An Argument Against the Death Penalty

[Nilsen]

So are you also opposed to imprisonment? Because you can't reverse that either. If someone has spent 20 years in prison and then their conviction is reversed, you can't give them back those 20 years.

By that logic, the only punishment would be things like fines because if you make a mistake you can refund the money (with interest).

rofl are you serious?

[Shuffler]

Some folks like to confuse being civilized into this equation. Bottom line is the criminal was not concerned about how the victim or victims felt or if they died. I for one do not care how the criminal feels.... but I do believe he should die and I don't care if he suffers.

While mistakes happen, they are few and far between. To dismantle a building because of a few bricks is rediculous.

The prisons are full of folks now and alot of our tax dollars are spent on them. If you think going to prison means rotting... you should look into our prison systems a little more in depth.

I for one would like to see the balance that did not receive the death penalty sent to the desert and given wood, nails, and hammers to build their own roofs over their head and send in bread and water.

[Engine]

rofl are you serious?

What's funny about it? Myelo's logic makes perfect sense.

On a side note... personally I'd rather die than spend 30 years in prison.

[myelo]

rofl are you serious?

After you pick yourself up off the floor, would you care to point out the flaw in my argument?

[Nilsen]

Im going to try to take you semi serious even if its very hard.

If you kill someone they die, and you cant bring them back to life with current technology. If you put someone in prison they can fight for their cause (if they have any) and get out to enjoy some of their life if they were been falsly convicted.

Yes i am for punishing bad people by putting them in jail.

[storch]

beyond that look at sirhan sirhan or charles manson.  both are clearly guilty neither will ever breathe free air.  they will waste away in prison.  I think that death would be far too lenient a punishment for these types of people.  I believe it to be a good use use of the governments authority and a good application of the public monies to maintain these types of people in prison.  personally I wish them a long and perfectly healthy life as long as they remain remanded to one of our correctional instititutions until they are no more.

[lasersailor184]

beyond that look at sirhan sirhan or charles manson.  both are clearly guilty neither will ever breathe free air.  they will waste away in prison.  I think that death would be far too lenient a punishment for these types of people.  I believe it to be a good use use of the governments authority and a good application of the public monies to maintain these types of people in prison.  personally I wish them a long and perfectly healthy life as long as they remain remanded to one of our correctional instititutions until they are no more.

Wait, it's a good use of public money to waste millions upon millions of dollars PER prisoner?  As opposed to the 30cents each?

[myelo]

Im going to try to take you semi serious even if its very hard.

Well, do your best to keep up then.

If you put someone in prison they can fight for their cause (if they have any) and get out to enjoy some of their life if they were been falsly convicted.

My point is you can't give back the time they have already served. That portion of their life is gone, and unlike Elvis, it ain't coming back.

There are several valid arguments against capital punishment. "Do overs" aren't one of them.

[Shuffler]

We should have a vote.... those that want to pay for murders to live a full life and those who don't.

[eddiek]

I'm for the death penalty.  As stated earlier, a death sentence carries with it an automatic appeal.  Once that appeal process is over with, carry out the execution.
That's where my beliefs differ from others':  I do believe in the "eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth" concept to some degree.
If a rapist is sentenced to die, distasteful as it sounds to some, he should die while being raped to death.
Sentenced to die for stabbing someone, slashing their throat?  Guess what chief......you're gonna be bound and made as helpless as your victim(s) were, then the executioner will come in and deliver like or identical penetrating trauma to YOU, and you will bleed out just like your victim(s).
Apply a method of death identical to whatever they were sentenced to die for. 
Since I don't really know how the criminal mind works, I can't say for sure that knowing you are gonna die in the same manner in which you murdered your victims, but I know it would give ME pause and make me think.
As for the nonviolent, or not as violent criminals.......take them out into the deserts, give 'em tents.  Running water for bathing/hygiene only.  Food would be bread and water and whatever they could get to grow.  No more sheltered life in a building with a roof over their heads.  Don't our troops live in tents?  If it's good enough for US troops, it's more than good enough for the criminals.

[Maverick]

I approve of the death penalty but not as a means of torture or even vengeance. It's a means of removing a dangerous predator from society so that they never put others in harm again.

We put down animals that are a danger to people or that are too sick to allow to suffer. The same should apply to people that prey on society. A child molester rapist or other deviant should not be punished in a like manner to their crimes, just put them down. Do not enjoy it but do so reluctantly as the last means of protecting those who do not deserve to be his / her prey.

[Paxil]

It's hard to look at another country and decide for them what is human and what isn't. Even in our own country the standards quickly change. The spankings I received as a kid could get a parent thrown in jail now, wife abuse was much more tolerated... no one called it animal abuse if you killed a rat or a bird or your neighbors cat that kept stalking the chickens. I don't think it is appropriate to say those things were wrong then... because times were different. Given the environment back then... those things were the norm. Likewise... I don't think we can look at another country and judge one aspect of their behaviour without taking into consideration their overall environment.

Personally... a few years ago I didn't really have much of an opinion one way or another on the death penalty. Then... I was a juror on a murder trial with the death penalty as a possibility. Actually... I was an alternate juror... so while I had to sit through the whole trial, I did not join the rest of the jurors for deliberation. I would say now I lean against the death penalty. I do not think it is an effective deterant. I have also read that it costs more in court costs to put someone to death than to leave them in prison their whole life. (Not sure if that is true though)

[Yeager]

On a side note... personally I'd rather die than spend 30 years in prison.

Funny, all those prison reality shows on TV where the murdering punks always say the same thing..."I want to die blah blah blah"....... come to find out they always end up appealing the death sentence they asked for.  Paarently dying is easy to do when its in the distance.  Its when it gets up close and personal that the chicken comes out to roost.

[storch]

not for everyone.  keep in mind that there really are people who have a grudge list that they work down and when they went as far as possible place one in their own brain pan.

no generalizations apply but I hold my belief that I personally would not like to do any time at all in prison and I think that most people agree with that sentiment.

a lesser number of people would agree with engine's statement but I believe I'm one of those as well.

[lasersailor184]

I approve of the death penalty but not as a means of torture or even vengeance. It's a means of removing a dangerous predator from society so that they never put others in harm again.

We put down animals that are a danger to people or that are too sick to allow to suffer. The same should apply to people that prey on society. A child molester rapist or other deviant should not be punished in a like manner to their crimes, just put them down. Do not enjoy it but do so reluctantly as the last means of protecting those who do not deserve to be his / her prey.

Punishment is vengeance, otherwise there would be no reason to do it.