisonment without parole is cheaper than the death penalty. http://www.deathpenalty.org/index.php

I'm opposed to it in all cases other than treason as defined by the constitution.

1) it is far too costly
2) the government does not need the right to legally deprive its citizens of life
3) there is too much racial disparity in sentencing
4) in the event of a mistake, it can not be undone
5) it is cruel and unusual punishment

[CaliforniaMatt]

A bullet is pretty cheap to me...no need for the damn lethal injection.

[tundravortex]

depends on what they did

[Korashk]

A bullet is pretty cheap to me...no need for the damn lethal injection.
The trials cost more, not the incarceration and procedure.

Seriously, people who say ignorant shit like this need to shut up and do some research.

[Cicero]

I feel like it gives the criminal an easy way out. It's much worse spending your life in a prison then it is to die. But on the other hand it eliminates the chances of them getting out of prison and it also saves the state money.

[xmojox]

A bullet is pretty cheap to me...no need for the damn lethal injection.

It's intentionally a long process to get to the point where a capital punishment is actually carried out. That's obviously where the expense comes from.

[Southside]

Depends on the crime, if you go on a spree killing a few people for no reason what so ever. Yeah,you deserve it.

[Aajj333]

It is very necessary but not to use it as a punishment but rather as a way to get rid of an overly dangerous person. Lets say that there is someone who is constantly killing and escaping from jail we need a way to end their life for others safety

[Cygnus]

I really believe that death penalty should be implemented, it is a great method for population control which is needed in these times, and what better thing that an eye for an eye?

[xmojox]

It is very necessary but not to use it as a punishment but rather as a way to get rid of an overly dangerous person. Lets say that there is someone who is constantly killing and escaping from jail we need a way to end their life for others safety

I don't think people who are that dangerous escape from prison all that often.

[Harry Smith]

It is very necessary but not to use it as a punishment but rather as a way to get rid of an overly dangerous person. Lets say that there is someone who is constantly killing and escaping from jail we need a way to end their life for others safety

I would much rather the prison services and police spend money on improving their security rather than using the death Penalty. Also the fact that he escaped from Jail would have no bearing over him getting killed because of course it is not an offence punished by the Death Penalty

[Rayquaza]

I agree with it. When someone has been proven to do horrific crimes, they deserve a death penalty, for the sake of the welfare of the public. They say that one life is just as precious as another, but when someone has completely wasted it ruining others, they ought to pay for it.

It's better than prison. Those in prison in a long time receive free food, time to go outside and even TV and leisure. It's a waste of resources to give these free goods to those that do not deserve it.

[Harry Smith]

I agree with it. When someone has been proven to do horrific crimes, they deserve a death penalty, for the sake of the welfare of the public. They say that one life is just as precious as another, but when someone has completely wasted it ruining others, they ought to pay for it.

It's better than prison. Those in prison in a long time receive free food, time to go outside and even TV and leisure. It's a waste of resources to give these free goods to those that do not deserve it.

On a side note the primary purpose of Prison is to Reform, you can't simply cut all Resources to Prison's because they don't deserve it. If you manage to change one prisoners per 5 then that is one less repeat offender.

The problem with the Death Penalty is that you have to look at each individual case, you can't simply provide a blanket answer

[jayyy-lmao]

An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. I think you can figure it out from there

I agree. But I'm on the same wavelength as Rob, it should only be used in cases where multiple people were killed.

[Danny Phantom]

I don't personally agree with it.
I mean yes, a person may have killed many people, and that is bad. I think life in Prison is better. But are we any better by taking their own life? Are we better than the person who committed the crime? We are technically killing someone too with the death penalty.

[Ajmichael]

Yes, wholeheartedly. But only when the defendant is found guilty beyond doubt, and then only for the most horrific of crimes.

[Twilly F. Sniper]

Prison shouldn't involve television watching. In fact it needs to be as cruel as possible; without killing prisoners.

The death penalty is a terrible punishment. It's not cruel especially nowadays.
We should give them life in a CRUEL prison. Its more suffering.

[Human]

I don't agree with it
I don't think that two wrongs make a right
The victims family might feel better but what about the criminals family etc.?

[Hunter_Steel]

I agree with it.

In Zambia where I lived, the police had orders to shoot a murderer on sight if he was caught in the act. No mercy thing. It wasn't just for those of an ethnic minority. White people were given the same treatment. If you are charged as guilty, or they know your guilty, they would do a 3 day trial to please the UN and the human rights activists and within 3 days, its off to be hung.

Because of that, Zambia has remained mostly murder free. The Death penalty is a harsh and fitting punishment for the crime it warrents.

"The Punishment fits the crime."

"Do not do unto other that you do not want done unto yourself."

"An Eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth."

A murderer who murdered in cold blood should receive the same fate his victim received. Or can go for medicine and cosmetic testing, replacing lab rats and serve a life of being used as a lab rat himself. Those people are no longer counted as humans, and as such should not be treated like a human either.

That is my view on it.

~Hunter

[Hyper]

No I dont agree. As some pointed out it is actually more costly due to the automatic appeals that also burden courts.

My vision is rather along the lines of life without parole & forced labour till the day you drop. Also no outside contact what so ever for serial killers and the like.

[Apollo.]

I thought I'd throw in my opinion as well, I generally don't care how they punish a murderer. I think as long as it's taking them out of society and a harsh punishment. Cheapest way is the best way IMO

[anyone50]

I 100% support it. Keeping someone in jail for life is very expensive, death row+execution is more cost efficient. Death Row is usually long enough to prove any points that need to be made. Better to keep these people off the street, I don't agree with the quote "An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind."

