It would seem only logical that a person that is pro-life (on the grounds that human life is inherently sacred) would also oppose the death penalty for the same reasons. it also seems only logical that a person that is pro-choice would not necessarily find the death penalty abhorrent, however, many conservatives support the death penalty and are against abortion and many liberals are against the death penalty but pro-choice.
If you are both pro-life/pro-death penalty or pro-choice/anti-death penalty I would be interested in how you are able to simultaneously hold these two apparently contradictory positions.
2007-07-26 05:49:05 · 23 answers · asked by Free Radical 5 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
.
I think the answer to your question lies in the fact that most people do not use logic when making up their minds about these topics. I agree with you 100%, and, in fact, am pro-life and anti-death-penalty for the very reasons that you name. It would be illogical to be any different.
The most frustrating aspect of this is that almost everyone who knows my opinions on the abortion question assumes that it is religiously based. But it is not. It is based on the sheer logic of the fact that we (as a society) don't allow anyone to kill other people for the sake of convenience, EXCEPT when it comes to mothers killing their own children. This, too, flies in the face of all logic.
I have had debates with people on both topics (abortion and death penalty) and have beaten them into the ground with logic. Then they say to me, "Well, everything you're saying may be correct, but I'm still for it." At that point, you know that logic means nothing in this person's interpretation of the issues.
A long time ago, on Saturday Night Live, when Dennis Miller was doing weekend update, he made a joke about how "conservatives" were okay with killing people via the death penalty but not through abortion. "I guess it's all in the timing," he said, and got a huge laugh. I remember thinking at the time, "and how is it any different for liberals, who are okay with killing innocent people via abortion but not criminals by the death penalty."
My final thought is this: For all the heat that the Catholic Church takes for being against abortion, they are at least logically consistent in that they also oppose the death penalty. So, although the church does not make up my mind for me, I am glad to see that they are logical.
.
2007-07-26 06:13:35 · answer #1 · answered by Musicality 4 · 0⤊ 4⤋
I don't think there's necessarily a logical problem with wanting to save the lives of the most innocent and destroy the lives of the most guilty.
But that's not what I believe. I am pro-choice and anti-death penalty, for reasons I consider completely logical and rational.
I don't think early abortion destroys a 'life' because I don't think a little lump of cells the size of a pinhead is a 'person'. Christians used to disagree on the question of 'when does life begin?' The idea that it begins when the sperm hits the egg is artificial and arbitrary. Consciousness does not develop until about the end of the first trimester, and without consciousness you don't have life. I would rather have a girl have an early abortion than an unwanted child.
And I oppose the death penalty because I think the purpose of a government's crime policy should be to protect society by minimizing crime--not vengeance or 'closure'. And the death penalty has never been shown to be a deterrent to crime, in fact just the opposite.
Sadly both issues have become such political footballs (and religious footballs) that hardly anyone is -logical- about them these days.
2007-07-26 06:03:14 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 3⤋
i don't see the two issues as clearly related as some might.
the problem with the death penalty is not just a belief in the sanctity of life - but rather the money and access related issues that exist in our justice system.
but i do think that some deserve to die, but given the bad track record of our judicial system, i can only wonder how many have been put to death in complete error.
abortion, on the other hand, is largely an 'issue' that parasitic politicians on both sides 'use' to get elected and re-elected.
many issues have complex and muddy origins - even global warming is hard to nail down specifically.
not abortion - literally all of us know exactly what causes abortion - unwanted pregnancies.
when was the last time anyone ever heard of any politician from any party advance an actual plan to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies?
i believe the answer is 'never.'
our politicians simply don't TRY to solve problems any longer.
issues are things that 'belong' to one party or the other, strictly for the purpose of entrenching power.
somewhere along the way, the american people got lost in the shuffle of our govt process.
2007-07-26 05:56:10 · answer #3 · answered by nostradamus02012 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Not necessarily -- at least for the pro-choice contingent. Most of the people who are pro-choice are so because of two core beliefs: 1) that the fetus is not yet a human for the first trimester, and 2) that an actual living, air-breathing human being should have final say over her body, even over the right of the fetus if necessary.
