Is there a difference between abortion and the death penalty?

Question

Please give details of the differences between these two.

I have seen numerous answers and questions which assume that supporting the death penalty and not abortion is hypocritical, or vice versa. So I thought it was time to try and establish some kind of consensus about this subject.

As always, the best answer gets 10 points and my respect.

Answer 1

The death penalty is given to tried and proven criminals who are a threat to society.

Abortion takes the life of an unborn child who has done nothing wrong.

They are two completely different issues. I don't understand why anyone would think it is hypocritical to support the death penalty and not abortion when one is clearly punishment for a horrendous crime and the other occurs when a mother just doesn't want her child.

I don't know why those who support abortions and not the death penalty are not called hypocrites because they support the death of an innocent life but not that of a guilty threat to society.

Answer 2

That simple depends on who you ask.
They are two completely separate acts. How can you possible try to compare them. Abortion is the killing of a baby and the death penalty is the idea the someone may be put to death.
The people that get the death penalty usually aren't put to death right away whereas the abortion is done and completed with no going back. People who get the death penalty can live for years in prison. The question you may want to ask is: Is abortion and the death penalty wrong or right? But there is really no good answer to the question that you have given us.

Answer 3

When you boil it down, ther are no differences. They are both legal acts that end up with someone dead. However, the argument for or against each is separate.

I do not understand why we waste money on the death penalty. Prison is not a nice place to be. Inmates suffer with health and do not live as long as those on the outside. Why bother spending the money on mamdatory appeals (which society judges necessary because a very small minority of police and prosecutors have committed criminal acts in obtaining a conviction)? Instead, let them rot in jail for the rest of their lives. It's cheaper. It also solves the problem of killing an innocent person.

As for abortion, it is very much the woman's choice. She can choose to use contraception. She can choose to abstain without it. it follows that if the pregnancy is the result of rape, abortion should be permitted, because the choice has been taken away from the woman.

Answer 4

I see very little in common with the two issues except the obvious. Abortion is the taking of an innocent life and is a result of poor decisions made by the parents. Capital punishment is just that, punishment, and it's not really done just to the criminal but is a way we send the message to the public that certain actions are so horrendous that as a society we are willing to take this radical step to set boundries for everyone.

Answer 5

The death penalty is for people that have committed capital crimes and should be put to death for their actions. The person was proven beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law that he/she is found guilty. Every person gets a fair trial.
Abortion is killing a baby that did nothing wrong and therefor should not be put to death because the mother choice to spread her legs. The baby does not get a fair trial and is executed because the mother does not want that child. The difference is, people that get put to death did something wrong and should be punished, the baby did nothing wrong and should not be killed because of the mothers incompetence.

Answer 6

The death penalty takes away a life that is already being lived. Abortion takes away a life before it has a chance to live. Some people don't see the difference.

Answer 7

How it's similar: If you are pro-life, then you are pro-life in all circumstances. You can't flip-flop and say that one life matters more than another, even if one is a criminal and one is an unbirn baby. Life is Life.

How it's different: One is an unaware, not asking to be here, innocent and the other is a convicted criminal. Yes there have been some cases where the wrong person went to prison, was killed and then the real killer was caught, but those cases are few and far between.

As you can see it's complicated.

Answer 8

I don't think your question is properly constructed to achieve the answer you want. But as is, I'll give it a go.... An aborted baby has no choice; someone sentenced to death (assuming they are truly guilty) made a choice knowing full well what the consequence could be. One is innocent; the other is guilty. Whether the mother, who gives her consent for her baby to be chopped up and sucked out of her body into a sink, is guilty of murder--and therefore subject to death penalty--is for another discussion.

Answer 9

Abortion (before the third trimester) is the termination of an 'unviable' (though potential) human life.

The Death Penalty is a punishment society tolerates for particular crimes.

The two issues are independent and unrelated.

To tie them together in a debate is to invite unintended consequences; a huge number of pregnancies end in spontaneous abortion, are we to punish the unfortunate women to whom this happens?

Incidentally, I support abortion rights (because it's none of my business) and am generally against the death penalty for criminals (because life in prison is cheaper, given all the appeals costs)!

Answer 10

They are nothing alike.
The death penalty is a punishment for a capitol crime, usually murder. The victim was alive and breathing and life can be proven.
Abortion is a choice that women have. Some say its murder and others disagree. So far no one can prove that aborted embyos were "alive".