Should the USA ban the death penalty?

Answer 1

Hmm not sure. But I think some prisoners should fight to the death in a thunder dome, or even a game show like in Running man.

Answer 2

Yes it should. Some of the answers you have received are wrong on several points. Here are answers to some of the questions that are often asked about the death penalty system. The sources are listed below.

Isn't the death penalty cheaper than keeping criminals in prison? (Many people are mistaken about this, including William B and bsumner2003)
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? (I hope that commie will rethink this.)
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 and we are making up our minds based on facts, not eye for an eye sound bites.

Answer 3

I know alot of people believe that an eye for an eye makes for a blind world but I am a VERY firm believer in the death penalty and SHAME on the states that have banned it already. I think a person who takes the life of another deserves to die and very QUICKLY. It irks me that my tax dollars are paying to educate them or whatever when they should die like in the old west. A short rope within a week

Answer 4

Yes. Its a waste of time. A guy gets convicted and sentenced to death. He's kept in a single cell in solitary confinement for decades until all of his appeals and collateral attacks are exhausted.

His case costs the taxpayers millions ontop of his maintenance costs (prison, guards, health care, etc.).

Why go through all of that and clog up the court system? Put the dude in with the general population and force him to survive in that snake pit everyday of his life.

Now that's cruel.

Answer 5

I belive in an eye for an eye......... there should be a proper time to really be sure that they have right person
Except for being on the street, prisoners can ge anything that they could get if they were free, why should we make murders comfortable, whatever happened to bread and water? Why should we worry if we are being humane, after all they did not give a second thought to taking a life. I say let'm fry

Answer 6

I think that we should do the opposite of banning it. it should be more painful.

I think this because if someone has earned the death penalty
then they did something wrong and should feel the pain for the crime that they did.

not killing them punishes us more than them because we need to pay for them to be in prison.

Answer 7

It should be banned:
First, they should be made to suffer in prison, not go to their rest.
Second, they should be made to repay society for what they have done, even if only in a small way.
Third, they should have every opportunity to find God so that they don't HAVE to burn in Hell for all eternity. (I can imagine Hitler there, but not after the first couple of million years, not FOREVER. I cannot imagine any crime that has that as a punishment).
Fourth, I couldn't pull the switch myself - could YOU?

Answer 8

the death penalty should be used for all violent crimes immediatly after the person is found guilty

Answer 9

ABSOLUTELY!!! If only for the reason that innocent people DO get convicted and sentenced to death. If we kill one innocent person, that is one too many!

Answer 10

No, we should execute more criminals and expand that list to all sex offenders.

Then make it public...ppv or on HBO or something to that effect.

I like Dan's idea best.