Why is it that those American states that have the death penalty generally have the highest murder rates?

Question

They are also opposed to abortion, animal rights, environmental rights, child rights, gun control, gay rights. They are defined more by what they oppose than by what they support.
SEE ALSO.
http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/article.php?scid=12&did=169#MRord

Answer 1

Joe C and opalesce have asked for statistics. Here is where to find them: http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/state/
for info on which states have the death penalty, and how many executions occurred in each of these states.
http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/state/
To compare to crime statistics, visit
http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/05cius/offenses/standard_links/regional_estimates.html, the FBI Uniform Crime Report for 2005. (As of now, the latest availalbe stats are 2005. Preliminary stats are available for 2006.) Stats found here can be compared to stats on the number of executions in different states.
As for the reason for higher crime rates in death penalty jurisdictions, it may have to do the search for things that look like easy solutions, and a lack of political will to find out what works.

Here are answers to some questions that are often asked about the issues surrounding the death penalty system. The sources are listed below.

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. Americans are learning about the system we are making up our minds based on facts, not eye for an eye sound bites.

Answer 2

You can't prove a negative. Who's to say it wouldn't be even higher without these implementations? Are you willing to risk it? What if we get rid of the second amendment and the death penalty and crimes rates soar? What then? What if YOU become a victim shortly afterwards? Are you going to feel the same? What if the one thing that would have saved you or your friends/family was a firearm. What then? Jails are full to capacity because people commit crimes. It's just as simple as that.

Answer 3

Aside from these statistics that show a correlation between state murder rates and capital punishment,there is also a high correlation between Christian fundamentalist states in the Bible Belt and gun deaths and capital punishment in addition to relationships already mentioned.

No matter what statistical data is looked at,the southern states and especially the Bible Belt states lead the country in most of the negatives socio-economic indicators.

Equally astounding in respect to popular belief is that the northern states that are a relative bastion of sound morals ,family values etc etc.

The monumental and outrageous hypocricy of these Christian fundies is simply criminal.

Here are but a few more facts.

Divorce rates are lowest in the north especially in Mass.where the rate is 2.4/1000 .The highest divorce rates are in Arkansas,N.Carolina,Arizona,Florida,Okla.,S.Carolina and Texas where rates of divorce are DOUBLE the national average of 4.2/1000.

Catholics and Jews have the lowest divorce rates at around 21% while the FAMILY VALUE FUNDY hypocrites are at 29 %.

On average ,couples in the South marry at much younger ages than those in the north .

Average income on average is significantly lower than the northern states on average and lower than the country's average.

Needless to say ,some of the lowest levels of education and highest levels of iliteracy are found in the Bible Belt South and this fact alone goes a long way in answering the question WHY ?

Births by teenagers in Texas for example is 16.1 / 1000 while in Mass. it is 7.4.Some references at : WWW.dailykos.com/story/2004/12/6/14578/107.

Christian Fundies by the very statistics are nothing but a bunch of moralizing "holier-than-thou" hypocrites who have NOTHING to teach anyone else about family values or anything related to same.

To the Christian fundies I say I shut up and clean up your own filthy,polluted,hypocricy ridden reeking back yard before you point fingers anywhere else.

Remember "Blessed are the Humble.." .Sorry ,I forgot you are Old Testament folk where Christ does NOT exist.

Answer 4

The USA in general also has a higher murder rate than countries that don't let every Tom, Dick & Harry own a gun.

Capital punishment is uncivilised and barbaric. I can't understand why any country is sill using it.

Answer 5

First, wouldn't it be reasonable for for states with high crime rates to respond with the strongest punishments?

They are not defined by what they oppose any more than you are; being against gun control is being FOR gun rights.
Being gainst gay rights is being FOR "traditional values."

I don't agree with them, but you are being unfair and disingenuous.

Answer 6

An excellent question.
Let's read what the mouth-breathers have to say about that shall we?

Answer 7

Your "source" does not state where they get their information. That generally makes it an invalid resource in my book.

Answer 8

hmmm...don't know wait are you talking about texas, yeah good old texas crzy mo fo's

Answer 9

And why don't you seek treatment for your liberal condition?

Where are the statistics for your claims, in your head?

Answer 10

You generalize and that is ignorant.