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Death Penalty, for or against

Do you support the death penalty?


  • Total voters
    134
:agree: I just don't understand how a State can undo what the legal system has decided is just punishment, by releasing prisoners who are supposed to be serving life sentences. :confused: Maybe those released did not fall into that category?

That's only because when sentenced to "life," it usually doesn't mean literally life, but more like 30 years, and then they get let out in like 15 or 20 on "good behavior." :roll: I personally think we should do away with parole for serious crimes and that a life sentence should be for the rest of their lives.
 
What don't you understand about human error? Why would you want to risk killing an innocent person when you don't have to?

I understand about the possibility of human error and execution of an innocent individual. I narrowly decried the wasteful and stupid methods. I would also decry the long delays and privacy of the execution, which removes any positive, prohibitive benefit of a death penalty.
 
I understand about the possibility of human error and execution of an innocent individual. I narrowly decried the wasteful and stupid methods. I would also decry the long delays and privacy of the execution, which removes any positive, prohibitive benefit of a death penalty.

Well, it's lengthy because it's a more thorough and lengthy appeals process when it's a death penalty case. Not to mention, appeals are automatic when it comes to the death penalty, and it's super expensive too.

The only people I might even consider the DP for would be serial killers, only because their minds are blown. There's no coming back when you're that gone.
 
I strongly support because I believe their crimes so evil that only just punishment is death.
 
None of that matters when we are dealing with human beings. Prosecutors are human beings and so is everyone else who handles the evidence all the way down the line. There have been many instances of error, contamination of evidence and also willful prosecutorial misconduct, among other problems.

Not to mention, why would ANYONE want their government to have the power to take a citizen's life when we can lock them up?

That depends, I wonder if this isn't a generational thing. The younger one is the more they are against the death penalty and the older, the more in favor. Just a thought. I do not have any stats, I never thought I would get into a conversation over the death penalty, now elections is quite different. Yes, we are all human and being human we make mistakes. But just locking someone up after he planed and murdered some folks seems to be letting him off rather easy. what about those he murdered? They're gone, permanently. It kind of, it is like giving the murder a slap on the wrist. Then being back to human, there is always a chance some judge will pardon or let a murder out of jail. Sirhan Sirhan has come up for parole a few times now.

Perhaps there is the difference between those who believe in the death penalty and those who do not. In a way neither side trusts the judicial system. One is afraid an innocent man will be found guilty and hung, the other is afraid a guilty many will be paroled or set free. That once set loose on society again, he will kill again.
 
That depends, I wonder if this isn't a generational thing. The younger one is the more they are against the death penalty and the older, the more in favor. Just a thought. I do not have any stats, I never thought I would get into a conversation over the death penalty, now elections is quite different. Yes, we are all human and being human we make mistakes. But just locking someone up after he planed and murdered some folks seems to be letting him off rather easy. what about those he murdered? They're gone, permanently. It kind of, it is like giving the murder a slap on the wrist. Then being back to human, there is always a chance some judge will pardon or let a murder out of jail. Sirhan Sirhan has come up for parole a few times now.

Perhaps there is the difference between those who believe in the death penalty and those who do not. In a way neither side trusts the judicial system. One is afraid an innocent man will be found guilty and hung, the other is afraid a guilty many will be paroled or set free. That once set loose on society again, he will kill again.

I've got no problems with making jail a much more miserable place. I don't really feel pity for the killers. I think prisoners should be put to use.
 
I am against the death penalty for quite a few reasons, but here are the most important ones....

1) If even one innocent person is executed, then the state itself has committed murder. This actually happened in Texas recently.

2) The cost of executing a criminal is 4 times the cost of imprisoning him for life, without the chance for parole. And that cost runs into the many millions for each person executed. We can better put that money elsewhere.

3) Executing a criminal makes us less civilized, and puts us in fine company with the likes of Iran, Egypt, and North Korea. Civilized nations no longer execute convicted criminals. Barbarians do.

4) Barbarians also torture people to death, which is exactly what happened here.

However, I am not shedding any tears for the asshole in Oklahoma, whose execution was botched. He shot a young woman, then had his cronies bury her while she was still alive. The other criminal, who was scheduled to be executed right after him, and whose execution was put on hold, raped and murdered an eleven month old baby. I will never share a tear for them, but the process is flawed. We need to recognize that, and ban the death penalty, once and for all. It is a relic of barbarism.