I think you have it backwards. It's been proven that it cost less to keep a prisoner in jail with no parole than it is to have them on death row. More and more states are abandoning the death penalty, not because of moral reasons but because it costs too much. They have found out that it is cheaper to keep death row inmates in prison for life than to execute them. Convicted inmates are on death row for about twenty years on an average. It takes that long for a case to go through the whole system of appeals which is always paid for by tax dollars. In 2007 New Jersey banned executions because of money. The state spends about 4 million dollars for every death sentence but hasn't executed anyone since 1963. If there is still any doubt maybe you should ask Damon Thibodeaux, 38, who was the 300th prisoner nationwide to see his conviction overturned based on DNA evidence. Now there is no way to actually know the true number of inmates that were executed wrongly before DNA testing became widespread but logic will tell you that it's proable far greater than that 300 number and i'm not talking about those cases that were notorious with an overwhelming amount of evidence, but the more obscure cases where minorites are unequally targeted and convicted on little or no reliable evidence. As for the death penalty being a deterent, I don't think that has ever been established. Just thought i would set the record straight

[CaliforniaMatt]

I still support it. Death Row time should be shortened, a firing squad should be used instead of lethal injection, and it has been proven that execution serves a role as a deterrent.

[anyone50]

I feel like it gives the criminal an easy way out. It's much worse spending your life in a prison then it is to die. But on the other hand it eliminates the chances of them getting out of prison and it also saves the state money.

Exactly how does it save the states money.

[Cicero]

Exactly how does it save the states money.

They don't have to feed the prisoner for the rest of their life and they have extra space for a new one.

[CaliforniaMatt]

The whole system is flawed. If we're going to argue about it, reforms definitely need to be made.

[anyone50]

I still support it. Death Row time should be shortened, a firing squad should be used instead of lethal injection, and it has been proven that execution serves a role as a deterrent.

So what your saying is once sentenced the death penatly should be carried out soon? How soon? 30 days, 6 months, a year. Just wondering if you would feel the same way if it was you or a family member and were wrongly convicted. Before you say it could never happen remember that 300 people have already had thier convictions overturned becuse they did convict the wrong person. Could you please site the proof you speak of that says the death penalty serves as a deterent. Maybe you should read this: http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/facts-about-deterrence-and-death-penalty

[CaliforniaMatt]

10 years should be max death row time. Delays should only occur if there is a genuine reason which a jury decides. If a family member was placed on Death Row, it would make no difference to me- it's just how it is.
also
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/11/AR2007061100406.html

[anyone50]

They don't have to feed the prisoner for the rest of their life and they have extra space for a new one.

What about the overwhelming cost of administering the death penalty. If you have found a way to make it cheaper to carry out the death sentence than to keep someone locked up with no chance for parole. i'm sure all the states that are currently abondoning the death pentalty because it's too costly want to hear how this is done. I for one don't want to pay for the difference with my tax dollars.

[CaliforniaMatt]

A single bullet is a lot cheaper than lethal injection. Just sayin.

[Cicero]

A single bullet is a lot cheaper than lethal injection. Just sayin.

I was about to say.

What about the overwhelming cost of administering the death penalty. If you have found a way to make it cheaper to carry out the death sentence than to keep someone locked up with no chance for parole. i'm sure all the states that are currently abondoning the death pentalty because it's too costly want to hear how this is done. I for one don't want to pay for the difference with my tax dollars.

A bullet is pretty cheap

[anyone50]

10 years should be max death row time. Delays should only occur if there is a genuine reason which a jury decides. If a family member was placed on Death Row, it would make no difference to me- it's just how it is.
also
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/11/AR2007061100406.html

I guess there will always be different studies with different opinions but the one i'm talking about is based on actual data collected from death row inmates by criminologists. The Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology reported that 88% of the country’s top criminologists surveyed do not believe the death penalty acts as a deterrent to homicide. I don't think you can call studys that compare the number of homicides in states that do and don't have a death penalty. To many variables arn't considered in those studies. Do you honestly think someone is going to think about the death penalty before killing someone. And again i remind you that it was a genuine jury that decided the fate of those 300 people released from death row and the average time they spent before being released was well over 10 years. I guess we can just tell their loved ones sorry we were out of time.

[CaliforniaMatt]

I guess there will always be different studies with different opinions but the one i'm talking about is based on actual data collected from death row inmates by criminologists. The Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology reported that 88% of the country’s top criminologists surveyed do not believe the death penalty acts as a deterrent to homicide. I don't think you can call studys that compare the number of homicides in states that do and don't have a death penalty. To many variables arn't considered in those studies. Do you honestly think someone is going to think about the death penalty before killing someone. And again i remind you that it was a genuine jury that decided the fate of those 300 people released from death row and the average time they spent before being released was well over 10 years. I guess we can just tell their loved ones sorry we were out of time.

I really think that the death penalty makes a difference in stopping premeditated crimes, to be honest. I would want vengeance if someone committed a crime against my family, and that would come in the form of the death penalty. I wouldn't be able to forgive them.

[anyone50]

I was about to say.



A bullet is pretty cheap

I guess thats why there are so many homicides. The only way to make it cheaper to carry out the death penalty is to do away with the appeals process and take the convicted to a room and shoot him in the head after sentencing, Oh wait isn't this what the Nazi party did.

