What's your opinion of the death-penalty debate?

Question

Just wondering....... ♥

Answer 1

One innocent person dying makes me against the death penalty.

Answer 2

The debate is evolving as Americans are learning more about the death penalty.

According to a Gallup Poll, in 2006, 47% of all Americans prefer capital punishment while 48% prefer life without parole.
Why the change? Its about the facts. Here are some that are verifiable and sourced. This is an issue that needs to be considered using solid facts. Here are a few.

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. Americans are learning the facts and making up their minds using common sense, not revenge.

Answer 3

The death penalty debate should have ended long ago with the United States being the only country left in the Western World that still maintains such a cruel, barbaric manner of punishment. England, France, Canada, etc. along with every country in the West has long ago abolished the death penalty while it is still "debated" in this country. Fortunately, a number of states have either abolished the death penalty or at least do not utilize it.

Answer 4

I believe in the death penalty. As long as there is a confession, and proof of the facts...so that no innocent will die..go for it. My only worry is that it is too humane! When someone rapes and tortures and then kills children..I believe that gas or electricity is too humane...I believe in giving him to the parents and if he survives ..then life `til death. No death row...too much government funds for the cause... Just my opinion.

Answer 5

The Cooey case in Florida right now pretty much makes my mind up...That pedophile, stole that 9 year old girl out of her bed raped her, for god only knows how long and buried her alive in a garbage bag... DEATH is too good for his kind... I believe when there is DNA proof that you committed such a heinous crime that death is the only option... These guys can't be rehabilitated it's been proven. So why waste my tax dollars feeding him 3 times a day and given medical treatment and dental care when needed... Our poor can't get medical/dental or 3 meals a day but our convits can..."What the," is that all about. Mercy is mine saith the Lord...SO-ooo I'm not god. He said that was his job and I'm glad to let him have it...

Answer 6

if there is a death penalty then the death should come within days of the procecution not 20 years later. oh and I also think its barbaric too. no one has the right to kill anyone no matter what. so actually I dont support it at all. I just think that if it has to be, then go all the way, kill them immediately.

Answer 7

How many prisoners were actually innocent that were sitting on death row and at the last minute got a Governors' stay? Just one innocent waiting to die for something he/she didn't do.....that has made an impact of my death - penalty ideas. It has happened in real life, you know! They have executed innocent people before.

Answer 8

Death penalty should have a limitation

If you kill more than one person then you should be killed
If you kill a child you should be killed

Killing an adult....you should be sent to prison for life

Although god said forgive your enemies, he also teaches his disciples that the government is a servant of god and they have the right to bring forth the death sentence.

It also says if a man causes a child to lose faith its better for that person to throw themselves overboard with a stone tied around their neck and drown.

Answer 9

I don't believe in the eye for an eye theory but I also don't agree with the plush conditions murderers get in prison these days. I'm all about the Shawshank Redemption kind of prison. But those days are gone now and murderers get out with a better education than I have thanks to my tax dollars.

Answer 10

I don't agree with the death penalty.