Should Britain bring back the death penalty for convicted terrorists or those who plot against the UK?

Answer 1

Before people in the UK make up their minds about this, they should take a look at problems with the death penalty in the United States. Here are some of the facts (all sourced, verifiable)

Re: cost
The death penalty costs far more than life in prison. The extra costs begin even before the trial.

Re: Possibility of executing an innocent person
Over 120 people on death rows have been released with evidence of their innocence. If we speed up the process we are bound to execute an innocent person.

Re: DNA
DNA evidence is available in no more than 10% of all murder cases. It is no guarantee that we will never execute an innocent person. It is human nature to make mistakes.

Re: Deterrence
The death penalty is not a deterrent. Murder rates are actually higher in states with the death penalty than in states without it. Moreover, people who kill or commit other serious crimes do not think they will be caught (if they think at all.)

Re: Alternatives
More and more states have life without parole on the books. Life without parole means what it says and is no picnic.

Re: Who gets the death penalty
The death penalty is not reserved for the “worst of the worst,” but rather for defendants with the worst lawyers. When is the last time a wealthy person was sentenced to death, let alone executed??

Re: Victims families
People should know that the death penalty is very hard on victims’ families. They must relive their ordeal in the courts and the media. Life without parole is sure, swift and rarely appealed. Some victims families who support the death penalty in principal prefer life without parole because of how the death penalty affects families like theirs.

Last of all, opposing the death penalty does not mean a person condones brutal crimes or excuses the people who commit them. I believe that the dialogue on the death penalty should be based on verifiable facts. People should make up their minds using common sense not revenge.

Terrorists will not be dissuaded by a death penalty. In fact, the possibilty of being viewed as a martyr makes them more likely to commit bad acts. The UK is a good model for the States. Why choose a worse system than what you have?

Answer 2

No...basically because the media tends to rule the roost when dealing with the 'sexier' court cases, and because of that (if the death penalty had not been scrapped) certain Irish - and English associates would have been murdered, rather than 'executed' in new evidence came to light (which may have been hidden by authorities). Molly has it...martyrs.

Answer 3

No it would turn them into Martyrs and that is their purpose they should be placed in jail for the rest of their lives with no special privileges and that means food .

Answer 4

No, just turn the other cheek, like France and Spain. The world will like you much better for it.

Answer 5

Absolutely now's the time to bring it on!!!

Answer 6

yes