[CaliforniaMatt]

I guess thats why there are so many homicides. The only way to make it cheaper to carry out the death penalty is to do away with the appeals process and take the convicted to a room and shoot him in the head after sentencing, Oh wait isn't this what the Nazi party did.

I kinda support that idea. I feel safe in a world where one person is the judge, jury, and executioner.

[anyone50]

I really think that the death penalty makes a difference in stopping premeditated crimes, to be honest. I would want vengeance if someone committed a crime against my family, and that would come in the form of the death penalty. I wouldn't be able to forgive them.

I too would find it hard to forgive someone if they murdered a family member but in order for the death penalty to be fair it has to be administered equally and this just isn't the case at least not here in the U.S. Belive it or not a lot of inmates that are on death row and I believe the guilty ones often don't even want to go through the appeals process and request the sentence be carried out as soon as possible. Some how my original message got lost here so My stand again is that if it means one person is wrongfully executed than i would rather see the death penalty done away with and put in place life without parole.

[CaliforniaMatt]

I see your point, but I agree with Cicero: a bullet is cheap, easy, and painless. At the end, it's one person who died in a very,very large world

[xmojox]

It is very necessary but not to use it as a punishment but rather as a way to get rid of an overly dangerous person. Lets say that there is someone who is constantly killing and escaping from jail we need a way to end their life for others safety

A single bullet is a lot cheaper than lethal injection. Just sayin.

I was about to say.



A bullet is pretty cheap

The method of execution isn't the expense. The expense comes from the fact that people who understood that our justice system can and does make mistakes found human life precious enough to allow someone found guilty of a capital crime every reasonable chance to prove their non-guilt.

Capitol punishment serves society no better then a life without parole prison term. It is an instrument of vengence, and vengence has no place in the legal system of a civilized state.
It is not population control as has been suggested in this thread. The principle of eye for eye, tooth for tooth doesn't apply either, for more than one reason.
1) it is a scriptural concept and we do not live in a theocracy
2) In biblical times, the concept wasn't necessarily enforced literally, but, rather, monetarily.

It's been shown that:

Capital punishment is more costly than life imprisonment.
The sentence of death is imposed more often upon minorities.
Mistakes have been made in convictions and executions in capital cases.
It doesn't seem to be a clear deterrent to crime, and, thusly, it serves society no more than life imprisonment.

[anyone50]

I kinda support that idea. I feel safe in a world where one person is the judge, jury, and executioner.

Exactly how would that make you feel safe? If history has taught us anything it's that to give one person that kind of power with no checks or balances would lead to no one being safe. "Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely" a quote by Lord Acton, a British historian of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.

[CaliforniaMatt]

Capital punishment is more costly than life imprisonment- not if we reform the system, something long overdue
The sentence of death is imposed more often upon minorities- same as regular sentencing
Mistakes have been made in convictions and executions in capital cases- mistakes are also made on my order at McDonalds- humans make mistakes, so be it.
It doesn't seem to be a clear deterrent to crime, and, thusly, it serves society no more than life imprisonment.- I disagree completely with this

[xmojox]

Capital punishment is more costly than life imprisonment- not if we reform the system, something long overdue
The sentence of death is imposed more often upon minorities- same as regular sentencing
Mistakes have been made in convictions and executions in capital cases- mistakes are also made on my order at McDonalds- humans make mistakes, so be it.
It doesn't seem to be a clear deterrent to crime, and, thusly, it serves society no more than life imprisonment.- I disagree completely with this

Reform in what way?

Granted, but only capital crimes deprive a human being of life.

McDonald's? Seriously? You're equating a human being wrongfully executed with getting onions your burger at fucking McDonald's??

Upon what do you base your disagreement? Simply stating that you disagree proves nothing other than the fact that you disagree.

[CaliforniaMatt]

I'll explain more tomorrow, I can't think straight right now. Operating on 2 hours of sleep, plus it's 1 AM :P

And I think f****** my order up is a capital punishment.

[anyone50]

[QUOTE=CaliforniaMatt;2198566]not if we reform the system, something long overdue
There is reform going on as we speak with more and more states are doing away with the death penalty.

The sentence of death is imposed more often upon minorities- same as regular sentencing
still dosen't make it any more right and at least they are alive to correct the mistakes of the state which can't be said of the executed.

Mistakes have been made in convictions and executions in capital cases- mistakes are also made on my order at McDonalds- humans make mistakes, so be it.
Let me know the next time they mess up your order at McDonalds the person responsible is given the death sentence.

[Lights]

It doesn't seem to be a clear deterrent to crime, and, thusly, it serves society no more than life imprisonment.- I disagree completely with this

Why do you disagree? The United States are a clear example of how Capital Punishment falls flat as a deterrent.

http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/files/murderratesdpvsnodp.jpg

This graph shows clearly that, without exception, murder rates are lower in states without the death penalty than those with it. The New York Times also carried out research on the matter, finding that homicide rates were significantly lower in states without the death penalty than those with it.

Source. (http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/deterrence-states-without-death-penalty-have-had-consistently-lower-murder-rates)

[Professional Russian]

A bullet is pretty cheap to me...no need for the damn lethal injection.

Yeah Believe it or not ammo is cheaper than lethal injection

[Taurus]

"An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind"

[CaliforniaMatt]

"An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind"

Not exactly a bad thing

[Guillermo]

I like how some of you have stated that you believe that the death penalty is a "cruel and unusual punishment" and then you go on saying that they should be punished and not get the easy way out by sitting in prison for the rest of their lives. What about rehabilitation and then gradual steps to become a fully functioning person in society? All countries that have a strong rehabilitation system also have low homicide rates. Norway being one of the best examples.

