I've always thought America was advanced and the worlds leader in everything however they still have the death

Question

penalty. Something that I would only expect from backwards and barbaric countries. It does not put people off commiting crimes as America has more people in prison than the UK per thousand of population. There is even an Scotsman with a rather dubious conviction which was quashed then reinstated., so how about Americans what you gonna do about it?

Answer 1

You only have to look at the uneducated defenders of the death penalty (including in these answers) to understand why a country with an unfortunate number of "Deliverance style hicks" would support the death penalty.

The proportion of blacks on death row in the southern states of America reflects potentially the racist legal processes. So barbarism and racism neatly incorporated and seemigly not challenged to the level I would expect if it occurred in Europe.

George W Bush authorised more death penalties than any other Senator when he reigned in Texas - a wonderful prelude to him sending hundreds of low educated, ethnic minority young men to Iraq to meet their death.

That's barbarism for you Stew.

Answer 2

I am from the UK - I don't agree with the death penalty, if just one innocent person receives the death penalty then it is one too many and, we all know how many times the wrong person is put behind bars. Where I do agree with USA law is that life generally does mean life - in the UK you can murder someone - get downgraded to manslaughter and you are out in about 18 months - that makes life in the UK very cheap indeed.We now have a ridiculous situation where our prisons are so full only those who commit serious crime like murder will be locked up - the rest will be let off and put back in the community - I am afraid it's the UK not the States that are backwards when it comes to penalty for crime.

Answer 3

The United States Federal government does have the death penalty for federal crimes, but it is very rarely used. The Constitution does not empower the federal government to render judgement on the death penalty, therefore, it is a reserved power to the states. Some of those states exercise that power by allowing and using the death penalty...others do not.

The point is, our federal government can not simply end the death penalty. The only way to do so would be via constitutional amendment or by the Supreme Court once again ruling that the death penalty constitutes "cruel and unusual" punishment which it is very unlikely to do.

Answer 4

Americans are learning about the death penalty and, as a result are less likely to support it. Learning that over 120 people have been released from death row with evidence of their innocence has motivated Americans to take another look at the system.

Keep in mind that we do not have a parliamentary system. The process for making changes is very different. The death penalty is both a state matter and a federal matter.

Answer 5

I'm from the UK too and agree with most of what you have to say, however I am not comfortable with the idea that countries who have the death penalty can be so readily described as "backward" and "barbaric". It does rankle with our sensibilities to take a life for henious crime, however that is our value system and because it is different from the view of other countries doesn't necessarily make it right for all or the superior view.
I think to have such views shows a superior attitude and that is bound to rankle with other nations and make change less likely. We may have to put with the knowledge that just because we think it is wrong that does not give us the right to dictate that view to the world. But like you I wish I didn't happen at all, anywhere in the world.

Answer 6

It's certainly sad to see how some respondants to your question are so "out there" that they should even be considered a legitimate source of information.

First of all...our Supreme Court Justices are NOT selected by politicians but they are NOMINATED by the President and THEN "with the advise and consent" of the Senate....appointed for life.

Many have issues with the ways of our lives in the United States. Our ways of life may or may not be the best, however, it's the way WE as a people vote to live.

If you remember, in 1776 WE the people didn't like the way our government was "ruled" therefore we broke our ties with the United Kingdom and formed our own nation!

We're all subject to trial and error....what makes us what we are is how we do what we do!

Have a nice day!

Answer 7

You may be correct that the death penalty is not much of a deterrant to others committing similar crimes... but you have to admit that the repeat offender rate is pretty darn low once the death penalty has been carried out ! (amazingly enough it is actually zero percent recidivism !)

Answer 8

Keep this to yourself, but America is a backward and barbaric country. Look what happened in New Orleans. People were left to die.

American "justice" is a joke, too. The Supreme Court is nominated by politicians, so it's not exactly impartial.

Answer 9

It is worse than barbaric, ask the family of James Hanratty, 28 years old and hanged for the A6 murder in England about 1962 then pardoned after his death because they found out that he didn't do it. If that isn't a convincing argument for abolition what is?

Answer 10

Man you must be extremely stupid. So you are pretty much saying that killing a murederer lowlife is barbaric? How about someone murdering somebody brutaly. If your loved one was murdered brutaly would you want the killer to end up on the streets again. I don't beleive its barbaric i mean we will kill innocent babies without a thought. Think about how you would feel if someone did this too you. I will keep suppoting capital punishment! If you are so worried about barbaric go protest abortion.