Capital punishment , is it worth it?

Question

I have always been against the death punishment , but I changed my mind a month ago.

In Cairo , Egypt , a street gangster - partially vagabond , partially hoodlum , partially hobo , just the type u would see constantly drinking & vomiting under a bridge - with the name of Ramadan the Turbine. This low-life figure, raped , burned , maimed , threw from moving trains , an identified number of homeless kids "between 15 & 32". He was sentenced to death sentence.

After 30 + years of being against death sentence, I think he deserves it.

Does he?

Answer 1

I have a unique take on the death penalty.

In Egypt, this guy will probably be killed within 6 months. He deserves it.

This same guy in the U.S. would be in court for the next 15-20 years running up huge court bills on the our dime. All that time he would be staying in a very very expensive isolated area of prison. Expenses for prisoners on death row are 20-50 times higher than a lifer costs. When all is said and done, his chances of actually getting executed are somewhere around 50% (thats assuming he lost all his appeals). This can be caused by a pardon, law change...etc.

When we get our act together on managing this process, I will be for it, until then I vote for life in prison over the DP

Answer 2

I'm actually the mirror image of you. I think the urge to see the perpetrator of a horrendous crime killed is a normal and understandable human reaction. Indeed, I used to be pro-death penalty, but I have changed my stance over the years, for several reasons:

1. By far the most compelling is this: Sometimes the legal system gets it wrong. Look at all the criminals who are being released after years of imprisonment because they were exonerated by DNA evidence. No matter how rare it is, the government should not risk executing one single innocent person.

Really, that should be reason enough for most reasonable people. If you need more, read on:

2. Because of the extra expense of prosecuting a DP case and the appeals process (which is necessary - see reason #1), it costs taxpayers MUCH more to execute prisoners than to imprison them for life.

3. The deterrent effect is questionable at best. Violent crime rates are actually higher in death penalty states. This may seem counterintuitive, but think about the mixed message it sends: we’re trying to take a stand against murder…by killing people. The government becomes the bad parent who says, ‘do as I say, not as I do.’

4. There’s also an argument to be made that death is too good for the worst of our criminals. Let them wake up and go to bed every day of their lives in a prison cell, and think about the freedom they DON’T have, until they rot of old age.

5. The U.S. government is supposed to be secular, but for those who invoke Christian law in this debate, you can find arguments both for AND against the death penalty in the Bible. For example, Matthew 5:38-39 insists that violence shall not beget violence. 1 Peter 3:9 argues AGAINST “eye for an eye”-type justice. Leviticus 19:18 warns against vengeance (which, really, is what the death penalty amounts to). In John 8:7, Jesus himself says, "let he who is without sin cast the first stone."

Answer 3

I still oppose the death penalty, I have not always opposed it, but now i do.

Several dozen men who had been on death row for years had to be released in the last four decades because it was proven that they were NOT in fact the perpetrators of he crimes for which they were convicted.

I have a way I could begin to approve of the death penalty, but I doubt many of its staunchest proponents would go for it. It involves the judge; the prosecution (witnesses and attorneys); and the jury all agreeing to themselves be executed if it is ever demonstrated that the person they decided to put to death was not in fact guilty.


What do you say?

Answer 4

The death penalty should be carried out immediately after sentence.No death row! No waiting 10 years until they have exhausted all appeals.Cheaper for all of us and gets the low lifes off the planet.

Answer 5

Absolutely! I am all for the death penalty for predators such as this. As long as there is undisputable evidence that the accused was the perpetrator. Too many times innocent people have been put to death. Just be absolutely sure because you can't take it back.

Answer 6

It took you 30 years to figure it out? The one sure fact is, if the s.o.b. is put to death, he will NEVER harm anyone again. There is no other punishment that can make that claim

Answer 7

Damm skippy. I'm willing to kick the DP discussion around. BUt when you have people raping and killing kids, it's time to end the discussion and drag out the needle.

Answer 8

that felon will NEVER offend again.
needful for the sexual predators of children as they cannot change and I won't pay to monitor their behavior 24/7.

Answer 9

The death penalty was never revoked in the Bible.

When you put people in prison for life the chance of them getting out is possible. You have to feed them, guard them, give them medical care, give them their "rights", such as a college education, color tv, the list goes on...and on.

For example look at Norigia in jail in Florida. He is lolling around in luxury on your tax dollars....a convicted drug dealer.
he destroyed many lives with drugs and you want him to live.?


The death penalty is a deterrent ....the criminal is not longer around to commit another crime.

Answer 10

In that type of situation it's difficult not to want that person dead. Does he deserve it? Probably, but we are not the ones to judge that. Should this man be put away and never let out? Of course. He is evil and we need to protect our children and ourselves first.

The question you have to ask is "Is life sacred, or isn't it?" I believe it is and while sometimes it may be necessary to kill in order to protect oneself, in this instance, that is not the case. The man has been detained and as long as he stays detained society is now safe from him.

To kill him at this point is nothing short of revenge, and while I understand the motivation behind this, it does not make it right.