[gamerdudeW]

i believe in rehab, but only if the person can feel remorse for their feelings. there are animals out there that are NOT safe in public and have no compassion or remorse. I think the death penalty should exist for them..if only even to provide them with an outlet from a hard life.

[Strawberry_Essence]

I believe in the death penalty but only in the circumstance where someone has taken the life of another person. (excluding self-defense and accidents)

If you take the life of someone else, you're worthless. You do not deserve to continue on living when you have taken another's opportunity to.

[xmojox]

I like how some of you have stated that you believe that the death penalty is a "cruel and unusual punishment" and then you go on saying that they should be punished and not get the easy way out by sitting in prison for the rest of their lives. What about rehabilitation and then gradual steps to become a fully functioning person in society? All countries that have a strong rehabilitation system also have low homicide rates. Norway being one of the best examples.

Oh, I agree. The purpose of prison should be to rehabilitate, as well as to punish. The reason I've been citing that it's less expensive to imprison someone for life than it is to execute him or her is to combat the untrue notion that it's the other way around.

The rehabilitate v. punish discussion would be an entirely different debate, at least here in the states.

[Korashk]

Oh hey, another thread where one side continues to argue using points that have been shown in the thread to be factually incorrect.

Surprise, surprise.

[Celtic.]

I believe that the death penalty should be banned. Multiple studies have shown that the death penalty is unequally sentenced to ethnic minorities for the same crime a white person committed.
In other words, if a white person commits murder, s/he is far more likely to be sentenced to life imprisonment. If someone belonging to an ethnic minority commits murder, they are more likely to be sentenced to death.

I also think it's worse to live with the knowledge of what you have done.

That. all day long.
and also here in Atlanta these kids shot a baby. I think they should get there hands Chopped off and go to prision. Prison is alot worse then death. there rape and murder and Rape and more rape. I think if you committed a serious crime you should go to a rape infested prison

[Aajj333]

I would much rather the prison services and police spend money on improving their security rather than using the death Penalty. Also the fact that he escaped from Jail would have no bearing over him getting killed because of course it is not an offence punished by the Death Penalty

What I trying to say is we would use the death penalty on people that are too dangerous to keep around

[Lights]

What I trying to say is we would use the death penalty on people that are too dangerous to keep around

Isn't that what maximum security prisons are around for?

[xmojox]

Isn't that what maximum security prisons are around for?

Exactly. Our society has no need or reason to kill.

[Harry Smith]

That. all day long.
and also here in Atlanta these kids shot a baby. I think they should get there hands Chopped off and go to prision. Prison is alot worse then death. there rape and murder and Rape and more rape. I think if you committed a serious crime you should go to a rape infested prison

We shouldn't encourage rape in prison, that's the last thing we would want to do. I admire your passion for punishment but how can you place someone in a building for breaking the law and then ask others to break the law to punish them. I still think that the purpose of prison is to reform. we need to cut the cycle

[Celtic.]

We shouldn't encourage rape in prison, that's the last thing we would want to do. I admire your passion for punishment but how can you place someone in a building for breaking the law and then ask others to break the law to punish them. I still think that the purpose of prison is to reform. we need to cut the cycle

ok well what about if you shoot someone we chop off your hand

[Harry Smith]

ok well what about if you shoot someone we chop off your hand

No, Thats barbaric. How is it at all logical? Not only would that be hypocritical but it would mean that they would be physically handicapped

[xmojox]

ok well what about if you shoot someone we chop off your hand

Would this entail moving our capital to Tehran?

[Celtic.]

No, Thats barbaric. How is it at all logical? Not only would that be hypocritical but it would mean that they would be physically handicapped

uhhm well i have no more solutions

[Harry Smith]

uhhm well i have no more solutions

What about simply placing them in prison?

[Celtic.]

nah they need more than that.

[Harry Smith]

nah they need more than that.

So you think that cutting off people's hand would act as a good deterrent, I doubt any court in the western world would even consider that

[Aajj333]

Isn't that what maximum security prisons are around for?

Too dangerous for that

[Jakers61]

I 100% support it. Keeping someone in jail for life is very expensive, death row+execution is more cost efficient. Death Row is usually long enough to prove any points that need to be made. Better to keep these people off the street, I don't agree with the quote "An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind."


It's actually more expensive to give someone the death penalty rather than to give a lifetime sentence. I'm not against the death penalty but its cheaper to give a life sentence. And the reason being is that with a death penalty there a ton of court appeals and trial costs and then keeping the inmate until its their time to be executed. And sometimes, even if someone gets put on death row they may die in prison while waiting because the length of time sometimes required to actually be executed. Its cheaper to give a lifetime sentence.

Therefore death row+execution is NOT more cost effective.

[CaliforniaMatt]

See, I wouldn't give them extended death row time, special hearings, or lethal injection. If they live by the gun, then they'll die by the gun. Shoot them, OD them on drugs, whatever.

[Danny_boi 16]

I agree with the death penalty, only for the most heinous of crimes. And when the police or any other federal agents have their ducks in a row.

[xmojox]

See, I wouldn't give them extended death row time, special hearings, or lethal injection. If they live by the gun, then they'll die by the gun. Shoot them, OD them on drugs, whatever.

Mussolini used to execute people by making them drink massive amounts of castor oil causing them to shit themselves to death. Maybe we should try that.

