Abortion versus the death penalty?

Question

In my experience I have found that those who do support the death penalty do not support abortion. I have also found that those who do support abortion do not support the death penalty.

This seems like quite the contradiction: if you are morally (or religiously- as I have found that many people for the death penalty are somewhat religious) opposed to abortion shouldn't you also be opposed to the death penalty and vice versa? Thoughts?

Answer 1

Nicholas, I've noticed that too.

Rachel, it seems to me that most Christians, in fact, are against abortion, but pro capital punishment. My answer is that the Bible is pro-capital punishment but is anti-birth control and abortion is really a form of birth control, so it's an automatic no-no.

As for the flip side, most pro-lifers believe fetus' aren't people because they are incapable of sustaining life. And most prisoners are people. So, hence, pro-lifers want to preserve life and don't care about clumps of cells one way or the other.

Answer 2

Here is the difference between the two sides. Those who support the death penalty and oppose abortion are reasoning that the death penalty gives a just punishment for a crime, ridding society of the burden of supporting people who want to hurt and kill the innocent. At the same time, they believe that unborn children are innocent, and having an abortion is the same as murder. Those who are against the death penalty and for abortion reason that no crime warrants the death penalty, because humans are in no position to judge each other, there is the risk of putting to death an innocent person, and that execution is inhumane. At the same time, they believe that an unborn baby is not strictly alive, since it is completely dependent upon the body of the mother for it's survival, and therefore, the removal of the fetus is simply a choice one makes for the body, not killing.

Answer 3

You know, I had someone ask me this same question a few months ago. It's something that I've been thinking about. I'm a Christian. I am 100% against abortion. I've always supported the death penalty, but I've been giving that some thought. In the Old Testament of the Bible, it was "an eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth"- you got revenge for other's wrong-doings. When Jesus came into the world, His birth, death, and resurrection were done to provide payment for all of our sins if we accept and believe that he is Savior. God tells us now that "vengence is mine"- it's not up to us to get revenge if someone does something wrong. Does the death penalty contradict this teaching? That's the question I've been thinking about. I believe that when someone commits a crime, society has a responsibility to provide discipline for that crime. It's like a parent-child relationship- in order to bring up "productive citizens", you have to guide your child. I don't really know if the death penalty is the answer to crimes- maybe we should focus on correcting the behavior. But I think that there are some criminals that can't be "corrected". This is just something I've been thinking about...maybe I'm misunderstanding what the Bible is saying. I'm against abortion because I believe that life begins at conception- and that taking that life is very wrong.

Answer 4

I also have noticed the same thing. I am very pro-choice but you are right I oppose the death penalty because 1 I'm a psych student and think that serial killers and such should be studied, 2 death is an easy way out and they would suffer more locked up for the rest of their lives.

Answer 5

I've noticed the same thing (I'm pro-choice and anti-death penalty). I think it has something to do with a personality type who wants Clear Cut Rules, Damn It, and takes comfort from the idea that there are going to be Serious Repercussions if someone Breaks Those Rules... whether it's committing murder or being sexually promiscuous (because no matter how many rape/incest examples we give, the majority of anti-choice advocates seem to picture the promiscuous, abortion-as-birth-control straw man... or woman, as the case may be).

Answer 6

Think about like this -

If a woman gets pregnant, decides she doesn't want the child and has an abortion, it's murder.

If a criminal gets caught, trialed and then is to be executed, it's murder.

The abortion murder is towards an innocent child who has done nothing wrong yet and is then killed off because the mother doesn't want it.

The criminal murder is towards someone who has done something wrong enough that it's hurt and probably killed many other people themselves...

It's murder either way, but at least one (the death penalty) is in a good mind set for the most part, and the other (abortion) is not.

Answer 7

I support a woman's right to choose, which is different from supporting abortion. The reason it is different is that it recognizes that women are not to be kept as slaves, and that anytime we require a woman to have her body used in a way that she chooses not to use it, it is equivalent to slavery.

A fetus is not a human being (any more than sperm and eggs are human beings). We don't celebrate days of conception: we celebrate birthdays as the person's entry into the world.

A fertile woman is, however, a human being., and as such, she gets to determine what is in her own best interest regarding reproduction.

I oppose the death penalty for similar reasons. The state does not have the right to take a person's life, any more than an individual has that right. If the state says that killing can be justified, there will always be those who as individuals will justify murder as a form of justice for their wrongs. It is in the state's interest to hold human life as inviolate.

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Answer 8

Abortion is fullyyt relating to the existence and welfare of the mum. there is not any human different than her to think approximately. there's a fetus that won't be able to exist without residing off of her existence-blood. If she needs a sprint one, then this could be a blessing. If she would not, it incredibly is slavery. the challenge isn't any remember if she might desire to have a call interior the challenge. relating to the dying penalty, i'm strongly antagonistic to it, in keeping with my humanistic ethics. i don't have confidence that killing anybody is a valid direction of action until failing to take action might convey approximately greater beneficial dying. on each occasion the state says that execution is a valid act, there'll consistently be some which will carry that logic forward, asserting if it is okay for the government to punish somebody with dying, it incredibly is okay for them as persons to maintain on with an identical direction. I desire a society that refuses to homicide its voters.

Answer 9

I am opposed to the death penalty but am pro-choice. People convicted to a death sentence are not always guilty and that has been proven. I do not believe that a embryo or a fetus is a baby until it's born. For some mothers, abortion is a much better option then neglect or abuse or bringing drug addicted babies into the world. You don't have to be pro both. Everyone has their own reasons for supporting each or neither.

Answer 10

Ok, two overly generalized statements as an answer:

1. Religious people are brought up with two things: the fear of Hell, and the faith in God over science.

Therefor, it's kinda logical they will be in favor of the death-penalty, as they believe in the ultimate punishment. They are also anti-abortion, as they see every fetus as a creation of their God, even if science tells us otherwise. t

2. Non-religious people don't have the fear of Hell and put more trust in science.

Therefor their stands on both issues are exactly the opposite.

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I know this is overly generalizing things, but basicly I believe this to be sorta accurate as an answer to your question.

I am very much against the death-penalty, and in favor of the woman's right to choose.