The Death Penalty

[chillywilly]

There is an easy way to solve the whole inaccurate death injection thing. Shoot them in the back of the head. That is a kill 100% of the time (in video games). Or to many this more interesting, they could do six executions in a row (with suspected innocent people), and play russian roulette. Sure, it would piss a lot of people off, but theres a new reality show on FOX.

[frankiesmithra24]

Re: The Death Penalty

There is an easy way to solve the whole inaccurate death injection thing. Shoot them in the back of the head. That is a kill 100% of the time (in video games). Or to many this more interesting, they could do six executions in a row (with suspected innocent people), and play russian roulette. Sure, it would piss a lot of people off, but theres a new reality show on FOX.

The movie directors also use that in action movies.

[FishFishRevolution]

Re: The Death Penalty

Don't bump CT topics with nothing to add.

[Kilroy_x]

Re: The Death Penalty

It's possible to take a bullet through the head and live. People have done it. As for the death penalty, it's excessively costly, results in the deaths of innocents, doesn't serve as a deterrent to other criminals, is used highly disproportionately on minorities, and on top of that violent crime in states with the death penalty is generally much higher than in other states. Some have argued this is why the death penalty needs to be in place, others argue that the perpetuation of a mentality of justifiable violence through the death penalty erodes cultural mechanisms which prevent violent behavior.

There's absolutely no justification for the death penalty. The emotional rage of the family is hardly a basis for murdering someone, even when they're a murderer themselves. The only conceivable use would be if the death penalty was opted for by the criminal, but in that case that would imply life in prison was the less desirable sentence.

[devonin]

Re: The Death Penalty

There's absolutely no justification for the death penalty.

What, to you, is the purpose of the justice/prison system? You've already said that it isn't much of a deterrant. The usual second listed purpose is rehabilitation.

What do you do for violent, dangerous criminals who are not deterred by prison terms, who have been determined by experts to be completely uninterested in rehabilitation, and who, if released are almost 100% certain to simply continue offending and being a violent dangerous person? Such a person is a danger to society, and themselves.

I'm not actually advocating for the death penalty here, I'm just pointing out a situation where one could argue it would be justified. If someone is a serial killer, unrepentant, intending to continue, and the best psychologists and psychiatrists have determined that they are simply never going to "see the error of their ways" and rehabilitate, do you really think that the justice system lives up to its name to make taxpayers financially support such a person forever?

[Dc-xBluex]

Re: The Death Penalty

I am opposed to the death penalty. Simply because i believe that no human being has the right to take another persons life. It's just not their place. However, like the first post said, If you've got some psyhco deranged killer, I would much rather see them put to death then to waste my countries tax dollars on supporting them in prison until they die.

[devonin]

Re: The Death Penalty

So...you oppose it because it is wrong, and no human has a right to do it...except if the person is just a really bad guy? Doesn't that seem a little convenient to you?

[trillobyite]

Re: The Death Penalty

Well, we can all sit and debate about the technical aspects of the death penalty, and sympathize with the poor man or woman strapped, restrained, and being injected with lethal chemicals. But when it is your sister, brother, or parent that was killed, you're not going to have any sympathy, and all this intellectual battle over the morality of the death penalty will go down the toilet.

As to a point chardish made- yes, the death penalty is expensive. But with the death penalty, money goes to appeals trials in an attempt to prove the potential innocence of the accused, whereas without the death penalty, money goes to convicted felons and monsters to get food and sustenance in prison.

[WeissPraline]

Re: The Death Penalty

I have mixed feelings about capital punishment.

On one hand, seeing an axe murderer get killed is, as awful as it is, gratfying(spelling?). While we may think "Oh my god, that's horriable", it is still human nature to want revenge. Humans are far from perfect.

I think the punishment should fit the crime, though. If you kill 20 people, then I say death penelty ftw. If you kill one person, in a painless way, even though it's wrong...

I say it's not worth it. Sure, 'Eye for an eye' sounds nice on paper, but doesn't really work in reality. We're in America (Assuming you're talking about America, which uses capital punishment. If you're not in America, then, my bad. :B), not Ancient Mesopotamia.

[x-Thief]

Re: The Death Penalty

The death penalty is appropriate in some cases.

I think that serial killers and other such people who have taken things to an extreme should be put to death. Also, like has been said, people who show no interest in rehabilitating or stopping their murder need to be put to death. True these cases are few and far between, but the death penalty should be there as a punishment if there is an absolutely necessity.

However, a murderer who doesn't take it to that extreme should just be reprimanded with a prison sentence. Besides, I think that the mental tourture of "life in prison without parrol" would detter more people from committing a crime. (But perhaps that's just my opinion)

[devonin]

Re: The Death Penalty

The justice system has so completely and utterly failed to make prison (even for life) any kind of deterrant. As I said in another thread once: The rights of a person in jail are among the most zealously protected out there.