[CaliforniaMatt]

Too messy

[Lights]

Too dangerous for that

How so? Maximum security prisons are extremely secure and well-regulated.

See, I wouldn't give them extended death row time, special hearings, or lethal injection. If they live by the gun, then they'll die by the gun. Shoot them, OD them on drugs, whatever.

How does that make the executive of the state any better than the offender? And think of it this way: if there weren't special hearings and retrials etc. then the risk of killing an innocent person would rise dramatically. Even with these stages in the Capital Punishment process innocent people have lost their lives; for example Carlos DeLuna who was put to death in Texas in 1983 for allegedly having stabbed and killed a petrol station cashier. How can you ever justify the legal system taking an innocent life, let alone anyone taking an innocent life?

[Celtic.]

So you think that cutting off people's hand would act as a good deterrent, I doubt any court in the western world would even consider that

then how about serious ass whippings!

[xmojox]

then how about serious ass whippings!

How about a serious attempt at rehabilitating them instead?

[Aajj333]

How so? Maximum security prisons are extremely secure and well-regulated.



How does that make the executive of the state any better than the offender? And think of it this way: if there weren't special hearings and retrials etc. then the risk of killing an innocent person would rise dramatically. Even with these stages in the Capital Punishment process innocent people have lost their lives; for example Carlos DeLuna who was put to death in Texas in 1983 for allegedly having stabbed and killed a petrol station cashier. How can you ever justify the legal system taking an innocent life, let alone anyone taking an innocent life?

Someone that trained themselves to overcome these challenges set forth on them

[xmojox]

Someone that trained themselves to overcome these challenges set forth on them

Would you clarify please? I don't understand what you're trying to say....

[Nellerin]

Personally I do not agree with the death penalty. Way too often it is found out decades later that the person that "murdered" someone is actually innocent.

Therefore if you killed that person, they would be dead for no reason. Yes, the death penalty does cost less but it is not used enough to make that big of a difference in our economy.

Overall, I think we should get rid of it and not even think of it as an option until we have a way of knowing 100% who committed a crime. And even then I think it is the wrong move (but that is a personal debateable opinion.)

[DJPon3]

Life of solitary confinement is 1,000 times worse then the death penalty. I think it should become that instead. Hell itself.

[Aajj333]

Would you clarify please? I don't understand what you're trying to say....

I'm sorry. Someone who trained them selves to the peak of human boundaries and strength, speed, and intelligence. I'm not saying that there are a lot of people who are like that but their realistically could be.

[MrMundane]

I am for it but in very specific situations. Take James Holmes for instance in Colorado. He opened fire on a movie theater filled with people, killed 12 people and is going to sit in prison, in my opinion it's a waste of money to keep him alive.

[peaceNlove]

What are your views on the death penalty? Should it be legal or illegal in your opinion?

[Cicero]

It's good to make sure they never get out. But bad because its the easy way out of a life in prison.

[kayleethegray]

I think it totally depends on the crime. Example where I support, James Holmes and the Aurora shootings, he killed so many innocent and defenseless moviegoers. I think it's a touchy subject because I find it difficult to find where the line should be drawn.

[Harry Smith]

I think it totally depends on the crime. Example where I support, James Holmes and the Aurora shootings, he killed so many innocent and defenseless moviegoers. I think it's a touchy subject because I find it difficult to find where the line should be drawn.

I know he killed a lot of people, but isn't it hypocritical to kill someone for killing?

[xmojox]

I know he killed a lot of people, but isn't it hypocritical to kill someone for killing?

This.

[Harley Quinn]

Death sentences are handed down freely and usually, not in a fair manner.

Serial killers such as the Gary Ridgway in Seattle who admitted killing 48 prostitutes and runaways got life in prison. An "angel of death" nurse in New Jersey who admitted killing 17 people got life. Meanwhile, mentally ill and impoverished murderers who could not afford good lawyers and did not warrant much media attention were given the death penalty. In Alabama, David Hocker was executed after a one-day trial. His mental illness was not sufficiently described to the jury. Alabama also executed a 74-year-old man (James Hubbard) who had been on Death Row for 27 years and was beset by medical problems which would have probably soon caused his death by natural means: cancer, high blood pressure and the early stages of Alzheimers. The whole idea of the death penalty has literally been twisted so badly anyone can get sentenced with it.

I don't agree with killing someone just because they killed someone, the point is, there are better ways to deal with killers, rapists, all those that commit serious crimes. The death penalty should not be an option. What's even worse is, you can actually see who is going to die and when click me (http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/upcoming-executions) which personally I find disgusting.

[FreakOfNature]

I think it depends on the crime as well. Most of the time I believe that it is wrong and cruel but on few occasions I believe, as the saying goes, "An eye for an eye"

[kayleethegray]

I know he killed a lot of people, but isn't it hypocritical to kill someone for killing?

It is, but people are hypocrites. In my opinion, he deserves to die.

[naglfari]

in individual cases like the aurora guy i'm totally ok with executing them. but as a whole I don't support the death penalty. mainly because it's not worth it if there's a chance innocent people would get executed, which has happened. plus death row is more expensive than life in prison so its a waste of money

[Gigablue]

I think it's a terrible idea. It doesn't act as a deterrent, and it costs taxpayers much more than life in prison does. Moreover, it isn't reversible, so if you find out someone is innocent after having executed them, you can't do fix the mistake.

