Are you in favor of capital punishment?

Shelley

I am not in favor of the death penalty for any crime, no matter how heinous and awfuMF My reasons?

It's state sanctioned murder. Let the convicted murderer's maker (God) make the decision on where they will spend eternity. I don't think the public, with the government acting as its agent, should be in the killing business.

Then of course there are cases in which innocent men have been put on Death Row. In the early part of the 20th century, a dozen men were put to death, only later found to have been innocent. The Innocence Project, founded by OJ Simpson attorney Barry Schneck, has freed too many from either long prison sentences or Death Row after finding that they didn't do it (usually through DNA evidence or recanted or faulty witness testimony) for there not to be great evidence that the death penalty is fundamentally unfair.

Those who say that the Bible says "an eye for an eye" type of justice should also be honest that the Bible also says a lot of other things (for example: slavery is okay) that we as a society do not accept.

A final argument against is the notion that the victim's family is looking for closure and just wants justice. Vengenance is more like it.

The Grit

I'm firmly undecided on this. I used to be for it, and then I started to think that it didn't solve anything except for make more room for more prisoners.

I'm still pondering it though. It's complex. I think I'm opposed to government-sanctioned killing.

johnraist

Unless guilt can be proven with absolute certainty (impossible) there will never be sufficient justification to take vengeance on a person for his/her crimes. All life is scared and no one, not even the state, has the right to take it. Please don't construe this as an attack on self-defense.

fade_this_rally

I think that no man has the right to take anothers...So I am against it. It actually costs less to hold the inmate than to kill them and there is no chance of killing an innocent person.

clueless_nerd

I'm against it mainly for one reason......mistakes are made and you cannot bring an innocent man back to life.

vegaswoman

Yes, if there is positive DNA evidence.

ANSWER MY QUESTION!!

Heh heh. I used to be in favor of it, until I saw the real side of the justice system, all the innocent people who were either framed, or the DA just wanted to convict someone, then they put innocents to death. So, if you dont' mind the govt killing innocent people, then sure, it's a great idea. Although I think the guilty ones should have life in prison, no parole instead of killing them.

Just read in our local paper about a detective being in trouble for framing people (planting drugs), beating up handcuffed suspects, etc. And, the only reason that he even ever got caught was that someone turned him into the FBI and they investigated. Think of all the stuff he GOT AWAY with. Also think of how easy it is for people to abuse their authority.

Or, think about what if YOU were wrongly accused, say some judge had it in for you, evidence was planted on you (like the murder weapon) and they sentenced you to die. What would YOU do? Would you still be FOR the death penalty?

and_y_knot

I am against the death penalty for a number of reasons.

1. Far too often, newly available DNA testing is proving the "guilty" to be innocent.

2. "Thou shalt not kill." That's why they are on death row to begin with. Becasue it's not okay. It's God's job. Our job is to keep society safe; that is why we have prisons.

3. I don't think that families of victims are made "better"
by executions. I think of how the Amish people behaved after their children were massacred. They forgave and their inner peace is plain to see on their faces.

4. Notice which countries use the death penalty, and which nations consider it barbaric. On which side do we align ourselves?

Hopefully, you are going to hear from both sides ot this issue. Give each side careful consideration. Best of luck!

conundrum_dragon

I am in favor for it for the simple reason that if it was someone close to me that was killed I would want the one that done it to pay....that is if I didn't get to them before the police.

Starshine

Yes, I am in favor of capitol punishment. Some people cannot be out on the streets and I do not believe society should have to support them for the remainder of their lives. In certain situations I believe capitol punishment is the best answer.

Moebious

NO. It's wrong in principle and wrong in practice. Taking life is wrong. Thats the message that the Law is supposed to be sending out to people. If mistakes are made then taking a life from someone who maybe innocent is completely wrong.

Then there'e the money aspect. In the USA it costs about $2million to kill an inmate, which is far less than the cost of keep that inmate inturned for life - so economically it doesn't make sense either.

Executing people is a political expedience - it makes the politicians look tough. Tough on crime and able to make tough decisions. Showmanship, in other words. The Romans were good at that - it's not fitting for our modern society.

Cheryl

Yes, I'm for it, put in a express lane. These people kill and rape our women and children, they are a menus to society, there is no cure. Kill them quickly so that our tax dollars don't feed and house this useless species. Look up Jeffery Domner, he killed and ate all these teenage boys. There are alot of sick people out there, just preying on society. These peoplle see red and taste blood, they enjoy torchering little girls, so that they can watch them die slowly.

kanga

Hi I'm an Aussie and we don't have capital punishment. The last man hanged was 40 years ago. I basically feel that the death penalty serves no purpose but society's revenge. Certainly if someone I loved was murdered or raped I'd want the perp hanged (I'd want to do it myself), but this is an emotional rerponse. In a 'civilised" society we should be above such reactions. The death penalty has not reduced crime in America (we have lower rates here) and I feel that "life in prisonment" is far worse as a punishment as it is ongoing imprisonmnet. I'm sure many others will cogently argue "for" capital punishment. Good luck with the assignemnt!