I think that the quality of life you have in prison should be inversely proportional to the length of the prison term. Get 6 months for B&E? I'm okay with the current standards of library access, computer access, reasonably good food and so on that exist today in most prisons.

Get life with no parole for murdering a half dozen people? You get an empty cell, enough food and drink to keep you alive, and not one damn thing more.

When prison life is enough better than life on the streets, that there is a -major- problem in places with cold winters, where homeless people let themselves get arrested for a minor crime, hoping for a 6-month sentence to get them through the cold months, because the guarentee of food, shelter and access to resources is -better- than what they can get outside prison, something is wrong with the system.

[Kilroy_x]

Re: The Death Penalty

What, to you, is the purpose of the justice/prison system?

It's first purpose is to minimize problems that occur as a result of actions of a non-voluntary nature. This implies in and of itself that the justice system should not inflict excessive punishment as a punishment is of a non-voluntary nature. Only as much punishment as is necessary. This function might also be argued to correspond to a restorative function for the justice system.

If someone is a serial killer, unrepentant, intending to continue, and the best psychologists and psychiatrists have determined that they are simply never going to "see the error of their ways" and rehabilitate, do you really think that the justice system lives up to its name to make taxpayers financially support such a person forever?

Sure. It's keeping them off the streets and in a place where they can't hurt others. The cost is also generally less to the taxpayer. The justification for lifetime imprisonment is surely there as well. Oh, and putting the lives of anyone in the hands of anyone else, no matter how "professional" or "enlightened" they may be, is a complete abuse of power.

[Kilroy_x]

Re: The Death Penalty

But when it is your sister, brother, or parent that was killed, you're not going to have any sympathy, and all this intellectual battle over the morality of the death penalty will go down the toilet.

Oh get over yourself. Not everyone is as shallow as you. I've personally had conversations with people who have had their whole families murdered in front of them and who still opposed the death penalty.

As to a point chardish made- yes, the death penalty is expensive. But with the death penalty, money goes to appeals trials in an attempt to prove the potential innocence of the accused, whereas without the death penalty, money goes to convicted felons and monsters to get food and sustenance in prison.

Because they certainly aren't eating while they stay in prison during the appeals! Great argument! So the death penalty is better than life because it makes taxpayers spend money helping a person fight a battle they probably won't win, regardless of their guilt or innocence, and this in addition to the other costs a life sentence would impose... GREAT THINKING!

[Kilroy_x]

Re: The Death Penalty

he rights of a person in jail are among the most zealously protected out there.

A questionable assertion.

When prison life is enough better than life on the streets, that there is a -major- problem in places with cold winters, where homeless people let themselves get arrested for a minor crime, hoping for a 6-month sentence to get them through the cold months, because the guarentee of food, shelter and access to resources is -better- than what they can get outside prison, something is wrong with the system.

The system which has the problem isn't necessarily the prison system though. The economic and social situations which lead to the individual being homeless and incapable of providing sustenance are more likely at fault.

[ashleychauntel]

Re: The Death Penalty

In all honesty I am not that crazy about the death penalty. I don't think that it is really justifiable: You kill someone, it was wrong, you shouldn't have done that, but we are going to kill you to make it right? Hypocrisy anyone?

On the other hand, completely deranged people don't exactly need to be walking around free... and putting them in jail just lets them live out their days in confinement, where nothing is happening to them that is nearly as bad as what they have done that would constitute a death penalty conviction...

So...

I don't think that the death penalty is completely the right thing, or completely the wrong thing. If someone murders another person many will rush to the conclusion that they should die in return, eye for an eye, Hammurabi's Code and all that jazz. And I guess sometimes that the death penalty should be seen as a fitting punishment, but other times no.

The A&E statistic quoted earlier is something I have heard not only on TV but in a few classes I have taken. 10% of convictions aren't right, so therefore, 10% of the time we would be killing the wrong person!?

IF and WHEN the death penalty is considered I think it should only be used if there in undeniable evidence that the crime was committed by the individual on trial and that beyond a shadow of a doubt it can in no way be anyone else's doing; that the punishment is that fitting the crime.

When it comes down to it I suppose I am a bit indifferent... I'm not the one injecting people with lethal doses of drugs or flipping switches to electrocute people or anything else; and fortunately me or my family have never been put in a position where we have to deal with such a thing and don't want to.

In short I suppose: Don't do it if you aren't sure about it, and even then, really think. Then, if the death penalty still seems fitting, then okay.



As for paying for those sentenced to life, I don't like that aspect; keeping criminals alive for life after committing such horrible acts. But, something has got to give.