Do you believe that the death penalty is an appropriate punishment?

Stephen K

Some people have earned that "reward" and it would be unfair of us to keep them from getting it

Paladin

cruel and unusual crimes cry out for cruel and unusual punishments

MÃ¡ire SiobhÃ¡n

Maybe, because some people don't deserve to live among us, but the death penalty isn't the only way to accomplish that. Life in prison without parole, and without personal contact visits, and without television, and without all the other things would be better. I am against the death penalty because it makes victims of the innocent family members of the criminals. If losing a loved one is horrible, then it is no less horrible for the criminal's parents, spouse, children, siblings, etc. So, we can punish the criminal in a very punative way without inflicting the same sense of pain and loss on their loved ones. And yes, I've lost a loved one to murder--actually, it was two loved ones, and a double murder. Still against the death penalty.

That's my truth. Peace. Out.

fwrsxs200jsxc

yes. some people dont deserve to live among us.

NOBAMA 2008

It's great if they'd actually enforce it....

Due to the appeals process it takes about 20-25 years to actually fulfill a death warrant and have an execution.

Taurus

No its too easy a way out. I think they should serve the maximum time, a life sentence (not the usual 10-12 years) but up till their natural death, with no parole.

nana4dakids

I think that Jessica Lunsford would be for it, as would the countless other children who have been kidnapped, raped and then murdered.

Java

For certain crimes, absolutely.

Stoning seems to be a particularly effective public participation sanction.

alarounki

Yes, its a way of protecting a countries citizens from murders, rapists etc. and is also a deterrent.

scott h

I think anyone convicted of murder should be killed............

InReality01

If you kill someone then I would say it is appropriate punishment.

Bandit

Yes, however it should not be the duty of the government to carry it out. If the wrong person is executed by government, no one person is accountable. If an individual executes the wrong person, their life is forfeit.

â€ John The Baptist â€

Yes

Cookie Monster

No. I think it should be more more about protecting society in a cost effective way than about punishment. I believe the REAL punishment comes later anyway.
Never having suffered from a loved one being murdered, perhaps I dont fully understand all aspects of this, but I dont think any laws should be based on vengeance.

ADD: Given the fact that it takes 20 plus years to carry out the death penalty, I do not believe it is a deterrent AT ALL.

ge524enoch

yes it is and it needs to be carried out quicker

Susan S

Looking at the way the death penalty has actually functioned, I have come to oppose it. You don't have to sympathize with criminals or want them to avoid terrible punishments for terrible crimes to ask if the death penalty prevents or even reduces crime, to look at alternatives and to think about the risks of executing innocent people.

129 people on death rows have been released with proof that they were wrongfully convicted. DNA, available in less than 10% of all homicides, canâ€™t guarantee we wonâ€™t execute innocent people.

The death penalty doesn't prevent others from committing murder. No reliable study shows the death penalty deters others. Homicide rates are higher in states and regions that have it than in those that donâ€™t.

Life without parole, on the books in 48 states, also prevents reoffending. It means what it says, and spending 23 of 24 hours a day locked in a tiny cell is not a picnic. Life without parole costs less than the death penalty.

The death penalty is much more expensive than life in prison, mostly because of the upfront costs of legal process which is supposed to prevent executions of innocent people. (upfront=before and during the initial trial)

The death penalty isn't reserved for the worst crimes, but for defendants with the worst lawyers. It doesn't apply to people with money. When is the last time a wealthy person was on death row, let alone executed?

The death penalty doesn't necessarily help families of murder victims. Murder victim family members have testified that the drawn-out death penalty process is painful for them and that life without parole is an appropriate alternative.

Problems with speeding up the process. Over 50 of the innocent people released from death row had already served over a decade. Speed up the process and we will execute innocent people.

Sources:

Death Penalty Information Center, www.deathpenaltyinfo.org, for stats on executions, reports on costs, deterrence studies, links to FBI crime stats and links to testimony (at state legislatures) of victims' family members.

FBI http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/cius2006/data/table_04.html
The Innocence Project, www.innocenceproject.org

http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/COcosttestimony.pdf page 3 and 4 on why the death penalty is so expensive

http://www.njadp.org/forms/signon-survivor.html for statements of victimsâ€™ families

icy447

No, the death penalty and it's application in US law is flawed, cruel and unusual punishment, and unethical.

Crazy Dave

The punishment should fit the crime! I think we should bring back public executions and make them as brutal and violent as possible! Maybe then people would think twice about doing what that person did! I'm proud to live in Texas! We actually follow through with the sentencing here! More crimes should be added to the list of crimes punishable by death! Rapists and child molesters should be added! You get 30 days from the time of sentencing! No more life without the possibility of parole sentences! It should also become the death sentence! It costs around 45,000 dollars a year to keep each inmate alive in prison! That is more than a lot of law abiding citizens make in a year! We the tax payers foot the bill for that! That money could go to feed starving children in the U.S. and help the elderly afford health care and meds. I

I agree with Susan S to an extent. Let me clarify my views on this subject. If the criminal was caught on tape, left overwhelming DNA evidence, was identified by more than 2 credible eye witnesses, admitted to the crime, or any combination of these details, they should be put into a body bag A.S.A.P.. Our justice system is flawed in the fact that people with good lawyers get lighter sentences than those who cannot afford good legal representation! I agree it is all about the money! If their is no shadow of doubt then they get 86'ed! No appeals no mercy! Just so you know a single bullet, piece of rope, a blade, a large stone, a tub full of water, a match (I would say a can of petrol but thats way too expensive now) and some form of flammible liquid does not cost that much! The cost of keeping inmates in prison is rediculous! They get 3 square meals a day, a place to stay out of the elements, access to exercise equipment, books, better education opportunities, and a whole lot of other things that some poor people and families do not get because they cannot afford them or in some cases do not have access to! 45,000 for each inmate could easily support families that have less than what each inmate recieves! Notice I said families! It costs 45,000 for each inmate individually! I do think that it is horrible that people have spent decades in prison for crimes that they did not commit, but now with the science and technology that we have now not only are those people getting released but the real criminals are being caught! The 30 day Idea is because if you are truly sorry for what you did I think 30 days gives you enough time to make any apologies you should make, make piece with your own mortality, and ask for forgiveness from whom ever it is that you feel nessecary! Yes people who spend the rest of their life in prison never commit another crime (on the outside) but neither do dead people! The dead ones do not cost 45,000 dollars a year to keep either! I think that it is more cruel to keep them in prison for the rest of their lives, both to them and to the tax payers who pay for it!

Why do they have to be put to death humanely? Was what they did to their victim humane?

youngbutsmart

killing does not bring someone back...i oppose the death penalty who are we to say if a somone lives or dies.

j_cook53

Depends on the crime. . . if one person killed one other person, then the perpatrator should die the same way the victim did. However, if the person killed more than one person or killed children, then the perp should suffer for life in constant pain and agony

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: