Death Penalty

[Salty]

33 States/Commonwealths feel one way

What % of Americans believe in the Death Penalty


Does it make a difference if the term Capital Punishment is used instead of Death Penalty

 

[saturneptune]

33 States/Commonwealths feel one way

What % of Americans believe in the Death Penalty


Does it make a difference if the term Capital Punishment is used instead of Death Penalty

Salty,
I answered other because each case is unique and the life of a human being is at stake. The first thing I dismissed was the choice of murdering public officials. They are no more or less important than any other living human being. I also dismissed your choice of all murders because some are IMO justified, like the countless women in prison that murdered their husbands after years of physical abuse. Lots of murders are committed in the heat of anger.

I think the standard of the death penalty should be more along the lines of the cruelty, meanness, and evil of the act instead of the type of crime. For example, if a person similar to the Bernie Madoff case has ruined countless lives from pure greed, not giving the needs of those people one thought, and they number in the thousands, I think that case warrants consideration of the death penalty. How many lives were hurt, maybe something as simple as medical care needed, but they do not have the money because he stole it. Maybe someone died from a lack of the money he stole.

How about someone who betrays this country (in peace or war time) and puts thousands, if not millions of lives in danger from some type of enemy or terrorist attack. That deserves the death penalty.

I think a drunk driver that kills a bus load of children on a school outing should be executed, no questions asked. Our drunk driving laws are way too lax. I think drug dealers who have sold a certain amount of drugs that effects hundreds or thousands of lives, especially if they are near a school or children, should be executed. Of course, it would be up to each state to set their own standards.

I think thugs who are involved in some type of sexual trade or barter of children or run a prostitution ring with children under 18 should be executed.

There are certain crimes of murder that are so vile, the method, that should be executed. Of course, the laws presently on the books should be kept.

My point is that we use the death penalty for the crime of murder only for the most part. I think these other crimes I mentioned, when they affect lots of folks for the rest of their lives, warrant the death penalty. Also, as a side note, the decades of appeals need to be reformed to make justice swift and sure.

 

[Salty]

Sat
You brought up some good points - but you can only have 10 choices, so I was trying to make some general points.

 

[saturneptune]

Sat
You brought up some good points - but you can only have 10 choices, so I was trying to make some general points.

Well Salty, I will say this. You have come up with some very insightful threads as of late.

 

[Salty]

Wow, so far 3 said NEVER!

 

[SaggyWoman]

Not sure,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[preachinjesus]

I almost selected "never" but am persuaded to selected "extreme cases" due to several horrific crimes of late.

One of the immediate challenges I bring to those who champion the death penalty is the dramatic over-representation of minorities on death row. Couple that with those stuck in poverty and prosecutorial misconduct and I believe we have plain evidences that the system is broken.

I also believe there is a strong argument to be made from a NT ethical position against the death penalty.

Of course there are some extreme examples which call upon us as a people to rise up, call someone evil, and bring their lives to an end. One that immediately springs to mind is the mass murderer in Norway. Another example would be Timothy McVeigh. However, I believe this is only for rare instances. The death penalty should only be applied in instances where lives have been ended.

This is an important discussion. I pray we enter it prudently and conduct it gracefully.

 

[Oldtimer]

SN, I'm pretty much in agreement with all you said.

There's nothing much more vile than a man who rapes a baby. His execution should come quickly. Sending him to prision for a few years, then letting him walk the streets to do it again, is almost as vile, itself.

The criminal justice system, as it exists today, for the most part, is about as sinful as the legislative system. The few within these systems who cry out for reform are muzzled at every opportunity.

On another note, how many who rant and rail against "Capital Punishment", the "Death Penalty" are in full agreement with the right of a woman to murder her unborn child? It's wrong to execute but it's OK to abort.

 

[Crabtownboy]

We now know that, through DNA, testing innocent people were on death row and released because they were proven innocent. That means there are still innocent people on death row who have not been proven innocent, but will be in time.

The likelihood of an innocent person being put to death is my major reason for being against the death penalty.

So, unless you do not mind innocent people being put to death you cannot be pro the death penalty.

 

[Salty]

... is the dramatic over-representation of minorities on death row. ...

