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Are you for or against the death penalty?

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A barbaric practice which belongs in the dustbin of history.

Just think, the Guilford 4 and Birmingham 6 would be long dead if the death crowd had had their wishes granted.

12 ( +18 / -6 )

Depending on the crime and manner in which it was committed I think warrants one's non-existence valid.

You forfeit your rights to 'human rights' and humane treatment when you premeditatedly take another life as far as I'm concerned.

World's already overpopulated as it is and I'd rather not waste tax payers money providing these ppl with anything remotely resembling a comfortable living if they've been found 100% gulity with no room for error.

So either the chamber, chair, hatch, etc. OR they serve out the rest of their existence doing some of the hardest backbreaking manual labor that benefits the rest of society day in and day out till the expire themselves.

-3 ( +10 / -13 )

Human rights should be for all. Even those who destroy lives, be they perps on the street or those in a presidential seat. They all have a right to live.

-2 ( +10 / -12 )

"For" or "Depends on the case" - aren't they the same? I don't think there's anyone who wants the death penalty for ANY transgression of the law. I'm 100% against, but I would imagine people who are for would only want it in severe cases.

11 ( +15 / -4 )

Look at the most enthusiastic executioners around the world. This neighbourhood includes China, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Somalia and Yemen. The US to its shame finds itself in that rogues’ gallery but that is down to the third world states of its union.

Despotic regimes and backward theocratic hellholes seem to get off on executions. Very unpleasant indeed.

8 ( +13 / -5 )

Totally opposed, but I have no problem with prison being a basic and not very comfortable experience (that does not mean cruel, brutal or painful). It is a punishment and they do not have to endure it, just don’t commit the crime.

10 ( +11 / -1 )

Anyone who votes depends on... is simply voting for.

I am against it, regardless of the savagery of the crime.

7 ( +13 / -6 )

What Jimizo said. Seriously, look at the Wiki for cap-pun--we're in horrible company.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

Against it, 100%. Those who are for it always love to kind of avert their gaze when you point out all the wrongful convictions and the "oops!" that follow. Or how about this... those that are for it should all be put to death if it's discovered the wrong person was convicted and executed? No takers? Why not?

3 ( +7 / -4 )

For mass murderers caught in the act, terrorists caught in the act of killing, these have no respect for life and deserve the penalty of death for their actions that are 100% proven. For questionable guilt not 100% then life in prison should be the maximum penalty as has been shown many times that some get wrongly convicted.

While death is the ultimate price to pay for an action taken, it is sometimes justified in extreme cases. Mass shootings with many witnesses and caught with the weapons used in hand a prime example.

2 ( +7 / -5 )

I generally say : "I'm totally against it, even if it is sometimes hard."

The fact is, there is no reason to justify the death penalty, except to make some people feel good for 5 minutes.

It cost more than imprisonment, it doesn't reduce crime, it is arbitrary, it is putting society at the same level as the criminal, and above all, there is the risk to execute an innocent person.

As for the family of the victim, this is harsh, but executing someone will not bring their loved one back, nor will it ease their pain, or make them forget, or process, or understand, etc...

And if it is revenge they seek, well, revenge is not justice. Revenge is by definition emotional, while justice must be rational. Plus, revenge has no value if you don't do it yourself anyway.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

People give me thumbs down when I ask about the difference between 'for' and 'depends on the case' but no one comments or tries to explain. Why is that? I genuinely would like to hear people's take on it. I mean, clearly some do think there is a difference.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

It's quite straight forward: as a member of a community, one has a chance no matter how small of getting into a situation of being punished whether justly or unjustly. If the punishment is death, then there is a chance the community would kill you.

Arthur Miller wrote a play about it, called The Crucible. Check it out: then think witchhunts in history and #Metoo now.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

Murder is murder. Whether it's a crime or state sanctioned murder such as capital punishment, it's still murder.

Man has no place killing man. It really couldn't be any simpler. Used the way it is in Japan, it's just vengeance...and vengeance can never be justice. No. 100% no...

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I voted Depends, because it seems at least in USA prisons are too nice. I'm for life sentences, but not in comfortable prisons with TV and other amenities. I think there should be different levels of punishment in prisons. Heinous crimes having not much but hard labor and basic food, with the chance of doing better as a person improves his life, which is possible. Even the New York killer, Son of Sam (David...) turned his life around and he was absolutely know to have visciously murdered several people.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

It cost more than imprisonment, it doesn't reduce crime, 

That is only because of the guranteed appeals. It doesn't have to reduce crime. Most punishments are handed down to deter the offender not to deter society. With death penalties there really is no point in detering the perp.

As for the family of the victim, this is harsh, but executing someone will not bring their loved one back, nor will it ease their pain, or make them forget, or process, or understand, etc...

Do you honestly think the victim's family doesn't know that that executing someone or sentencing someone to life without parole doesn't bring their loved ones back? Of course they know that, the whole point of these punishments is to honor what the victims suffered and to honor what they are worth.

Perfect example of this is Nicola Furlong, murdered in Japan by Richard Hinds. Japanese court hands down 5 year sentence, the victims family claims that Nicola life was worth more than that. Are you going to be the first one in line to tell her family that a longer prison sentence won't bring her back, nor ease their pain, or make them forget, or process, or understand, etc...?

