Why don't people like the Death penalty?

Question

Shouldn't we just kill people that do drugs, and commit seroius crimes, such as murder, and rape? What purpose do they serve? (If I were king, there would be many dead, and few bad people.)

If it was unsure as to whether or not someone has commited a crime, it would be simply solved by letting them go, and waiting until they do something again, and then killing them if they ever do commit a crime again..

Answer 1

People have grown way to soft. I agree, they should use the death penalty for people that commit terrible acts like taking anothers life, just so long as the evidence is solid. People who rape should get their thingy chopped off. People that steal, chop their hands off. People that do Drugs, leave them alone, unless they are crackheads, shoot the crackheads.
Pot is awesome and pills are great every once in a while. Just don't over do it, ya know?

Answer 2

As far as I'm concerned, drugs should be legal. People that take drugs are harming only themselves, and I see no reason why they shouldn't be allowed to do that.

For other serious crimes, my main objection is that I don't think that we as a society have the right to kill people, except in self defense. I'm not saying that a murderer deserves to live, most probably don't. I'm just saying that it is not our right to kill them. Life without parole will prevent them from ever committing another crime.

As a secondary reason, you can never be 100% sure that everyone you kill is guilty. Another reason is that in practice, the death penalty and justice system as a whole hasn't been imposed fairly. Poor people get inferior legal help and are more likely to be convicted and punished more harshly than rich people who can afford good lawyers.

Answer 3

There are practical problems with this issue. People ask all kinds of interesting questions about it. Here are some of those, with answers and sources (listed below.)

None of this contradicts the belief that we cannot tolerate the brutal acts that you have talked about.

Isn't the death penalty cheaper than keeping criminals in prison?
The death penalty costs much more than life in prison. Much of the extra costs is due to the complicated nature of both the pre trial investigation and of the trials (involving 2 separate stages, mandated by the Supreme Court) in death penalty cases. There are more cost effective ways to prevent and control crime.

What about the risk of executing innocent people?
Over 120 people on death rows have been released with evidence of their innocence, many having already served over 2 decades on death row.

Doesn't DNA keep new cases like these from happening?
DNA is available in less than 10% of all homicides. It is not a guarantee against the execution of innocent people.

Doesn't the death penalty prevent others from committing murder?
No reputable study shows the death penalty to be a deterrent. Homicide rates are higher in states that have it than in states that do not. Most killers don't think about the consequences anyway. They do not think they will be caught (if they think at all.)

So, what are the alternatives?
Life without parole is now on the books in 48 states. It means what it says. Supermax prisons are terrible places to spend the rest of your life. Life without parole is less expensive than the death penalty.

What about the very worst crimes?
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??

Doesn't the death penalty help families of murder victims?
Not necessarily. Murder victim family members across the country argue that the drawn-out death penalty process is painful for them and that life without parole is an appropriate alternative.

So, why don't we speed up the process?
Many of the 123 innocent people released from death row had already been there for over 2 decades. If the process is speeded up we are sure to execute an innocent person.

But don’t Americans prefer the death penalty as the most serious punishment?
Not any more. People are rethinking their views, given the facts and the records on innocent people sentenced to death. According to a Gallup Poll, in 2006, 47% of all Americans prefer capital punishment while 48% prefer life without parole.

Answer 4

There have been many rulers like you think you would be, but the method you describe has not passed the test of time. In fact, the Death Penalty has not passed the test of time. Humans have been killing each other for millions of years and it never stop people from getting killed away.
In fact, the Western Democracy's like Germany, Canada and France don't have the Death Penalty and they have far fewer murders in their society than we do.
America is the champion murder Capital of the Western World without even any competition. In the US, the number of gun deaths per year is more than all the gun deaths in all the European Countries in the World. We are a murderous society in the eyes of the World at this point, because it looks like we believe in murder, state operated murder is the way to go so many Americans believe.
Two many cowboy movies I guess. I for one am going to be angry if someone shoots me and I die.

Answer 5

Some people do heinous things in life and should be punished for it. There is question about people on death row who might really be innocent, but who really knows. As for the drug users, that's an even stickier question. I think that if you are so addicted that you can't live a normal life taking care of yourself and only think about the next fix then you are worthless and possibly sub-human. Just my feelings from my own experience.

Answer 6

there were two cases where the people were innocent and died. Two is too many, it could happen many times. who are you to decide who can die and who lives? People who do drugs and steal need the opportunity to learn from their mistakes and change. Murderers and rapists though, should be stuck in jail forever and be rid of all freedom, luxury, and rights.

Answer 7

i say, if a person rapes an innocent woman/person, molests a baby, kills people, and they are proven without a shadow of a doubt that they are guilty, fry them. but first, put the child molestors in the pen for a year. men and women who miss and love their children don't take to kindly to people who would do such horrible things. also, if a person is going to get life in prison with no chance of parole, they should be put to death. what's the point of spending our tax dollars on sheltering and feeding them for the rest of their lives?
and one person said that the Bible says "thou shalt not kill". yeah, sweetie, but it also says "An eye for an eye"

Answer 8

I really don't think that people who use drugs deserve to die. Murder, rape, maybe. But you're saying that every high-school kid who's tried weed or ecstasy should be sent to the electric chair? Come on.

Answer 9

Don't know about just for drugs but more seroius crimes sounds good to me.

Answer 10

Thou Shalt Not Kill. Send the druggies to Amsterdam. Send the rapists to prison. They don't serve a purpose. It's not our decision to make whether they live or die though.