For those who don't agree with me, then I have a suggestion. Let's make executions public again. Lynch 'em right in the town square, and sell hot dogs, beer, and cotton candy to all those who come to see the show. That's what we used to do. It was a real three ring circus back then. Come to think of it, it's still a three ring circus today.
 
Well, it's lengthy because it's a more thorough and lengthy appeals process when it's a death penalty case. Not to mention, appeals are automatic when it comes to the death penalty, and it's super expensive too.

And it seems that program could be sped up and streamlined if our goal was to reduce waste. I understand that everyone is going to try to appeal because they have nothing to lose by doing so, but that doesn't mean that there is a strong case to be made for dragging every one of them out ad nauseum.

The only people I might even consider the DP for would be serial killers, only because their minds are blown. There's no coming back when you're that gone.

:shrug: I'm sure you could find other cases. Sadistic sociopaths, for example.
 
I understand about the possibility of human error and execution of an innocent individual. I narrowly decried the wasteful and stupid methods. I would also decry the long delays and privacy of the execution, which removes any positive, prohibitive benefit of a death penalty.

The benefit of the death penalty is the guarantee that the one put to death will never have the chance to kill again. Locking a murderer up for life always reserve the chance of parole, that sooner or later he will be set free and kill again. That is not a benefit to society.
 
I've got no problems with making jail a much more miserable place. I don't really feel pity for the killers. I think prisoners should be put to use.

I have always felt that way too. I have no problems with chain gangs or farms where prisoners can work and grow their own food etc.
 
I am against the death penalty for quite a few reasons, but here are the most important ones....

1) If even one innocent person is executed, then the state itself has committed murder. This actually happened in Texas recently.

2) The cost of executing a criminal is 4 times the cost of imprisoning him for life, without the chance for parole. And that cost runs into the many millions for each person executed. We can better put that money elsewhere.

3) Executing a criminal makes us less civilized, and puts us in fine company with the likes of Iran, Egypt, and North Korea. Civilized nations no longer execute convicted criminals. Barbarians do.

4) Barbarians also torture people to death, which is exactly what happened here.

However, I am not shedding any tears for the asshole in Oklahoma, whose execution was botched. He shot a young woman, then had his cronies bury her while she was still alive. The other criminal, who was scheduled to be executed right after him, and whose execution was put on hold, raped and murdered an eleven month old baby. I will never share a tear for them, but the process is flawed. We need to recognize that, and ban the death penalty, once and for all. It is a relic of barbarism.

For those who don't agree with me, then I have a suggestion. Let's make executions public again. Lynch 'em right in the town square, and sell hot dogs, beer, and cotton candy to all those who come to see the show. That's what we used to do. It was a real three ring circus back then. Come to think of it, it's still a three ring circus today.

With the exception that I would not lend it a carnival atmosphere, I would be tempted to agree. Take away the mystique and let everyone see Ole Big Tough Guy cry, beg for his life, and then poop all over himself. No one looks worthy of imitation because they Kept It Real when they have soiled themselves with feces.
 
when needed.

but when does that happen?
From their perspective? Every time, or they wouldn't commit.

I have no problem with state-sanctioned murder where it's warranted. Referring to it as that is fine.
 
The benefit of the death penalty is the guarantee that the one put to death will never have the chance to kill again. Locking a murderer up for life always reserve the chance of parole, that sooner or later he will be set free and kill again. That is not a benefit to society.

A "life" sentence doesn't REALLY mean that a person will spend the rest of his/her life in prison, and that's a big problem IMO, and then there's parole too, which should not apply to violent offenders IMO.
 
Our constitution forbids the use of punishment deemed cruel and unusual.

They inject them with drugs to knock them out. What is cruel and unusual about that? It happens every time someone has surgery! That these particular drugs are meant to kill them in a humane manner is a plus for them, IMO. It's not like they're awake and aware! After reading about the crimes they committed that ultimately brought them to this, I think we are being far more civilized than necessary, but that's my opinion. I agree with the poster that suggested their punishment should be the same way they killed another. Why wouldn't that be fair?

Greetings, Unitedwestand13. :2wave:
 
I have always felt that way too. I have no problems with chain gangs or farms where prisoners can work and grow their own food etc.

I watched a documentary once, and in the old days there used to be some self-sustaining prisons where they had farms that the prisoners would work for their food and they had wells for their water, etc.
 
