In support of the death penalty? would you pull the lever, trigger....

El Guapo

I used to be right with you, but the more I learned about capital punishment in practice, the more I came to oppose it. In the end, there were several factors that changed my mind:

1. By far the most compelling is this: Sometimes the legal system gets it wrong. In the last 30 years in the U.S., over 100 people have been released from death row because they were exonerated by DNA evidence. Unfortunately, DNA evidence is not available in most cases. No matter how rare it is, the government should not risk executing one single innocent person.

Really, that should be reason enough for most people. If you need more, read on:

2. Because of higher pre-trial expenses, longer trials, extra expenses associated with prosecuting a DP case, and the appeals process (which is necessary - see reason #1), it costs taxpayers MUCH more to execute prisoners than to imprison them for life.

3. The deterrent effect is questionable at best. Violent crime rates are actually higher in death penalty jurisdictions. This may seem counterintuitive, and there are many theories about why this is (Ted Bundy saw it as a challenge, so he chose Florida â€“ the most active execution state at the time â€“ to carry out his final murder spree). Personally, I think it has to do with the hypocrisy of taking a stand against murderâ€¦by killing people. The government becomes the bad parent who says, â€˜do as I say, not as I do.â€™

4. Thereâ€™s also an argument to be made that death is too good for the worst of our criminals. Let them wake up and go to bed every day of their lives in a prison cell, and think about the freedom they DONâ€™T have, until they rot of old age. When Ted Bundy was finally arrested in 1978, he told the police officer, â€œI wish you had killed me.â€ Khalid Shaikh Mohammed (the architect of the 9/11 attacks) would love nothing better than to be put to death. In his words, "I have been looking to be a martyr [for a] long time."

5. Most governments are supposed to be secular, but for those who invoke Christian law in this debate, you can find arguments both for AND against the death penalty in the Bible. For example, Matthew 5:38-39 insists that violence shall not beget violence. James 4:12 says that God is the only one who can take a life in the name of justice. Leviticus 19:18 warns against vengeance (which, really, is what the death penalty amounts to). In John 8:7, Jesus himself says, "let he who is without sin cast the first stone."

Big T

No respected survey, study, report, conference, analysis or whatever -ever - has found that the death penalty is effective in ANY meaningful manner.
On the other hand, many absolutely innocent people have been put to death by countries who still have the death penalty. Those statistics are readily available.
If I felt, in any way whatever, that I might be prepared to face knocking on the door of an innocent person's close family or friends, and explaining to them myself that "I'm sorry, but mistakes happen, and I personally killed your loved one because of one of those mistakes" then I might reconsider.
Could you do that, when the state makes a mistake and YOU are the executioner?

Captain Sarcasm

If there were no doubt of guilty e.g. a fair trial, conviction and an admission of guilty coupled with the offender giving information that only the culprit would then I would have confidence in the conviction. If I felt like that I would have no problems with pulling the trigger.

Ingrid

When someone murdered someone and there is absolutely no doubt
that this person committed the crime, I would have no hesitation to
participate in the death penalty.
Even the Bible says: an eye for an eye.

I have had a gun pointed at me and an Associate was shot. What
fright. It NEVER leaves you.

Walk in my shoes and you will understand.

Ingrid

House

No problemo let me know and I will do it gratis.

It would clean up a lot of sick individuals in one fell swoop instead of giving them lenient sentences and letting them out after a few years to carry on from where they left off. Bound to make the occasional mistake but hey DR's make mistakes and kill patients as well.

Barry Scott

No, because I do not agree with the death penalty. Thank god I don't live in a country that does.

william s

I would push the lever, evil people do not have anyone but themselves to blame, they knew what would happen to them when they were caught, they had the choice, unlike their poor victims, I would have noqualms about doing it.

Momof2grrls

Always thought I was against the death penalty until a guy in my hometown hacked up two girls I went to school with for no reason other than the fact that he was a crazy mofo when I was 16... some people just don't deserve to live. I wouldn't personally want to push the lever or give the lethal injection, but I think in many cases it makes sense. Why should we pay taxes to support killers and baby rapers? Interestingly enough, the Life of David Gale is one of my favorite movies... it's a tough topic, for sure.

laplandfan

I agree with it so long as it has been proven that the person is 100 % guilty of the crime.

idhard2find&looking

people are so full of it. what do you do 5 or 6 years down the line when they are found to be innocent. like the jill dando case.

Neil T

I would have no problem nor will I lose any sleep over any method you mention.

Crazy_Man300

I kind of agree with death penalty's, i think it is a great way to get rid of someone rather than have them, sit through jail for the next 14 years or so, as i think life sentence is not enough for some cruel individuals. But then again i disagree with this because if someone is wrongly accused and somehow there is a mix up and someone is wrongly accused, this is the reason why i disagree with it. At least when the accused is in prison they can also in time be let out if it goes to court again and they are found not guilty.

So i think that it should be for the people that have been caught red handed doing the crime, not just cause someone saw them and there alibi doesn't match or something crazy like that, I wouldn't want to do it myself but i would only agree with it for these reasons.

Jessica O

I have mixed feelings about the death penalty. I feel that it goes against people's belief of "thou shall not kill," (even if it is a convict.) Also, it's completely hypicritical...."let's kill the killer" theory. Also, there is the possiblilty that prisioners are, in fact, innocent of their crimes, as past cases have revealed, and are either executed or put in prison for years for crimes they did not commit.

However.., I do not like to think that my tax money is going towards televisions, gyms, food, and air conditioning funds for a child rapist or murderer. I think those rights should be taken away from them because they took away the rights of those they harmed.., and that should be their punishment.

shatnerpossum

YES. I'd bring on in my rifle and do some shooting. Its better than lethal injection.

lowjoy

Yes they should bring it back, as there are too many evil people who murder others for nothing at all, so if they think that then I would certainly be glad to pull the switch., as they are not fit to live either. There is no punishment for these people as the Law gives them a life sentence and the Judge says you will serve forteen years... then of course if he is a good boy.. well he comes out earlier still, so all in all he will serve about ten years. Is this right for someones life... no it is wrong, and life should mean just that... life !!

Isaac B

i would love to push Hitler and see him hang lol no not see him hang but push that evil sick S.O.B

deskwalker@sbcglobal.net

I'd love the job, Military style work: hurry up and wait, and the pay is better with a total benefit and retirement package, Work night sleep days little to none responsibilities.
It would be great.

VoteforTerrorism B

I would gladly do it, but not just that Id torture them first.

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