Do you think some people have earned the right to die for their crimes?

Originally posted by eleveninches
Yeah. Even if it is not for revenge, it makes sure that they will never commit that crime again.

Also, if they are allowed to live in prison for the rest of their lives, then they are being REWARDED for their crimes by having free accommodation, free food, free electricity, free gas etc.... all at the taxpayers expense. and they dont even have to work for the rest of their lives.

Actually, murderers or people who commited other violent crimes are treated differently than normal inmates. In many cases, they have to live in cells with no windows, completely isolated from everyone else. To me, that's almost worse than death, having to be completely isolated from the rest of the world except for maybe the occasional guard.
Also, in a lot of states, they do have to work--a lot of the time it's farming, but I've heard of them doing other things like computer programming or making sports equipment.

I agree that in practice it could be abused and innocent people could die, so it should only be for people who have repeatedly broken the law and have loads of evidence against them.
But still, if it was legal to give the death sentance, it would only be a matter of time before some innocent person got caught up in the system and ends up dead because of it.

Works in theory, but is dangerous in practice

Originally posted by Fire
well you dont think they can fail?

What do you mean "they" can fail? The judges? The system? I mean the only people that can fail IMO is the Attorneys of the accuse.

the judges.

The Attorneys too. They represent the accuse person. If the attorneys fail in proving their client is not guilty, it comes down on them.

yes, but still the attorney doesn't make up the system

So you saying the system is the cause?

The death penalty has exsisted for thousands of years....I personally believe it's done more help than harm. Society as a whole has progressed and people get fair chances.

I do believe in human rights, but i believe that once you interfere with another human's rights (for example by killing them) then you deserve an equally great punishment. Of course i mean in the cases of murder or serial killing and not exactly accidental automobile casualties.

But just like all controversial arguements....it's very situational

I dont care who you blame for the executions of innocent ppl WD

I just know that if a system has faults like that then it is wrong and shouldn't be used

Originally posted by Fire
I dont care who you blame for the executions of innocent ppl WD

I just know that if a system has faults like that then it is wrong and shouldn't be used

Fire, what system do you think is the best for solution for the problem of murderers?

I’m SO with USH on this one. Justice should not be about feelings. It should be about the law, right and wrong, and not carried out by a screaming mob, or scared governments, who end up killing the WRONG people.
Death penalty is cold-blooded murder. The most cold-blooded in existence. Who should execute the executioner??

Evy_O has an excellent point. The death penalty doesn’t work as a deterrent. So what is the reason for using it? But there is another point. We all want to get rid of crime. Who wouldn’t. But since all measures of punishment today doesn’t prevent crime, what is the solution?

I’d like to see child-molesters and rapists castrated. That’ll influence their lives for the rest of their lives. But would that work as a deterrent? Isn’t it terribly barbaric? What if the wrong guy gets castrated?

WindDancer> So you want murderers executed. Tell me: is murder right or wrong?

Eleveninches> Execute one murderer and he/she doesn’t murder again. But you’ve committed murder yourself in the process. And it won’t stop murders in general. Is murder right or wrong? Why should “the state” have special privileges when it comes to murder?

im doing an investigation on this and i just thought it would be interesting to see your views on this

Merging...

TheOmega> Killing an "innocent" person is Murder and is WRONG. When the Executioner is pulling the switch it is his job. The job that the people elected for him to do. He has to carry out the sentence given by the Judge.

When you say castration for chid molestors, it isn't a fit punishment. Cutting the genitals of a child molestors will not deprive the indidual from obtaining some other way of pleasure. So the best solution is counseling. If the individual does it again....execute the person!

WindDancer> But isn’t murder to wilfully take another human beings life? Then it doesn’t matter WHAT you call it, and if you were HIRED to do it or not (as assassins are). It is still murder. And that is either a) right, or b) wrong.

About castrating child-molesters: Sure, the castration-thing is an emotional and subjective revenge-oriented idea. I admit that. It’s just that men forcing themselves on young children (and women) makes my blood boil.
You’re right, of course. Counselling, psychiatric treatment, psychological studies etc. is the way to go. We need to PREVENT it from happening. To understand why and how this happens in the first place.

just look them up for life that's the best way imo

TheOmega> I understand you anger about child molestor, It burns my skin to see that those indivuals get life sentences for a crime so horrific. Now as far as the job of the executioner it is his duty to perform the task the judge has order. Remenber that the judge (and also the prosecutor) represent the people of the state. Therefore, when the sentence has been given the judge "represents" the will of the people.

Ok, BUT if you kill a person on a death row, you are commiting a murder, not justice!

Are you saying that it is ok, to go a murder a helpeless human being, because a prisoner on a death row, to be killed is a helpless, person, waiting to die! What can be more cruel that that.

There was a man ( i cant remember his name now) that was killed last year on a death row who waited 17 years to be executed, and they never told him when that they is going to arrive. How can you call that justice, that is barbaric and shamful.

If you say that eye for an eye is right way to go about it, then a family member or a friend of a person on a death row has as much right to kill the person who executed him or sent him on a death row as they did to kill him.

Originally posted by The Omega

Eleveninches> Execute one murderer and he/she doesn’t murder again. But you’ve committed murder yourself in the process. And it won’t stop murders in general. Is murder right or wrong? Why should “the state” have special privileges when it comes to murder?

Because murder is against the law, but if it were legal for people to be given the death sentance, then that would NOT be against the law.

Originally posted by WindDancer
TheOmega> Killing an "innocent" person is Murder and is WRONG.

Is there such thing as an INNOCENT person??
People might be not guilty of certain crimes, but I doubt that there are many people in the world that are totally innocent of everything.