Do you believe in the death penalty, why or why not?

Question

The bible says thou shalt not kill, it doesnt make since to kill someone for killing someone. The bible says an eye for an eye but I think that was back in the old testament before jesus dided for our sins and saved us from religous persecutions. We dont live under those curses anymore like they did in the old testament, jesus have saved us from that. Dont get me wrong iam not saying criminals should go free, they need to be punished, they need to be locked up for life, its just not up to us to play god and determine when someone dies.

Answer 1

I try to put myself in the victim's or his/her family's shoes. The possible torture, slow death, suffering, etc., execution is the only answer as far as I'm concerned. You've noticed I'm sure how murderers fight to get a life sentence instead of death, they don't want to die, but was okay for their victim.

Answer 2

All murder is killing. But not all killing is murder. That's society's position. The Pro-Death Penalty folks say that the death penalty is okay because the laws governing the state are sacrosanct.

The laws enforcing the death penalty are more structured to an "eye for an eye" and Old Testament doctrine. Every criminal law and "moral" law still on the Federal books is drawn directly from the Old Testament and the Ten Commandments---which, is almost ironic, since governments now won't allow a copy of the 10 Commandments to be displayed in public on government property. But I digress.

I have heard some pastors talk about Jesus' example on the cross and the repentent thief. The thief admitted that he was a criminal and that he deserved to be on the cross, but that Jesus did NOT deserve to be there. Then the thief asked Jesus to remember him. Jesus answered the thief, "Today you will be with me in paradise."

In that example, Jesus did NOT take the thief down from the cross after he repented. Jesus only assured his eternal life in heaven. The physical punishment that was levied for the crime the thief had committed was carried out-----which was death by crucifiction.

In that regard. I believe that the death penalty, by that example that Christ gave us while on the cross, is justified for the crimes as they are written. I would, however, like to see a few more charges added to the list of "incurring the death penalty."

Those would be:

Child pornographers
Child mosleters
Rapists
Those found guilty of incest
and
Those found guilty of child endangerment and abandonment.

Answer 3

I am against the death penalty because our legal system is imperfect and run by humans who are of course, fallible.

I would rather see a million guilty ones freed than one innocent punished.

It is only rarely that an accused who has plenty of money to pay for a defense gets a death sentence.

On the other hand, minorities and poor people, are stuck with the least trained lawyers, public defenders, who have no budget to search for evidence the police and DA missed, or misinterpreted.

Too many of the people sentenced to death are mentally ill, illiterate, poor, or otherwise unable to participate in their defense.

I do believe that there are those who are, and will always be a danger to society. These gain and misuse power, or mismanage public funds. But rarely are they ever even indicted.

Answer 4

Have you ever heard of someone trying to kill someone else whose time has not come...they will just not die as much as one tries. Right from the time we are born, we have this "invisible clock" ticking within us - meaning, when the time's up, mate, the time IS up. So, don't feel guilty about it - we are mere instruments in the hands of God (or this Supernatural Power, whatever name each one of us calls Him by). So, if God didn't wish these people to die he wouldn't give the proof to the Judges who are then empowered to pass a death penalty onto a criminal. So, ultimately, whether you call it bad luck or God's will, the criminal who gets the death penalty must have had it coming one way or another.

As for the technical answer to your question, I would like to know how many Human Rights activists had the courage to stand-up and fight for the criminal to be pardoned of the death penalty when the subject of the heinous crime was someone very dear to the hearts of the HR Activists themselves. I won't be surprised if your answer was "None heard of so far". So, let's not forget to look at things from the victim's point of view.

Answer 5

Donot consider it appropriate to argue with Testaments, also the other Books like the Holy Qur'an. What are the mere words,:God is Love: if God's commandments are judged at the level of the logic of we mortals, small humans before The Supreme Divinity. Our deeds ought to be more important than our lip-service words. How would your Q. be answered by the next-of-kin and an eye witness to a cruel murder. Whom should you care for more--- the Victim or the Criminal. Would not your care be a misplaced sympathy if you are on the side of the criminal. Kindly give a second thought to your preferences...and thanks for a good question.

Answer 6

Yeah, but if they're locked up for life, then WE have to pay for them. Its OUR taxes that go to fund federal prisons, why should we pay for someone to live better off than most common people? They get free schooling, free food, free athletic facilities...whereas many common people dont. They're confined to specific areas, but they are criminals.

My point is that the ones on death row are the worst of the worst, the ones that; if living hundreds of years ago; would have been killed without a second thought. At least in today's world they get a trial. I think it depends on the crime, but if you kill someone I think you should be killed. If the killing was truly an accident, then that might be an exception, but in general, i agree with the old 'an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth' rule.

Answer 7

I have mixed feelings about this and here's why:

I agree with the Bible quotes. I know that I'm not supposed to kill someone else and that I should turn the other cheek because that is what Jesus would've done. The person is doing wrong will get their just desserts on Judgement Day.

There's just too many loopholes for innocent people to be accused.

BUT-the unperfect me knows that if anyone ever tried to hurt me or my children, or if I caught someone hurting my children-I would kill them because it would prevent other children from being hurt and because I'd be furious. It's instinct. I've never actually done it but one guy came close to losing his head when he came in my house, at night, while I was alone with my infant daughter. When I told him to leave he came further in. When I swung that shotgun in his face-he had a different story. I don't know what his intentions were but I'm pretty sure they changed. (No offense guys-women can be just as brutal.)

Answer 8

I am quite firmly against the death penalty for a number of reasons:

* Life is precious. It is completely illogical to declare that killing is wrong but kill people as punishment. Who kills the executioners?

* Execution is irreversible. It cannot be "taken back" if the convicted is later found "not-guilty" or if society as a whole decides that it isn't appropriate.

* Excecutions are VERY expensive. The cost of keeping people on Death Row, the appeals process, and the execution itself is no cheaper than "simple" jail time. Not only that, nowadays a convict is on Death Row for an average of 15 - 20 YEARS.

* There are other solutions; we as a society have not fully expored them yet. Prison system reforms come to mind.

Answer 9

To tell you the truth, I have gone back and forth on this issue. I used to be in favor of the death penalty, but because of the same thoughts you have I have softened quite a bit. The only exception I still find that I have trouble with is when someone does a horrible crime against a child. I believe sick animals should be put down.

In general, I don't believe in the death penalty

Answer 10

There have been too many cases of innocent people condemned for what used to be capital crimes here. If you find out years later that a mistake was made you can say sorry and try to repair the harm that was done in locking up an innocent man, but if he has been killed you can not just dig him up and let him go, it does not work like that. And if you kill the condemned then who keeps working to find out the truth. the answer is no one

Answer 11

But you are saying it is ok for someone else to play god and take a life? Convicted murders should be shot 5mins after being found guilty. So yes, I have a strong belief in the death penalty.