Likewise, there is an over-representation of men of death row - I wonder why that is???

We now know that, through DNA, testing innocent people were on death row ....

So if DNA testing proves the individual committed the crime, are you saying that Capital punishment would then be the proper Penalty?

BTW, Crabby, I totally agree with you on DNA, each individual should be given the ultimate chance of being proved innocent. - so the question is - where do we draw the line?

 

[Revmitchell]

If DNA is a factor in the case then they should run it. But that has nothing to do with whether we should have the death penalty or not.

 

[Crabtownboy]

If DNA is a factor in the case then they should run it. But that has nothing to do with whether we should have the death penalty or not.

What a wonderful example of a self-contradiction. May I keep it for future use?

 

[preachinjesus]

Likewise, there is an over-representation of men of death row - I wonder why that is???

So you're saying what here? Certainly not that minorities overwhelmingly commit murders warranting capital punishment?

 

[saturneptune]

So you're saying what here? Certainly not that minorities overwhelmingly commit murders warranting capital punishment?

Again, why is everyone except OT equating capital punishment with murder? Our justice system is not an eye for an eye, it is twelve peers listening to evidence and a judge pronouncing penalty. This is in the Constitution. People who have not murdered directly but ruined thousands of lives through committing a crime, IMO, should be subject to the death penalty. Madoff is a great example. Thousands of upon thousands of lives ruined. Decades in jail does not even begin to exact punishment for that crime.

People who betray this nation and put thousands if not millions in danger of attack, terrorist or other should also be subject to the death penalty.

OT mentioned those who rape children, and I agree. Along with that would go those in the sex slave trade of children. In the same light, those selling drugs above a certain amount as prescribed by law in or around children or schools should also be executed.

A couple of drunk drivers executed for killing kids in a school bus would put a stop to it.

Another thing is the appeals. If I committed mass murder today, the appeals process would outlive me. There needs to be one appeal to state, and one to federal with time limits. When that is done, its over, say within two years.

 

[convicted1]

Again, why is everyone except OT equating capital punishment with murder? Our justice system is not an eye for an eye, it is twelve peers listening to evidence and a judge pronouncing penalty. This is in the Constitution. People who have not murdered directly but ruined thousands of lives through committing a crime, IMO, should be subject to the death penalty. Madoff is a great example. Thousands of upon thousands of lives ruined. Decades in jail does not even begin to exact punishment for that crime.

People who betray this nation and put thousands if not millions in danger of attack, terrorist or other should also be subject to the death penalty.

OT mentioned those who rape children, and I agree. Along with that would go those in the sex slave trade of children. In the same light, those selling drugs above a certain amount as prescribed by law in or around children or schools should also be executed.

A couple of drunk drivers executed for killing kids in a school bus would put a stop to it.

Another thing is the appeals. If I committed mass murder today, the appeals process would outlive me. There needs to be one appeal to state, and one to federal with time limits. When that is done, its over, say within two years.

I recently heard that Ky. did away with the electric chair and now have those on death row go with you to your outhouse......that's the newest version of the "gas chamber"......gas'em to death.........

 

[saturneptune]

I recently heard that Ky. did away with the electric chair and now have those on death row go with you to your outhouse......that's the newest version of the "gas chamber"......gas'em to death.........

That is right, and in WV, they strap them to a chair and hold their eyes open with tooth picks. Someone then shows them a Dr. Suess book and makes them read One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish. At that point their brain overloads and they die of a brain stoke.

 

[Alcott]

We now know that, through DNA, testing innocent people were on death row and released because they were proven innocent. That means there are still innocent people on death row who have not been proven innocent, but will be in time.

The likelihood of an innocent person being put to death is my major reason for being against the death penalty.

So, unless you do not mind innocent people being put to death you cannot be pro the death penalty.

Boy, are you going to consistent and say that since DNA evidence has shown many cons who have spent years in prison innocent that prison should be abolished?

 

[church mouse guy]

Okay, for the record, we are not operating under Mosaic Law. The commandment for the death penalty, as everyone knows, was given to Noah and it was never rescinded, as Jesus came to fulfill the Law, as everyone knows. Murder is an attack upon the image of God and all murderers should be executed.

Genesis 9:6 (KJV) Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.