What is your opinion on the death penalty?

Question

Do you think it is a fair answer to crime or merely a way of turning ourselves in the very killers we are trying to put down?

apparently not dead for everyone. i have quite recently argued with a bunch of people over the internet about this and i was shocked to see how many people STILL defend the idea of a death penalty. this question is to see what is the opinion of random people on this matter

Answer 1

I was pro-death penalty for a long time, but I have changed my stance over the years, for several reasons:

1. By far the most compelling is this: Sometimes our 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, our 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 2

To Plato, legitimate punishment has 3 aims: to prevent the perpetrator from committing the crime again, to prevent others from committing the crime, and to remunerate the victim's losses.

When we say that a punishment "works", what are we saying? I believe we are saying that it achieves those 3 ends. The death penalty certainly prevents the dead from breaking the law again. But it doesn't affect the crime rate, because murderers (like all criminals) don't consider the extent of their conceivable punishment, only the likelihood of their being caught.

That fact is self-evident from the observation that even serial killers exhibit self-preservation instincts, and wouldn't risk their lives unless the odds of getting caught were quite low. So they're not rationally comparing their gains with the death penalty, they're comparing their gains with the odds of being caught. Likewise, anyone who steals a candy bar or nefariously gets a free refill without paying wouldn't sacrifice their pride in getting caught and publicly shamed unless the situation allowed a low-risk endeavor.

As for the third purpose for punishment, to repay the victim, it has often been noted that killing a murderer does not get the victim back. But there is a deeper level to the symbolic act of rejecting a representative government killing one of its citizens. It's a recognition that life is not a token which we trade for good behavior; life is not a "gift" from some benevolent government decree; life is an inherent part of humanity and existence.

For the religious, 1 Corinthians 13:5 says that "real love keeps no record of wrongs." And then there's

"For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." (Matthew 6:14,15)

"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ, God forgave you." (Ephesians 4:32)

Answer 3

There are 2 explanations for opposing the demise penalty which the Majority of the UK populace agree on, which used to be why the demise penalty used to be abolished in 1998. they're: one million. Inhumanity. It is imposssible for a state to homicide any one and preserve the ethical 'prime floor' two. Miscarriage of justice: if whatever is going flawed, and it does move flawed in capital instances, the character who's completed cant come again.

Answer 4

If someone is found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt...and there is DNA evidence to back it up, then I am all for the death penalty. It will reduce the crime rate. If you don't believe so, just take a look at the crime rates in countries who practice it on a routine basis.

And, we are NOT anywhere near like the killers on trial, since they have been given a fair trial and judged by their peers based on the laws of our land....unlike the victims of their crimes!

We've forgotten justice and the rights of the victims!

Answer 5

Normally I would support the death penalty except for one fact. When you kill someone, you can't punish them beyond that. They no longer are able to think of what they did and can no longer be punished for it. Oh I know what you are thinking. One can't loose more than ones life. And that's the ultimate price. But if they're no longer alive and with us, we have simply given them a way out that they would have ultimately arrived at at some point in time in the future anyway. If they did a heinous crime, lock them up for the rest of their life and let them set and think about it. That way we have controle of their lives while they are with us. They most likely will turn Christian and repent before they are executed anyhow, so therefor God won't punish them when they die. They get a easy way out and we missed the chance we had when they were alive in prison. Think about it. Execute them to get rid of them, or imprison them to punish them!

Answer 6

In my opinion, the death penalty is fair in most cases. The crime that the person did to deserve this was reasonable for this consequence. people do not just steal a piece of bubble gum to get the death penalty, they had to do something majorly illegal and unethical...not to mention evil. In conclusion, I believe that it is fair just as long as they have the right person. Thank you for your time and consideration. What a wonderful question.

Answer 7

I absolutely do believe in it. Death penalty is for people like murderers, who arent as stupid as we might think. Although chances of escape from prison are small, it can (and does) happen, and they end up killing more people.
For instance,Ted Bundy represented himself in court. He obtained permission to visit out of prison libraries for court research. When his guards went out for a smoke, thinking he wasnt going anywhere, Ted jumped out a two story window, and escaped for weeks. During that period, surprise, more victims.
If he had been put to death, that would never have happened. Which makes me mad about how long they wait to just put them to death.
In states with the death penalty, criminals know the consequences. If they commit murder, they must not care if the death penalty is waiting for them.

Answer 8

I think the death penalty is the right thing and is totally fair. I think if you kill a person, why should you not be given the death penalty. In my opinion, all murders should result in the death penalty.

Answer 9

Absolutely support it for violent crime. It works. When is the last time you heard of anyone who has been executed committing another crime? Never, guaranteed.

How often do we hear of violent criminals who are realeased, or put through rehab, and then kill or rape again? As far as I am concerned there is no excuse good enough to give them a second chance at another victim and destroying another life.

Answer 10

Keep the Death Penalty
I don't want to pay for prisoners to live out their days in a cell costing the citizen tax dollars
just kill them and call it for the people
but that's only my opinion