How do you feel about the Death Penalty?

Answer 1

Put in an express way for it.

Answer 2

I think that before people make their minds up they should know the facts. Here are just a few of them.

1. The death penalty is not a deterrent. In fact, states with the death penalty have higher murder rates than those that do not have it.

2. The system makes mistakes. Over 120 people have been released from death rows with evidence of their innocence. Once an execution takes place the case is closed. If an innocent person was executed that means the real killer is still out there.

3. The system is racist in the sense but not in the way you make think. It is the race of the victim which matters. A defendant is twice as likely to face the death penalty if the victim was white than if the victim was non white.

4. The cost of a system with capital punishment is many times greater than that of a system that does not have it. And a huge part of these costs has nothing to do with appeals. Money saved by not resorting to capital punishment could be used for victims services, which are always underfunded.

5. People suffering from severe mental illness face the death penalty and have been executed, some after being forced to take anti psychotic medication to make them sane enough to understand what is happening.

6. More and more states have life without possibility of parole on the books and Americans are realizing that it is a better sentence than death and that it does not risk killing an innocent person. Life without parole means what it says, and being locked up 23 of 24 hours a day, in a tiny cell, is no picnic. Life without parole is swift and sure.

7. A death sentence can be very hard on the families of murder victims. As the legal process goes on, necessarily, so we can be as sure as possible that the prisoner is truly guilty, the families are forced to relive their ordeal over and over again. Again, sentences of life without parole are swift and sure and allow the families to deal with their terrible loss with the people who love them, not in courts and in the media.

These are just a few of the reasons to oppose the death penalty. Those of us who oppose it do not condone vicious and depraved acts. We just think that common sense, based on the facts, is the right way to go.

Answer 3

It solves nothing. Changes nothing .
But if you look at our entire criminal system you have the same result, the only difference is the person doesn't get to re offend
this life time!
Punishment does not change human behaviour. It creates
either apathy or rebellion sooner or later.
Now if we were all just dogs or some other animal species , we could be trained like dogs are trained I suppose.
But the truth is we are spiritual beings. Some of us are in better shape than others but we are all basically good and can be rehabilitated.
Punishment, vengence, the use of force or agression does not do this. It's just more of the same thing and the evidence that it does not work is abundant.

Answer 4

Haven't had it in my country for over forty years and the last man hung here was subsequently found not guilty on new evidence That's the big problem with capital punishment you cannot reverse it.
Imagine how you would feel if you were on a Jury that condemned an innocent man to death?
How can any state asks its citizens to hold the entire fate of another human in their hands?

Answer 5

Against it. I feel only God has the right to judge and punish someone during the Final Judgment-we as humans don't have this right. I also feel God would view those people who support the death penalty as murderers for killing another human being.

Answer 6

Death Penalty should only be used on people who kill in the name of a god, any god.

Answer 7

The death penalty is adminstered unfairly. Most that receive it are poor and/or minority. There have been many cases where innocent people were put to death. Why is it that humans kill to prove killing is wrong?

Answer 8

I'm fine with it and I can't stand these people that are yelling about how its not right because they feel pain after the chemical has been injected into their arm. I wonder how many of them gave their victims the humanity of a quick and painless death?

I also don't think a murderer should still be in jail after 25 years still waiting to be put to death. You should hear your sentence, one appeal and then off you go.

Answer 9

I don't believe in death penalty at all. It is disgusting.

Answer 10

I think in some cases it is necessary.
Who should get the death penalty is another question that should be posed. Only those who commit murder or sadistic crimes. Child molestors,rapeists,murderers.
Morgaine

Answer 11

That's a question I am still struggling with. I am against it, personally, but I do not know if it is fundamentally wrong. There are some natural law arguments for it. But, I also know arguments against it. I tend to think it is wrong, but I do not yet know. It's a hard hard question.