Capital punishment?

Question

What are your thoughts on this controversial topic?
In countries where the death penalty and other forms of "brutal" punishments are in place they see less crime because people fear the consequences.

In the UK no one fears or respects the law, rather they laugh in the face of it. I have asked older people what the feelings were towards the police when they were kids, and in general there was respect.

I work in a busy town center and I see people get aggressive and violent with the police. Would these people not be better dealt with by getting a good smack?

Answer 1

I think that public punishment is a good thing. It's important for people to see what their actions and choices could lead them too.

Answer 2

quote: "In countries where the death penalty and other forms of "brutal" punishments are in place they see less crime because people fear the consequences"
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Wrong. The USA has capital punishment in several states and EVERY bit of research shows that it is NOT a detterant to violent crime.

quote "In the UK no one fears or respects the law, rather they laugh in the face of it. I have asked older people what the feelings were towards the police when they were kids, and in general there was respect."
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well, first of all, this is nothing to do with capital punishment.
There are many social factors which are different between 'then' (60's? 70's?) and now. I believe that social order and respect was seriously undermined by the Maggie Thatcher 'greed is good' years.

quote "
I work in a busy town center and I see people get aggressive and violent with the police. Would these people not be better dealt with by getting a good smack?"
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maybe, but, in todays modern society, the 'smacked' will end up sueing the 'smackee'.

Answer 3

I would question your evidence that brutal punishments equals less crime. But I do agree that there is less respect for the law and law enforcers now than there used to be.

I think that we as a society have a huge responsibility to help children to grow up knowing that they are loved and accepted and respected - or else why will they respect others?

That is harder to do now than when I was a child as in many cases both parents have to work to make ends meet, or both parents choose to work for a more affluent lifestyle. And there is a high level of family breakdown which means that children lose one of their role models in the parent who leaves. The other parent will inevitably be more stressed trying to raise a family and hold down a job which could have a negative impact on the children.

But having said all of that, it has always been the case that there are violent people around who murder and rape etc. But I don't believe that killing them is an acceptable answer. Hate breeds hate.

I have also just finished reading a book called The Innocent Man about a man on death row in America who was found not to have commited the crime he was sentenced to die for when new DNA evidence came to light. Wouldn't it have been a bummer if they gave him the needle and found that out later?!

Answer 4

Back in the "Good old days" when the police were "paragons of virtue" or were thought to be,! Many a person were 'sent down' on little more than a gut feeling by the policemen investigating the crime, we now know that far from being pillars of society, that they are capable and willing to invent /fix evidence to gain a conviction,
As one of the people who have written on the subject previously points out, by listing names,of those wrongly convicted,relatively recently.
One shudders to think how many so called murders and such have been executed/ imprisoned,over the years, who were entirely innocent.
Possibly that has something to do with why folk have little or no respect for thr Law?

Answer 5

Paul Hill
Gerry Conlon
Patrick 'Paddy' Armstrong
Carole Richardson
Hugh Callaghan
Patrick Hill
Gerard Hunter
Richard McIlkenny
William Power
John Walker
Stefan Kizco
Vincent Hickey
Michael Hickey
Jimmy Robinson
Pat Molloy

these are people who would have - almost certainly - been executed by the state, if Britain had had capital punishment in the 70's and 80's. The crimes were vile and there was very vocal public anger at the 'criminals' with calls to "string the b**tards up"

these are people who were cleared, and eventually let out of prison - often after many years in jail - whe it was discovered that they were victims of a corrupt police force.

If I had spent a bit more time searching I could probably made the list a LOT longer.

Answer 6

Yes, but we need to adopt the American system of 'grading' murder, ie premeditated etc.
I also believe that prison sentences should be shorter but a bl**dy site harder, ie no tellies, gyms, drug rehabilitation etc. - if they were worked hard enough then they would sleep as soon as they got to their bunks.
The police should be allowed the occasional clip around the ear without the fear of the Politically Correct Brigade or Human rights activists going to the European Commission.
This would also solve the countries problem with overcrowded jails. There is also a good argument for the 3 times and your out system.
There, I feel much better now I've got that little lot off of my chest!

Answer 7

In my opinion, I think the Government should bring back the death penalty for certain crimes. If not that, then when someone gets a 'life' sentence it should mean life! In this country it seems even if you murdered someone, as long as you said sorry enough times you'd get nothing more than a few years..if that!

There's too many 'Human Rights' laws and Political Correctness these days for the police to do their jobs properly...

Answer 8

Although some times it really bothers me when someone is put the death in the states. Especially when i have really monitors the trial. '
The hardest thing is that if you get the death penalty you are already guaranteed a new trial. So by the time it's all said and done they could die from old age. Not much of a deterrent there.

Answer 9

I do not agree with the death penalty whatsover.

I also think that locking up someone for the rest of their lives knowing they will never be free again is a more daunting prospect than being given the easy way out and ending their lives. Capital punishment is a brutal act and it makes whatever state just as much murderers as the murderer they are killing

Answer 10

ooooh tricky one.....

i suppose there is the whole argument about the cost of keeping a prisoner in prisons is extortionate and wrong -we the tax payer pay to keep the murderers alive and well in well heated conditions with good food when that money could be used for the people who really need it. then i suppose people could argue the case of when we 'get it wrong' this is obviously bound to happen from time to time and then we have the loss of someone who was infact innocent all along. its tricky. people also want criminals to stay alive and think of what they have done for the rest of their lives and repent. the question do people with minds as warped as theirs ever repent?

there is always going to be a massive debate on stuff like this and its a shame that there are people around in this world that put us in a position where we even have to consider something as extreme as capital punishment. i know it makes me feel sad.

in the most extreme cases though i think why not? i think i would rather all that money i pay on taxes each month go to who really needs it and not that b**tard in prison who murdered innocent lives. we don't have to be vulgar anymore in this society it needs not be a spectator sport and we can do it humanely. give them an injection and let them die. spend more money on supporting people who are heading down the wrong path before they get to that stage.

Answer 11

Well I see it like this.
If your country has the Death Penalty then the Execution should be held in Public so every one can see it. Take your kids with you so they see what happens to people who commit the crime that brought on the Death Penalty. Would that not deter future criminals. Public Execution... bring it on back it was good enough for our forefathers ,it must of worked.
There are some crimes worthy of the Death Penalty. But only in those cases where there is no doubt of the accused being the one who committed the crime.