Why do you think the USA is one of the last countries that still has the death penalty?

Question

Wow. Err. Only two of you appear to have read the question. Spin again!

So I'm hearing a lot of "At least we don't kill people in horrible ways" as a defense. This is kind of like Hitler saying "At least I only killed Jews. I could have gone after French people too!"
Listen to yourselves!

Answer 1

78% christian.


nuff said

Wow, this question got brutal quickly. Looks like this one's a sore spot for some!

Answer 2

I think it is because we are an immature country compared to others, simply because we are a lot younger. We are the youngest country to hold great power, which suggests to me that we, as a nation, have not yet reached the point where we understand that it is simply wrong. Considering how quickly we excel in other areas, however, I think we will end the death penalty here in much shorter time than other nations did in their history.

What is shocking is that Americans can look at a President that supports and has used the Death Penalty and somehow think he is pro-life. It is disturbing how well propaganda still works even on so many modern, educated people.

Peace!

Answer 3

The death penalty in the USA is not cruel at all. That is, if you don't consider, that getting injected with poison and you slowly feel the poison necrotizing your body as cruel. Or your lungs being filled with poisonous gas, making your last minutes of your life struggling to breathe air.
Did you know the newest invention in electrical chairs is a chair that has a recipient under where allthe body fluids can pour into? It's also made of glass so it's easy to clean.
Really, don't tell me the US death penalty is not cruel. Why of all ways to kill a person to they choose those horrific ones? (This is directed at some answerers not the asker.)

Why is death penalty still custom in the US? Because despite the US arrogant demeanor of thinking they are the most enlightened beings on the world and they should enforce their enlightenment to the rest of the world, they do not care to judge themselves like they judge the rest of the world. It's a lack of reflection about themselves.

Answer 4

Last countries? Hardly. Maybe last of the western countries, but as a whole humanity has a long way to go. At this point, it almost seems like the US is keeping it around for old time's sake, or just plain stubbornness. So few people are actually executed now - what, 400 in 30 years? And there is such a fuss with every one. No studies show it's making a difference, and it is such a long and expensive process it hardly seems worth the effort.

On the other hand, it does make for good drama TV.

Answer 5

In much of western Europe, where there is a parliamentary system of government, elected leaders got rid of the death penalty decades ago. No doubt many of the citizens did not agree with this, but single issue voting is less effective in Europe than in the USA. Since abolition, overwhelming numbers of people in Europe have seen that they are at least as safe as they were before and have come to oppose it.

Here are some facts about the death penalty that Americans are beginning to find out- all are verifiable and sourced-

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 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: 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 6

America is not one of the last countries still to have the death penalty. It is one of many countries that still do.
However, America is the only country that add cruelty to the sentence by making these poor souls live on death row in various prisons for years on end before acting on the sentence. Imagine how it must feel to wake up every morning & not know if this is the day they tell you when you will die. Remember this can go on for 20 years & more. I call that cruel & unnatural treatment.

Answer 7

You are correct that the USA is one of the few remaining western/first world countries that's still has a death penalty. We should be setting an example... not just doing it more nicely than beheading and such.

I remain undecided on the death penalty... it's a hard concept. Do I like all the Texas executions of retarded people? NO.

If I personally caught someone sexually assaulting a child, I would probably shoot them myself... so...

I'm a hypocrite... and I admit it.

Answer 8

wow U RETARDS never read this guys Q right he said why do u think USA is one of the LAST countries he didint say it was the only countrie that enforced it i think becoz to put fear in to people i do agree on the death pentaly just try living in the uk were everyone walks free and the prisoins r over croward my soulutin bring the death penty bak to those who murder the inicont for no reasson

Answer 9

Well, it may be an indigenous influence. Many in my culture still see it as a way of balancing things out---if a life was taken, that of the killer has to be taken in order to keep things even. If they aren't even, then justice can't happen. I see it this way as well--if you take a life, yours will be taken to avenge the death.

It's simply a cultural difference. We are not Europeans, and some of us don't want to be. We're not the same kind of people, and you can expect our ways of life to be different. And we have the right to that.

Answer 10

It's puzzling. Every modern civilized country abolished the death penalty a long time ago.

Answer 11

Abolishing the death penalty has to do with
understanding and culture!
Look at the clown in the White House and his cronies!
Any more questions?

Looking at the above answers I have to add a thought:
It has never helped to point at others who commit the
same stupidities and crimes!!!

You are welcome