I think the death penalty is mainly rooted in the desire to get revenge on the criminals, but that isn't the point of the justice system. We should always try to reform criminals, and if that isn't possible, we should just isolate them. Life in prison and the death penalty both isolate the person, but life in prison is cheaper and reversible.

[Nellerin]

What are your views on the death penalty? Should it be legal or illegal in your opinion?

Bad idea. There are a few reason, but overall I think it is bad simply because

1. No person should ever be subject to death (personal view i have)
2. Many times people are in jail for years and then found not guilty, if those people were killed by the death penalty, they would have no way of getting out.
3. It is such an irreversible action that I see no benefit in.

[Emerald Dream]

Thread merged with another existing thread of same topic.

[Bethany]

I'm anti-death penalty for two reasons.
1. Cost. I, the taxpayer, don't want to pay for years of prosecution as death penalty inmates constantly seek new trials and stays to delay execution.
2. Morality. If you sentence a murderer to be killed, how are you any different than he/she is? Murder is murder, in my opinion. "He/she deserved it because he/she did x" isn't a justification, IMO. Multiple wrongs don't make a right.
3. The death penalty doesn't necessarily deter people from committing crimes.

[Harry Smith]

I think to summarize it's a mainly right wing idea and it's also very un-western. I mean apart from the US no other western country has any form of the death Penalty. Only a couple of US states still have it and I think over time it will be slowly removed from those states

[xmojox]

I'm sorry. Someone who trained them selves to the peak of human boundaries and strength, speed, and intelligence. I'm not saying that there are a lot of people who are like that but their realistically could be.

So we should run the risk of executing an innocent person to keep this hypothetical badass from escaping prison?

[naglfari]

Gotta execute everyone or Batman might escape

[randomnessqueen]

i am utterly against, there is no justification for murder.
and even for those who think there are certain cases where it is justified, it should only be if the crimes are perfectly known without a doubt, which cant be cause there can always be errors.
also, the idea of a death penalty goes against the idea of character dynamics. and i dont believe that people are so stagnant.

[Captain Who]

I think that Death penalty, is somewhat harsh yet not to harsh for what ever they have done... for example Bin Laden, yes he deserved Death Penalty! but not any normal person who has killed say 1 person but they should be prisoned for life !

[conner74]

I think we should have it because there are so really bad people out there who deserve it. And a life sentence should mean life and not like 15 years.

[ImCoolBeans]

Personally, I do not. I think that rehabilitation should be the main goal of the correctional system and the death penalty does not allow for that to take place. I think that it's inhumane to punish somebody with death for committing a crime that caused death upon somebody else. The crime is considered so heinous and evil -- yet it can be used to punish somebody who committed it? Something doesn't seem right there. I thought that the good guys weren't supposed to stoop to that level.

[Aajj333]

So we should run the risk of executing an innocent person to keep this hypothetical badass from escaping prison?

If this "hypothetical badass" kept killing people then ya we should

[xmojox]

If this "hypothetical badass" kept killing people then ya we should

I'm confused. Killing people in prison? I understood you to say he should be killed so he wouldn't escape from a super-max prison....

[Aajj333]

I'm confused. Killing people in prison? I understood you to say he should be killed so he wouldn't escape from a super-max prison....

Yes and no. This person should be killed because he is too dangerous to be kept alive and he does things like escape out of prison and kill people because he can because of his strength, speed, mind control ability, ect.

[xmojox]

Yes and no. This person should be killed because he is too dangerous to be kept alive and he does things like escape out of prison and kill people because he can because of his strength, speed, mind control ability, ect.

Wait...mind control ability? :what:

[Aajj333]

Wait...mind control ability? :what:

You don't have mind control ability?

[xmojox]

You don't have mind control ability?

Yeah, I made you say that. Sorry I thought this was a serious debate.

[NickTheBest]

Well if your a tax payer do you really want that killer useing money from the people. I would not. Death it is. But thats me not trying to offend you

[xmojox]

Well if your a tax payer do you really want that killer useing money from the people. I would not. Death it is. But thats me not trying to offend you

Capital punishment costs more than life imprisonment....

[BebeFleur.]

I am in favor of the death penalty. For a single pre-mediated murder or a murder of more than one person. I mean, you are taking away the rights explained in the Declaration of Independence.

[Harry Smith]

I am in favor of the death penalty. For a single pre-mediated murder or a murder of more than one person. I mean, you are taking away the rights explained in the Declaration of Independence.

Please explain how that logic works? by your theory then it's unconstitutional to kill someone since your taking away the criminals right to live

[Professional Russian]

Here. I've got the best idea. If someone robs a place you cut their fingers off. If someone rapes someone cut their balls and dick off. If someone kills someone you shoot them. Any questions?

[Jess]

You would use those punishments even if the person who committed the crime was a minor? Mentally ill?