To oppose the death penalty repeats that value--that a living, breathing human being should have final say over his or her body, and nobody else has the right to take his or her life away. We believe life in prison accomplishes the same thing without more killing involved.
Feel free to explain the pro-life/ pro-capital-punishment part to me, though.
2007-07-26 05:55:29 · answer #4 · answered by Vaughn 6 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Personally I do not believe in abortion, however, I believe even stronger not to inflict my moral beliefs on other people. There are so many circumstances that one might choose to abort a baby, it is not my place to condemn or agree with an individuals decision. I definitely dis-agree with the government paying for it.
I do believe that these high-moral pro-life people are the ones who caused abortions to be an issue in the first place. When I was a young man in school, if a young girl got pregnant, she had to leave town. Their family was looked down upon by the church, the school, friends, and the public in general. I can even remember a minister condemning a family openly in church for their young daughter getting pregnant out of wedlock. Now it seems to me, that the same type people are the ones against abortion and against the welfare system to assist the child. If you are going to fight against abortion, then you must fight for programs to help raise the child after it's born. You can't just leave that young mother hanging out to dry.
I can not put abortion and the death penalty in the same category although I do see your point. People on death row put themselves there. They made the choice. They inflicted pain and suffering on others. Maybe you should redirect your question to some of the death-row in-mates victims families. I would love to read their replies on this issue.
2007-07-26 06:33:23 · answer #5 · answered by Brad M 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
If a person is anti-death penalty, they believe that humans have no right to end human life.
If a person is pro-choice, they generally do not believe that a fetus fits the definition of "human life".
There is no contradiction here. Possibly one or both positions are in error, but they do not contradict one another.
2007-07-26 05:56:19 · answer #6 · answered by open4one 7 · 4⤊ 2⤋
Not contradictory at all. In fact, quite simple.
What has the unborn fetus done to warrant the death penalty other than be an inconvenience to an irresponsible woman?
What has the serial killer, murderous molester, or heinous criminal done to warrant three squares a day, a roof over their head, cable TV, work out facility, etc... and free medical care for life, all at my expense?
disclaimer: there are exceptions to the first comment but those are rare and the exception rather than the rule.
2007-07-26 06:30:48 · answer #7 · answered by Iceman 3 · 2⤊ 2⤋
i think a woman should face the consequences if she wasnt taking the proper precautions to prevent pregancy and she didnt want it with her significant other ignorance upsets me greatly in life
however i am pro choice it is there body and in some cases like rape and incest it is feesible however if they could have prevented it with there significant other and still get an abortion i look down on them not only for killing there own child but not having brains enought to prevent it in the first place
And as for the death penalty well im from tx and that explains it all right there i say if a person is willing to commit a crime and kill others then they do not value there own life too much they knew the consequences and still carried out the crime
2007-07-26 05:59:46 · answer #8 · answered by Honey Badger Doesnt give a Shat 5 · 1⤊ 3⤋
A fetus is not a person, you're not "killing" anything. You are choosing NOT to continue the pregnancy.
A human life, however, is most certainly sacred. Therefore, one is not able to justify in any way "death" as a "punishment" especially considering the high percentage of people on death row recently being found innocent with new DNA technology available. How can you live with yourself knowing you are responsible for snuffing out the life of a human being who was executed yesterday, and tomorrow you discover they were innocent?
Not to mention the disgraceful numbers of public defenders who are clearly inept.
Not to mention all the research and data which says, plain as day, that the death penalty IS NOT A DETERRENT.
2007-07-26 05:56:04 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 4⤋
They are 2 separate issues. I think that those that are pro life and pro death penalty probably believe that every fetus deserves a chance at life. On the other hand, there are people who have committed such heinous crimes in their life, that for the good of society and humanity, they have forfeited their right to co exist with other human beings.
2007-07-26 05:54:10 · answer #10 · answered by booman17 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