Atheists/Skeptics.Why Wouldn't you support Death Penalty in your Country for those who kill more than once?

Question

I was wondering why Death Penalty was abolished in some countries -- maybe I am too young to understand that's why I need your opinions especially for those in the European Union

I know what Religious People would say (sorry -- I don't believe in any religion).

Now, my question is for those who believe or at least "suspect" :) that this is the one and only life we have.

1. (Just answering a wrong view about Atheists/Skeptics about Life) Non- religious people appreciate "this Life" because the majority of us don't believe in AFTERLIFE .

Answer 1

I am atheist and I would support the death penalty for those who kill more than once and paedophiles. (the latter being of no fit use for any purpose)

Answer 2

Regardless if one thinks capital punishment is morally wrong or not, studies have shown that it's not an effective deterent of crime. Sure, that person can no longer commit crimes, but he couldn't do so if he were imprisoned for life either. It's actually kind of ironic that the US is the last bastion of the industrialized world that still practices the death penalty when we are the ones who created the present prison system in the first place because we thought the death penalty was cruel and overused.
The thing is, that there are much more effective ways of rehabilitating inmates and detering crime. The US's high crime rate shows that whatever we're doing isn't working.
The other thing is the "what-if-he-didn't-do-it" thing. There have been many people released after serving years in prison after new evidence was found to exhonerate them. Now, if they had already been executed, then what? "Oops, sorry about that. We'll buy you a new tomb stone and clear your record."
Revenge killing is barbaric and hasn't been shown to substantially help closure of victims families in any way.

Answer 3

I would support the death penalty if the case could be proven without a shadow of a doubt and if the crime was murder.

I do not see any point in keeping someone locked up for life.
I do not believe that the death penalty is a deterrent to crime just an effective way of dealing with the perpetrators of crime.

Some people would argue that keeping someone looked up for murder punishes the offender but I feel that all the punishment in the world doesn't bring back the victim.

The death penalty is an emotive subject I suppose there are no right or wrong answers.You just have to respect each to their own.

I am not religous at all but I believe in morality.

Answer 4

Life without parole is now available in 48 states in the USA. It means what it says and it incapacitates killers (prevents them from re-offending.) Here are a few verifiable and sourced facts about the death penalty.

The American experience does provide some practical reasons to replace the death penalty with life without parole.

Re: Possibility of executing an innocent person
Over 120 people on death rows have been released with evidence of their innocence, many having 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 the real criminal is still out there and will have successfully avoided being charged.

Re: DNA
DNA is available in less than 10% of murder cases. It’s not a miracle cure for sentencing innocent people to death. It’s human nature to make mistakes.

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: 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, 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: 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.

Answer 5

If you don't have an religious beliefs, then you probably wouldn't be against it...as life would mean nothing. So asking your question the way you did, in the negative, is backwards. Better than "Why wouldn't you" (which assumes the person asked, wouldn't support it) it's better to say "Would you?" which allows the person a choice.
Personally I don't give life, I don't have the right to take it...but on the other hand, some people are such a danger to themselves and others, they certainly are surplus to requirements.

Answer 6

I dont believe in the death penalty for several reasons. First I think it sends the message that killing is ok. It perpetuates the cycle of violence. Secondly, innocent people are executed at least occasionally. I do believe this is the only life we have. I also believe that if someone has murdered someone else they need to be removed from society and not given the chance to kill again.

Answer 7

I'm an atheist - and I certainly belive in the death penalty for multiple offenders. If someone chooses to lead (their one and only) life a certain way - they must be able to deal with the consequences of their actions just like anyone else would be expected to.

Answer 8

Why wouldn't I support the death penalty in my country for those who kill ? at all? ever? regardless of If it was a repeat offence?

Because human beings are fallible.
Even if a case could be proven without a shadow of a doubt, i still do not think that it is a wise idea.

Someone does something abhorrent and then they die. They never have to live with themselves, they never realise the implications of what they have done, they never suffer, and they are never sorry.

Also i don't see that if killing is illegal and forbidden, who it can be sanctioned in some cases. Call it murder or call it execution - i don't think a true distinction can be made when what we're really talking about is depriving a human being of the right to live.

And for that matter I don't support the death penalty in anyone else's country either.

Answer 9

im for and against it, reason is i worked at a correctional institute for 11 years and when the judge gives you life its not worth it trust me most lifers will tell you that they would rather have the death penalty than stay in prison for life, and the only ones that dont want the death penalty have this idea of escaping and that is the only thing that will keep them going, prisons are getting worse and worse, when they started administration segregation is when it really got bad, if you messed up they dont send you to the hole for a few weeks they send you to isolation for up to two years and that is no way to live, by the time you get out you are completely broken mentally and physically,

added: when they put you in adminstration segregation you are sent to a cell with nothing but you hygene, imagine being stuck in your bathroom with just your clothes and toothbrush for two years and that is if you dont get any cases, you never get sleep everybody is yelling and hollering inmates throwing crap at you literaly, death penalty is just a way out

Answer 10

I dont support the Death Penalty as I dont believe that state sponsored murder is effective as a deterent and I dont believe it is ethical.

I am British and athiest.