I am against the death penalty for quite a few reasons, but here are the most important ones....

1) If even one innocent person is executed, then the state itself has committed murder. This actually happened in Texas recently.

2) The cost of executing a criminal is 4 times the cost of imprisoning him for life, without the chance for parole. And that cost runs into the many millions for each person executed. We can better put that money elsewhere.

3) Executing a criminal makes us less civilized, and puts us in fine company with the likes of Iran, Egypt, and North Korea. Civilized nations no longer execute convicted criminals. Barbarians do.

4) Barbarians also torture people to death, which is exactly what happened here.

However, I am not shedding any tears for the asshole in Oklahoma, whose execution was botched. He shot a young woman, then had his cronies bury her while she was still alive. The other criminal, who was scheduled to be executed right after him, and whose execution was put on hold, raped and murdered an eleven month old baby. I will never share a tear for them, but the process is flawed. We need to recognize that, and ban the death penalty, once and for all. It is a relic of barbarism.

For those who don't agree with me, then I have a suggestion. Let's make executions public again. Lynch 'em right in the town square, and sell hot dogs, beer, and cotton candy to all those who come to see the show. That's what we used to do. It was a real three ring circus back then. Come to think of it, it's still a three ring circus today.

No matter how evil they judge someone to be, watching them suffering to death changes you. It's not like the movies, AT ALL.
 
They inject them with drugs to knock them out. What is cruel and unusual about that? It happens every time someone has surgery! That these particular drugs are meant to kill them in a humane manner is a plus for them, IMO. It's not like they're awake and aware! After reading about the crimes they committed that ultimately brought them to this, I think we are being far more civilized than necessary, but that's my opinion. I agree with the poster that suggested their punishment should be the same way they killed another. Why wouldn't that be fair?

Greetings, Unitedwestand13. :2wave:

Guess you haven't heard about this . . .

Botched lethal injection a new front in battle over U.S. executions - CNN.com

Would you do it? Be the one to inject them with drugs that will kill them I mean?
 
A "life" sentence doesn't REALLY mean that a person will spend the rest of his/her life in prison, and that's a big problem IMO, and then there's parole too, which should not apply to violent offenders IMO.

There is no guarantee that one sentence to life or even more will never be let out to kill again. The only way to guarantee that is with the death penalty.
 
I watched a documentary once, and in the old days there used to be some self-sustaining prisons where they had farms that the prisoners would work for their food and they had wells for their water, etc.

Georgia was famous for both. But not as bad as Louisiana. Today, prisoners in a lot of prisons live a better life than a lot of our poor. There is something very wrong, close to bordering on evil about that.
 
I am not aware of any cases where someone is sentenced for life, no parole and yet get released on parole? Does it happen?

California recently released thousands of prisoners due to budget problems. I hope none of them were supposed to be in for life with no parole! *shudders*
 
Killing isn't always wrong. It's always regrettable, but sometimes necessary.

Something can be necessary and wrong. Killing is always wrong. Even if you have no other choice, it's still wrong. It should never be something we do willingly. And executing someone who is safely in custody is NEVER necessary.
 
California recently released thousands of prisoners due to budget problems. I hope none of them were supposed to be in for life with no parole! *shudders*
With any luck, they'll find their way into the lives of those who desire to coddle them.
 
They inject them with drugs to knock them out. What is cruel and unusual about that? It happens every time someone has surgery! That these particular drugs are meant to kill them in a humane manner is a plus for them, IMO. It's not like they're awake and aware! After reading about the crimes they committed that ultimately brought them to this, I think we are being far more civilized than necessary, but that's my opinion. I agree with the poster that suggested their punishment should be the same way they killed another. Why wouldn't that be fair?

Greetings, Unitedwestand13. :2wave:

The executed man in Oklahoma was awake and aware during his execution.... All 43 minutes of it, before he finally died of a heart attack. And, according to those who witnessed the execution, he was in considerable pain during most of it.
 
There is no guarantee that one sentence to life or even more will never be let out to kill again. The only way to guarantee that is with the death penalty.

It would if they got an actual life sentence though, unless they escaped, but that's quite rare. Besides, there have been horribly misjustices committed by prosecutors and others. Some of these guys are just really politicians. They don't care about anything except getting another notch in their belts with a conviction.
 
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