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-21840824

I doubt you have balls to repeat the samething to Dr William Petit, if you don't know about what he had to suffer through you might want to check. Quite frankly you could take the above quote and apply it to any judicial punishment.

And if it is revenge they seek, well, revenge is not justice. 

Revenge and Justice are not mutually exclusive.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

In principle against because no good come from sociopathic government officials with the power to kill who consequently always use the death penalty as a political tool to punish and placate the lower orders of society while inflating their self-importance by playing God. Capital punishment has never been an effective deterrent for psychologically disturbed individuals bent on murder. However, as a social experiment I would like to see capital punishment introduced (like updated Nuremberg trials) as a means of deterring political leaders and bureaucrats ( who include some of the most cowardly and despicable specimens of our species) from waging wars of aggression and causing death and destruction on a grand scale and other egregious crimes against humanity. Bush and Blair come to mind as prime candidates, but they are, of course, just the tip of the iceberg.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

It depends.

If the state is taking the extraordinary step of killing someone, then the proof should also be extraordinary.

Fingerprints are not 100% proof. There have been a few cases where people with matching fingerprints couldn't have performed the crime (they were overseas) and eventually, someone else was found with matching prints who did the crime.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

It doesn't have to reduce crime.

Then why would it be needed over life imprisonment ?

the whole point of these punishments is to honor what the victims suffered and to honor what they are worth.

Really ? That's the way to honor them ? Not having a ceremony in their memory ? Naming a building in their honor ? Passing a law ? Planting a tree, light a candle, or show any sign of love towards them ?

What if their killer is never found or killed himself ? Are the victims dishonored for eternity ?

Japanese court hands down 5 year sentence, the victims family claims that Nicola life was worth more than that. Are you going to be the first one in line to tell her family that a longer prison sentence won't bring her back, nor ease their pain, or make them forget, or process, or understand, etc...?

No, because first : I'm not a monster. Second : I'm against the death penalty, not long prison sentences. And third : I also think that 5 years for a murder is a joke.

But, if a killer is not executed, he may one day express regret and ask for forgiveness, which may be more significant to the family of the victim than anything else.

And seeing your arguments, I'm curious to know what you think of families of victim who don't want the death penalty for the killer ? Are they dishonoring the victim or something ?

Revenge and Justice are not mutually exclusive.

Yes they are. That's why justice is supposed to be blind. To give a just sentence, no matter the emotion behind.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

the whole point of these punishments is to honor what the victims suffered and to honor what they are worth.

Is it? I don't believe any western systems are build on the principle of an eye for an eye. Where are you getting that from?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Then why would it be needed over life imprisonment ?

Because you have no intention of reforming the person and or letting them out of jail ever again.

Really ?

Absolutely Yes!

That's the way to honor them ? Not having a ceremony in their memory ? Naming a building in their honor ? Passing a law ? Planting a tree, light a candle, or show any sign of love towards them ?

Yes that is the way to honor them. If ceremonies in their memory, having a building named after you, planting a tree, and having a candle light vigial was all that was needed then why not just have the perp plant a tree and let them go.....

Passing what law? It is already illegal what they did. do you mean to say stiffen the penalties? Well in that case I would refer you to your argument that stiffening the penalties won't bring them back, make you forget, ease your pain, etc...

What if their killer is never found or killed himself ? Are the victims dishonored for eternity ?

In the first case yes, in the second case possibly.

No, because first : I'm not a monster. Second : I'm against the death penalty, not long prison sentences. And third : I also think that 5 years for a murder is a joke.

First if you believe what you think but are too afraid to express those thoughts directly to the victim/victim's family it just means you are cowardly monster; but longer prison sentences won't bring back their loved one, it won't ease their pain, it won't make them forget, or process, or understand, etc..

Right it is a joke to you because you think it is slap to the memory of the person who died.

But, if a killer is not executed, he may one day express regret and ask for forgiveness, which may be more significant to the family of the victim than anything else.

They already do that during court when they say their sorry for the crime to the family after they have been committed. Has a tendency to come off as insincere, especially later when it is prompted right before their execution.

And seeing your arguments, I'm curious to know what you think of families of victim who don't want the death penalty for the killer ? Are they dishonoring the victim or something ?

Depends upon the circumstance, if we are talking an accident or manslaughter no, but if you are talking along the lines of something that happened to Dr William Petit's family I would say yes.

Yes they are. That's why justice is supposed to be blind. To give a just sentence, no matter the emotion behind.

No they are not. See the key word there is no matter the emotion behind it. If the emotion behind it and the "Just Sentence" line up guess what you had? Revenge and Justice, you can have both at the same time.

Is it? I don't believe any western systems are build on the principle of an eye for an eye. Where are you getting that from?

@Strangerland - Yes, if I did 5,000 dollars in property damage you would want $5,000, and chances are you would not be opposed to punitive damages on top of it. If so that is eye for an eye.

 If I was to murder someone in cold blood would you be opposed to a life sentence? In a way isn't a life sentence basically saying your life has been forfeit? You make them suffer for the rest of their life rotting in a jail with no freedom.....It is almost like you want them to suffer.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

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