Canadians: Why should our system NOT consider capital punishment for some one who has killed 49 people?

Question

http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_7107.aspx

Answer 1

I hope that Canadians will look at the facts about the death penalty in the United States before deciding this. The crimes you write about do warrant severe punishment.

Here are some of the facts-

It is not a deterrent- states with the death penalty have higher homicide rates than states that do not. People who commit murder do not think they will be caught, let alone punished, that is, if they think at all.

The death penalty costs much more than life sentences. Much of the extra cost comes before conviction, in fact even before trial. (In my opinion, we should spend the extra money for victims services where it is really needed.)

Over 120 people have been released from death row with evidence of their innocence. (In the overwhelming number of these cases, the evidence was not DNA. DNA is not a miracle cure for wrongful convictions). The exonerees had spent many years on death row before being found innocent. Speeding up the process would guarantee the execution of an innocent person. It is human nature to make mistakes.

Once someone is executed for a crime the case is closed. If the wrong person was convicted, the real killer is still out there.

There is an alternative for terrible crimes. Life without parole is on the books in more and more states. It means what it says. It is no picnic to be locked up in a tiny cell for 23 of 24 hours a day.

Death sentences can be very hard on victims’ families. The process takes a long time and they are forced to relive their ordeal over and over again, in courts and in the media. Some murder victims’ family members have said that although they support the death penalty in theory, they prefer life without parole because of how the death penalty process affects families like theirs. Life without parole is swift and sure and rarely results in appeals.

Last of all, opposing the death penalty does not mean you excuse or coddle criminals who commit brutal and depraved acts. They must be punished severely. But Canadians and people in the United States should use common sense based on the facts, not revenge when deciding how to deal with terrible crimes.

Answer 2

Yes, absolutely, that person should die. Wait a minute, what do we do to a president of a super power who has also killed more?

Answer 3

Then our country will be as corrupt as the Usa.

Answer 4

Death is to easy, make him pay for his crimes while he is living.