[Lonely teen]

Well see the death penalty gets rid of the problem right there and then and the life in prison the criminal will learn to suffer. I would have a three strike system were if your convicted you get a strike which can only go away if you'd do public service and the third strike would be death because if they did two other crimes and have been to jail for them that means they will never learn about the wrongs of doing crimes so why not just stop the problem.
And this is my 100th post I think :) yay lol

[Harry Smith]

Well see the death penalty gets rid of the problem right there and then and the life in prison the criminal will learn to suffer. I would have a three strike system were if your convicted you get a strike which can only go away if you'd do public service and the third strike would be death because if they did two other crimes and have been to jail for them that means they will never learn about the wrongs of doing crimes so why not just stop the problem.
And this is my 100th post I think :) yay lol

That sounds fair... if you get convicted of three crimes the Government will kill you, do you have any idea how many people would be killed every year. So if when I was 18 I got convicted of say Drink Driving, then when I'm 40 I got convicted of say breaching the peace( e.g playing my music loudly). So then that means if I commit one more crime I'm going to die. You can't make Blanket statements like that about the such a important and life changing decision

[Lonely teen]

That sounds fair... if you get convicted of three crimes the Government will kill you, do you have any idea how many people would be killed every year. So if when I was 18 I got convicted of say Drink Driving, then when I'm 40 I got convicted of say breaching the peace( e.g playing my music loudly). So then that means if I commit one more crime I'm going to die. You can't make Blanket statements like that about the such a important and life changing decision

Well i mean a very serious crime such as robbery and I think drunk driving is serious no offense or injuring someone seriously on purpose

[Harry Smith]

Well i mean a very serious crime such as robbery and I think drunk driving is serious no offense or injuring someone seriously on purpose

haha okay, shoot me for having half a pint of bitter and getting behind the wheel of a car, yes it's an important issue but you have to be delusional to think that it warrants death. Your whole idea is laughable to be honest, the idea of giving people three chances and then Killing them. It's immoral, out of date and not only Hypocritical but also illegal

[Lonely teen]

It's just an idea sheesh lol

[Harry Smith]

It's just an idea sheesh lol

it's just an idea that would result in about I'd say about 25,000 people being killed due to your strike system. It wasn't a very wise idea aha

[Kuurachan]

No. NO. Is there not ENOUGH killing in the world? We are no better than them if we do. A cold, lonely place for all the rest of their lives is enough. Oh, what I would give for a world without death.

[Professional Russian]

You would use those punishments even if the person who committed the crime was a minor? Mentally ill?

Me? Yes. No one is special. We are all same we all reserve the same punishment

[Bethany]

No. NO. Is there not ENOUGH killing in the world? We are no better than them if we do. A cold, lonely place for all the rest of their lives is enough. Oh, what I would give for a world without death.

Very eloquently stated.

After all, what is the difference between killing someone through the death penalty and that person killing someone on the street? It's "justified"? Murder is murder.

[Jess]

Very eloquently stated.

After all, what is the difference between killing someone through the death penalty and that person killing someone on the street? It's "justified"? Murder is murder.

Yes exactly this. We don't teach people killing is wrong by killing killers.

[Volleyballboy98]

After 2 kills yes

[johnsmith1]

Yes, wholeheartedly. But only when the defendant is found guilty beyond doubt, and then only for the most horrific of crimes.

I agre with this and use the Fritzl case as an example (link below for details). The case is quite hideous, and there's no doubt whatsoever of guilt, and one of the 2 main issues. Places that do have the death sentence can have appeals going on for decades, as it seems to go from "beyond reasonable doubt" which is normally used to really requiring "no doubt whatsoever" as a death penalty cannot beoverturned once done. The other issue (and I'd say this is a good case too) is what crime would be so horrible that a death sentence would be relivant (and dont worry if you get a speeding ticket!).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fritzl_case

[xmojox]

Me? Yes. No one is special. We are all same we all reserve the same punishment

All of the things you propose are unconstitutional....

[Professional Russian]

All of the things you propose are unconstitutional....

They would work though. The constitution can be changed

[xmojox]

They would work though. The constitution can be changed

Those wouldn't be good changes. Just because it can be changed, doesn't mean that it should be, and certainly never changed frivolously. There is too much room for abuse and misuse in what you propose.

[Professional Russian]

Those wouldn't be good changes. Just because it can be changed, doesn't mean that it should be, and certainly never changed frivolously. There is too much room for abuse and misuse in what you propose.

Everything is abused and misused. thats problem with everything

[xmojox]

Everything is abused and misused. thats problem with everything

That's no excuse to do it further.

[Professional Russian]

That's no excuse to do it further.

Well considering it may help the crime rate through a fear factor it is an excuse.

[fast8]

i say im on the fence about this one some case i say yes then others i say no

[xmojox]

Well considering it may help the crime rate through a fear factor it is an excuse.

But it isn't a valid one. Maiming people, even criminals, is heinous, and should never be engaged in by our government. Being free from having cruel and unusual punishment inflicted upon us is one our rights guaranteed under the Bill of Rights. I've asked this before in this debate...would implementation of your plan require that our capitol be relocated to Tehran?

[Professional Russian]

But it isn't a valid one. Maiming people, even criminals, is heinous, and should never be engaged in by our government. Being free from having cruel and unusual punishment inflicted upon us is one our rights guaranteed under the Bill of Rights. I've asked this before in this debate...would implementation of your plan require that our capitol be relocated to Tehran?

So the Bill Of Rights is guaranteed? Please tell me they arent trying to take the second amendment. Anything in the constitution can be taken away. if the government wants to get rid of Freedom of speech they can. nothing guaranteed

[Harry Smith]

Well considering it may help the crime rate through a fear factor it is an excuse.

It is proven that the death Penalty doesn't lower crime or in fact murder rates. As mentioned above not only is it unconstitutional but it sounds immoral the idea of wanting to enforce the law through fear

[Professional Russian]

It is proven that the death Penalty doesn't lower crime or in fact murder rates. As mentioned above not only is it unconstitutional but it sounds immoral the idea of wanting to enforce the law through fear

OMG Unconstitutional. Now you scream unconstitutional but when it comes to gun control your all for removing the second amendment. anyways, if i see someone getting their fingers cut off because they stole something thats gonna make me thing twice before stealing.

