What is the Democrats' view on the death penalty?

Answer 1

Many Americans, both Democrats and Republican, are finding out about the practical aspects of the death penalty system and making up their minds based on these. According to a Gallup Poll, in 2006, 47% of all Americans prefer capital punishment while 48% prefer life without parole. (I assume that not all 48% are Democrats.) Here are answers to questions about the practical aspects. The sources are listed below. None of this is partisan.

What about the risk of executing innocent people?
124 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. To be a deterrent a punishment must be sure and swift. The death penalty is neither. Homicide rates are higher in states that have it than in states that do not.

So, what are the alternatives?
Life without parole is now on the books in 48 states. It means what it says. It is sure and swift and rarely appealed. Life without parole is less expensive than the death penalty.

But isn't the death penalty cheaper than keeping criminals in prison?
The death penalty costs much more than life in prison. Extra costs include those 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 and subsequent appeals. There are more cost effective ways to prevent and control crime.

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 124 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.

Answer 2

I'm sure it varies by Democrat. This Democrat believes the death penalty is an appropriate punishment...particularly if deadly force would have been acceptable for preventing the crime.

Too often, we forget how the victim(s) suffered at the hands of the convicted. Our rightful compassion and belief in the sanctity of life clouds our vision and we choose to preserve a life even when it is not worth preserving.

We must be like Atticus Finch when facing a rabid dog. The dog is no longer a dog, but a monster and unfortunately we face the same thing with people. Sometimes the death penaltly is the only way to remove human evil from our midst. We are naive and foolish to think that other humans do not hunt us for the fulfillment of their own twisted desires. Ultimately we have to be smart enough and wise enough to cull them from the human community.

Answer 3

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RE:
What is the Democrats' view on the death penalty?

Answer 4

I don't think they support it that much.

Answer 5

most of them are against it they think we can reform the criminals and let them free that is why crime is so bad because most criminals get out and just do more crime

Answer 6

They are against it unless they know someone murdered. An HARRY is a racist....

Answer 7

Whatever will get them into office.

Answer 8

Weak! They fight for a murdering tyrants right to live, yet champion abortion and the killing of an innocent baby....

Answer 9

they dont like it