wat do you think of death penalty?

Question

no details

Answer 1

I dont know if this is a poll or it your really want to know the facts.
I oppose the death penalty because it is an ineffective way to control crime and keep us safe, because of what it puts the victims families through, the likelihood of an innocent person being executed and because there are alternatives.

If you want the facts, here are just a few, all verifiable and sourced-

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 2

I love 'screaming's answer. Definitely hit the nail on the head. I personally think the death penalty should be brought back. Politicians will tell you that the death penalty does not prevent people from committing heinous crimes. No doubt about it though, if there was a death penalty, that would mean the perpetrators would be unable to get back out on parole and commit the same offence again, which is what has happened in the past. How many more innocent people have to be murdered, raped or tortured at the hands of monsters.

Answer 3

I think the death penalty should be brought back for

1. Drivers exceeding the speed limit on roads and subsequently killing a pedestrian, cyclist or another motorist.

2. Killing a policeman

3. Acts of terrorism from possession of equipment to make explosives with intent to murder to causing deaths and injuries to innocent citizens of the UK, unsuccessful suicide bombers in the UK, funding acts of terrorism in the UK

4. Murder by people under the influence of drugs

5. Those who have served a sentence for murder or manslaughter under existing law, who re offend after release from prison.

This would save a lot of money. 1. The police could be taken off the roads to concentrate on looking after the law abiding citizens who get robbed, raped, mugged and murdered. 2. Keep prison populations of murderers at a static or reducing level.

Social Responsibility has disintegrated at the same rate as the education system in the UK. It was supposed to improve under 'New Labour' who have so far had 10 years to achieve something significant.

If they had been employed in the private sector the whole lot would have been sacked after 4 years!

Answer 4

I'm all for it, I am sick of listening to the do-gooders of this world, they have above all contributed to more people being murdered because they don't advocate the death penalty. They go on about its not right to kill but say nothing of the poor victim that's been mutilated by a scumbag git that they term as a human being. We have every right to put these bastards to death. Wake up! before these low life murders other innocent victims

Answer 5

Very mixed feelings.
I can understand how angry people get when they read the terrible stories in the press, especially child murders like Soham.
I get very distressed by it.
I am wary though of putting that much power effectively in the hands of the police because an individual could decide they have the right person and set them up. DNA can be planted after all it only takes a couple of hairs from your head to be found in the right place to 'put you at the scene'

So on the whole although I can see why some poeple deserve to die for their crimes in the end the chance of one innocent person being killed in addition to the victims of the murderers sets me against.

That doesn't mean we should be soft, life should mean life they can have redemption in heaven and we should try to find ways to put them to work not just lock them up. Expensive what ever we do, but some how I don't think we can eradicate murder.

Answer 6

Well, of course it appeals to the lowest common denominator.

Death penalty is very expensive with all the appeals. I know some of you would prefer that the innocent would be executed.

Life in prison, knowing you will never have another beer, go out for the evening, never see the sea, spend the night with your lover...that's bad enough. Or even worse.

If killing people is wrong, the death penalty is wrong.

Answer 7

It is a waste of money. The court costs on a death penalty case run into the millions. It would be much cheaper to go for life without parole. That way, the convict is off the street, and the money is available for education and health care and other more important things.

Answer 8

I disagree with it. I don't see how it makes the "system" any better than the murderer. A life is still being taken away. And anyway, who does it really punish? Once you are dead then you are dead, your punishment is over. The guilty person's family on the other hand are the ones that continue to suffer.

However I have to say I think that prison should be more of a punishment than it is now. I went on a tour of a high level prison and it was like Butlins. I don't think people should be mistreated, but hotel conditions for people that have wrecked lives does not really seem right. And life should mean life.

Answer 9

No hand Wringing...! The Gary Glitter's of this World Must be Executed - as soon as these Weirdo's commit these atrocious crimes they give up their "Human Rights" and must be treated as a Devil... no messing about - as soon as they have been 100% identified as the perpetrator - we should dispense with formalities - no keeping them cosy & warm and having to feed them keeping them on death row.. take them out into the Jail Yard and Blast their Brains out.. Murderers should also face the same Penalty - if Positively ID'd as having been Guilty of the crime..

Answer 10

The death penalty is too leniant. People should pay for their crimes.

Ship them all off to the middle of the sea on a big floating prison, no chance of seeing land or other humans again.