[xmojox]

So the Bill Of Rights is guaranteed? Please tell me they arent trying to take the second amendment. Anything in the constitution can be taken away. if the government wants to get rid of Freedom of speech they can. nothing guaranteed

It is guaranteed though. It's just up to us to make sure we keep our rights, and when we go picking and choosing which rights it's ok to lose and which ones It ok to get rid of, we're just making it easier for us to lose the ones we want. Suppose they start cutting off fingers and then next take the Second Amendment and decide to cut the fingers off the gun hands of chronic gun owners.

The Second Amendment is there to give us a way to deal with our own government taking away any of the rest of our rights. To surrender those rights willingly just means there's less reason for the Second Amendment.

[Professional Russian]

It is guaranteed though. It's just up to us to make sure we keep our rights, and when we go picking and choosing which rights it's ok to lose and which ones It ok to get rid of, we're just making it easier for us to lose the ones we want. Suppose they start cutting off fingers and then next take the Second Amendment and decide to cut the fingers off the gun hands of chronic gun owners.

The Second Amendment is there to give us a way to deal with our own government taking away any of the rest of our rights. To surrender those rights willingly just means there's less reason for the Second Amendment.

You didnt get the point. i just used the 2nd amendment as an example. my point was. if they want an amendment created or desstroyed they will get it. the government doesnt care about its people anymore its all about them and how much they get. we need to fire congress and re create it with a bunch of middle class working men that know what the majority of america wants

[xmojox]

You didnt get the point. i just used the 2nd amendment as an example. my point was. if they want an amendment created or desstroyed they will get it. the government doesnt care about its people anymore its all about them and how much they get. we need to fire congress and re create it with a bunch of middle class working men that know what the majority of america wants

No, I did get what you meant. I can't wait to be able to vote. If our votes can't fix things we have to look to other alternatives. I found a quote from Jefferson the other day where he something along the lines that we should raise arms against the government every 20 years or so. I'll see if I can find it again, if you'd like.

[Professional Russian]

No, I did get what you meant. I can't wait to be able to vote. If our votes can't fix things we have to look to other alternatives. I found a quote from Jefferson the other day where he something along the lines that we should raise arms against the government every 20 years or so. I'll see if I can find it again, if you'd like.

go ahead but you do know our votes barely mean shit? its all up to the Electoral voters they choose the president. If they wanted to vote for romney but the majority of their state voted for obama theres nothing stopping them from voteing for romney.

[xmojox]

go ahead but you do know our votes barely mean shit? its all up to the Electoral voters they choose the president. If they wanted to vote for romney but the majority of their state voted for obama theres nothing stopping them from voteing for romney.

The electorate only chooses the executive, not the legislative.


EDIT: You can find the quote here in this letter ( http://www.monticello.org/site/jefferson/tree-liberty-quotation).

[Harry Smith]

OMG Unconstitutional. Now you scream unconstitutional but when it comes to gun control your all for removing the second amendment. anyways, if i see someone getting their fingers cut off because they stole something thats gonna make me thing twice before stealing.

I was merely referring to fact that it has been deemed unconstitutional by the the Supreme Court, but I'm not here to have a discussion about the US constitution I'm here to argue for the value of the Human life and how the Death Penalty is not only out of date but it is morally wrong. Your whole argument about cutting of someone's finger is ridiculous, did it work in the middle life when people were starving and needing to eat.

Also your point about replacing congress with the Middle class is largely unfair because not only is it leading down the road of a Dictatorship through council but it leaves the lower and Upper class unrepresented in congress.

[The LOLer]

. Multiple studies have shown that the death penalty is unequally sentenced to ethnic minorities for the same crime a white person committed.
In other words, if a white person commits murder, s/he is far more likely to be sentenced to life imprisonment.
Oh my gosh don't bring race into this.

I think that if anyone is satanic enough to end someone else's own life, then they don't have the god given right to share this planet with us.

[LouBerry]

Okay this is funny because I had to discuss this is school today, and I've always said that I don't believe in the Death Penalty, because I feel like if you did something that bad you probably need medication, not a cell.

But here's what my teacher left me to ponder. Say this man kills a family. Even science and meds can only go so far, and half the people who do things like that aren't treatable. So, you stick 'em in jail, right? Well what happens when they kill a guard. Or another inmate. Do you eventually just stick them in a hole in the ground until they die?

Which, I guess I had no answer for. And it seems cruel to keep some of those people that are pretty young locked up like that. I mean, they couldn't be around other people, cause they could freak out and kill someone, so you just lock them in a room. For what, 30, 40 ,50 years? I could never take another human beings life, but in a way I can understand why it would be a, for lack of a more appropriate word, kinder.

[Kochanek]

Death penalty should be abolished - as it is in all countries in the European Union.
Because courts can be mistaken (which often happens), and it should be possible to correct any mistake. And because death penalty is a bigger penalty for the offender's family than for himself (after being executed, it's over for him, but it's lifelong pain for his innocent wife, children etc.)

Imagine someone of your near family - maybe your dad - was accused, sentenced to death and executed. And now after a couple of years it turns out, he was innocent... If he was only sentenced to lifelong jail, they can let him out and you would be happy having him with you again.

And: The 5th commandment says: "Thou shalt not kill" - This should also apply for the state.

[Typhlosion]

Don't bump threads with over 2 months of inactivity. This one is an year old.

:locked: