death penalty?

Question

do you think they should do away with the death penalty and just keep violent criminals in lock up or keep the fire goin strong. im not anti life, just wondering what others think

Answer 1

The death penalty is a joke. It needs to be stricter. Why should we let people who have been sentenced to death sit in prison and waste away why we pay thousands of dollars to keep them there. Sure people say that it is more expensive to kill a criminal but last time I checked one bullet was not too expensive was it? Our whole prison system is a complete joke. The risk of committing a crime for many people does not outweigh the rewards. A potential criminal when about to commit a crime weighs the rewards (getting away with crime whatever it is) and the risks ( getting caught and going to prison). For many going to prison is not that big of a punishment. Prison should be simple. You should have a cell with a cot and a toilet. You should get fed basically bread and water three times a day. You do not get any activities or TV or anything that costs money. Do not spend any money trying to rehabilitate these people. It does not work. If you are sentenced to death you should be shot within 48 hours of your sentencing. We could take the money saved and use it on something useful maybe like educating the dregs of our society so they do not become criminals.

Answer 2

Your question is a good one. Yes I do think so. Here are a few some reasons- verifiable and sourced facts about this issue.

Re: Alternatives
48 states have life without parole on the books. It means what it says, is swift and sure and is rarely appealed. Being locked in a tiny cell for 23 hours a day, forever, is certainly no picnic. Life without parole incapacitates a killer (keeps him from re-offending) and costs considerably less than the death penalty.

Re: Possibility of executing an innocent person
Over 120 people on death rows have been released with evidence of their innocence. Many had already served over 2 decades on death row. If we speed up the process we are bound to execute an innocent person. Once someone is executed the case is closed. If we execute an innocent person we are not likely to find that out and, also, the real criminal is still out there.

Re: DNA
DNA is available in no more than 10% of murder cases. It is not a miracle cure for sentencing innocent people to death. It’s human nature to make mistakes.

Re: Appeals
Our appeals system is designed to make sure that the trial was in accord with constitutional standards, not to second guess whether the defendant was actually innocent. It is very difficult to get evidence of innocence introduced before an appeals court.

Re: Deterrence
The death penalty isn’t 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: cost
The death penalty costs far more than life in prison. The huge extra costs start to mount up even before the trial. There are more cost effective ways to prevent and control crime.

Re: Who gets the death penalty
The death penalty isn’t 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
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.

Opposing the death penalty doesn’t mean you condone brutal crimes or excuse people who commit them. According to a Gallup Poll, in 2006, 47% of all Americans prefer capital punishment while 48% prefer life without parole. Americans are learning the facts and making up their minds using common sense, not revenge or an eye for an eye mentality.

Answer 3

Keep death penalty as an option.
All of us including me, during our lives there were times we were so upset about something that somebody did, we would have killed somebody for violating our lives. . .
The main reason I and others did not use that option as a remedy, the death penalty was the deterrent. Death penalty is the strongest deterrent against taking the life of another.

Answer 4

I think all child molesters should be put to sleep! I am aware that would eliminate a big portion of the human race, but think about it, everyone left would be so scared they probably wouldn't do it. As for everyone else, if they committed the crime, are found guilty and are afraid of dying then I think they should be put to sleep. Let them feel the fear of dying just like their victims. If they are ready to die then I think we should keep them alive in jail. And when I say jail, I mean one meal a day, no t.v., no air conditioning, no gyms (only to make them bigger! That's stupid), no privileges AT ALL. Prisoners sometimes say, "they treat us like animals", well I think if they didn't act like animals they wouldn't be in there in the first place. I think they should work but only to pay for their clothes, food, facility expenses, and pay a small portion everyday to the victims or their families. That way everyday they are reminded of why they are in there! I do think the payment should go to a bank account where the victims are not reminded daily of the experience. That way they can deal with it on their own when they are ready. I really do agree the only time they should use the death penalty is when they know for sure they committed the crime. As for criminals who really didn't physically hurt anyone I think they should put them in a jail away from the hard-core criminals, but I still think they should work for everything.

Answer 5

I think the death penalty should be an accelerated process. 99% of these people are not going to magically become model citizens if ever paroled, and why should hard working Americans pay for some piece of crap sit in prison or on death row for 20+ years eating free food, watching free cable TV and getting free college while they are in there.

Answer 6

I think people like saddam hussien and ben ladin deserve the death penalty but i dont think they should put death pentalties on some people or certain situations .

Answer 7

honest, it all depend on what they did, but if they say kill are rape a women are child, yes fry them, for too if they left to live, , an let in the pen with other, they got nothing to lose if they their for life, so who going to stop them from killing some one in the pen, for a less crime

Answer 8

Yes, any cars that commit violent crimes should go to the scrap heap. No Leniency!!!!!!

Answer 9

i am against the death penalty, mostly because it's hypocritical....