To those who are anti Death Penalty?

Question

Are you against the death penalty or are some crimes acceptable to put someone to death. An extreme case would be Gary Ridgway who admitted to killing 48 women. Now from what I understand, he's negotiated a life sentence but do serial killers quality for the death sentence. (with no doubt to their guilt)

Starla: I don't think your right. His plea bargain spared him the death sentence in exchange for helping locate victims bodies and to confess to having killed all 48 women.

Thanks all for your answers. I like hearing the other side and how people think about hot topics.

Answer 1

I oppose the death penalty because the system has so many flaws and it is not an effective way to prevent or reduce crime.
I believe that killers should be severely punished. Here are answers to some of the questions often asked about the 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.

Answer 2

I used to be in favor of capital punishment (Even though I'm a liberal), as I felt, as you seemingly do that some crimes deserve nothing less, and if you know the person did the crime, then why not? If the murderer broke the agreement with society that life is precious, then it should be OK to treat him or her the same way, right?

What made me change my mind? The realization that sometimes we convict the wrong person, as we all know by now. And the moral belief that its better to keep someone who deserves to die alive than it is to kill someone who doesn't deserve it.

Ah, you say, but what of those we know to be guilty? That's just the point. Everyone who's been wrongly convicted has been known to be guilty until they're cleared. If they're executed before they're cleared, that's a mistake you can't correct. And while there are certainly convicts whose guilt is unquestionable, it is simply too great a price for society to pay to take the chance of ending an innocent person's life. After all, isn't that why we'd be punishing these people?

Answer 3

The death penalty is a waste of money, and time. It costs millions to use the death penalty. The costs of lawyers, time, expenses, appeals, and the result is the convict waits years in jail. the death penalty was put on the books to deter criminals from committing crimes. Well if the criminal waits 20yrs in jail, and gets all the appeals to keep him in jail, what is the deterrent. Most prosecutor's try to go for life without parole instead.

For the death penalty to work we need to increase the numbers. Start cooking them after their first appeal. Let Old Sparky do his trick.

Texas is exempt from the answer.

Answer 4

Gary Ridgeway's case was not negotiated. The state he was convicted in did away with the death sentence and he was communited to life in prison.

The death penalty should be carried out when there is not doubt to the guilt of murders.

Answer 5

I am against the death penalty, but my stance has nothing to do with the severity of the offender's crimes - in fact, I would agree that some crimes are severe enough that the person committing them probably deserves to be put to death.

What bothers me is, who then has the right to declare and perform the death penalty? To whom do we want to give the power to determine who lives and who dies, and can we really trust them indefinitely to make wise and correct decisions? Personally, I'm not comfortable with giving anyone that level of power, so I oppose the death penalty on the grounds that I don't find anyone worthy of carrying it out.

Answer 6

I am against the death penalty in every way. Putting someone to death is giving them an easy way out of it.

That man who killed all those women deserves to be locked in a room in a body cast and watch clips of every death report and look at pictures of every body for the rest of his life, not to be killed.


To kill someone for what they did is no better than what they did. Even if they killed millions, it's still an easy way out. So, yes. All crimes shouldn't have the option of the death penalty or capital punishment.

Answer 7

i feel that when one man or woman takes the lives of another individual there life should be stopped as well, when these people decide to take a life they are taking there loved ones souls as well. I agree with the death penalty, but i believe it should be used for paedophiles as well any person the can have any little thought in there mind of touching or hurting a child should be put to death.

Answer 8

On people like Gary Ridgway (or child molestors or those who torture people) I think torture would be more appropriate. Death seems like such an easy way out for them. I still believe in an eye for an eye in most cases. If someone rapes an old lady, beats her, cuts her and pours salt in the cuts (this was an actual case) I think it should be done to them (except for the rape). Let them feel the pain they thought somone else deserved.

Answer 9

No, because the idea that you would only use the death penalty in extreme circumstances (like a convicted serial killer) is a fantasy. Judge's are not unbiased (black men are disproportionately sentenced to death in this country), and they have no business determining who lives and who dies.

Answer 10

I think knowing you have to live the rest of your life in prison with absolutly no chance of ever being free again is way worse than the death penalty. with the death penalty your just dead and dont have to deal with nothing