Otts Shoals

I have a mixed viewpoint. It starts with no death for the first murder, but an absolute no getting out life sentence. That way, mistakes can be corrected, but freedom is lost forever. The second part however is where I disagree with the anti people. A man in prison forever has nothing else you can do to him (thanks to the ACLU). With that, why not kill again. Prison guards, other inmates, doctors, and others would be fair game. I support a second conviction would put you on death row.

flumaker

Yes, I am in favor of it. Some people say let God deal with it, but how do we know there is a God to take care of it. The problem is with the stats, meaning: Death row takes too long and the method of death is inadequate. Think about a nice lady who is friendly and helpful to many people is suddenly shot, stabbed or beaten with a blunt object to DEATH by some crazy psycho for any reason it may be. Should he deseve to life and she just become another victim. The problem in this country or time is that most people have more compassion for the killers and the murdered victim is often forgotten. Why should our tax dollars go to support a worthless life that is contributing nothing to improve society. We must take out the trash to have a clean place. Also, I believe executions should be public and not employee lethal injections, that is to easy. To make the death penalty effective we must execute the murderer within a month of his/her conviction (with DNA eviedence). This death should take a couple days so max pain is experienced, and no last dinner, let's not spoil our precious killers. Puttinig his/her painful death (maybe some fire ants under their skin while their eyes are stabled open or have them tied to a pole with white hot fire burning at the feet and inching up to the rest of their body inch by inch for hours at a time) at a public gathering for all to witness. When people see this, then they will think three times before they decide to kill anyone. (Capital Punishment don't have to be expensive). Those who kill once have a much higher chance to kill again!!

goldfreeblue

this is what i think about it just sentance them 2 it and just keep pshing the date back until he dies of natrual causes that would be worse then death it self

km43dragon

For me it depends on the severity of the crime. I think that if a criminal kills a larger number of people (3+) or if the crime was brutal, then the criminal should be put to death.

Teacher

"An eye for an eye a tooth for a tooth" Capital punishment is needed in a society in which a person can hurt someone else mortally and live the rest of their life in prison with no bills or other responsibilities asked by society. I would rather see a murderer shot out in public than see him behind bars where people can visit him in prison with conjugal visits and gifts.

Aleata H

I am neither for nor against the death penalty but, I too had to do a report on it for my criminal justice class a few years ago so here are some of the things I found in my research...

Suprisingly Florida is the leading state for wrongful convictions on the death penalty.
Not so suprising is that the Governor of Florida is none other than President Bush's younger brother Jeb. Are we starting to see a connection here....innocent people dying???
Anyways, Last year, 75 percent of the death-penalty cases brought before the appeals court were overturned due to new DNA testing or new evidence.

Capital punishment was legal until 1972, when the Supreme Court declared it unconstitutional in Furman v. Georgia stating that it violated the Eight and Fourteen Amendments citing cruel and unusual punishment. However, in 1976, the Supreme Court reversed itself with Gregg v. Georgia and reinstated the death penalty but not all states have the death penalty.

Currently, 34 states favor the death penalty and the many of the states that do not have the death penalty are trying to have bills passed to re-instate it.

Some people are of the opinion that it is "cheaper" to just take someone's life than to let them sit in prison. Not true...

The average time that people spend on Death Row is 7Â½ years
and it cost as much to execute one person as it does to let them sit in jail for 40 years. Unbelievable I know, but true.

We are actually doubling the price keeping men on death row.

People who are for the death penalty would say "The death penalty prevents future murders"

However, States in the United States that do not employ the death penalty generally have lower murder rates than states that do. The same is true when the U.S. is compared to countries similar to it. The U.S., with the death penalty, has a higher murder rate than the countries of Europe or Canada, which do not use the death penalty.

Those against the death penalty will say the fear of executing the innocent precludes the use of the death penalty and they are right

Since 1973, at least 121 people have been released from death row after evidence of their innocence emerged. During the same period of time, over 982 people have been executed. Thus, for every eight people executed atleast one person on death row who never should have been convicted.

Some believe execution is murder...

Well, if execution is murder, than killing someone in war is murder. Our country should stop fighting wars.

On the contrary, is it necessary to protect the rights of a group of people? The death penalty is vital to protect a personâ€™s right to live! Is arresting someone same as kidnapping someone? In the same, executing someone is not murder, it is punishment by society for a deserving criminal.

Well, I'm tired of typing but, I hope this helps you!!!

Chrissy

Yes I am in favor. My idea is that the person on death row took away the life and constitutional rights of the victim(s), so why should they be afforded the privilege they denied the others.
Also, the family of the victim already has to live with the pain of losing their loved one, so why should they be forced to live in agony over the fact the person that took their loved one, is alive and well, living off of their taxes. The criminal took what is the most important thing in their lives away from them and then make them pay for their room and board.

Fish

James Marquart wrote a book entitled "The Rope. The chair, and the Needle Capital punishment in Texas between 1972 ands 2001. It has some good discussions on the Death Penalty.

You job is to write a paper on the subject. This is not the forum to form you opinion for a paper.

Rich C

I am for it. The person who recieved the death penalty commited a very serious crime and caused unimaginable pain to many people. The only way to punish that person is to take their life.

Bob T

I am in favor. It is the punishment that fits the crime of murder.

Dharma Nature

Where it can be proved beyond any doubt that someone has repeatedly commited a serious crime which holds a life sentence that would outlast the criminal's expected lifespan, then I think it is only reasonable to end this person's life and free up the burden on the taxpayers and law enforcement agencies that keeping the person alive would entail.

In other cases, a person might change their ways and arguably should be given the chance to do so.

What really gets me angry is that the law has a problem with the death penalty for mentally ill people who repeatedly commit crimes. I see no reason why just because a mentally ill criminal MIGHT not know they have done wrong, that the rest of society has to be subjected to them again, and surely in this case it might even be considered social euthanasia instead of a death sentence ?

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