Do you agree with Capital Punishment?

Question

I personally do if there is 100% solid evidence that they have committed the crime, people who rape, murder and molest in my opinion do not deserve to breathe the air

Answer 1

I was pro-capital punishment 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 the legal system gets it wrong. Look at all the people who have been released after years of imprisonment because they were exonerated by DNA evidence. Unfortunately, DNA evidence is not available in most cases. No matter how rare it is, the government should not risk executing one single innocent person.

Really, that should be reason enough for most 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, and there are many theories about why this is (Ted Bundy saw it as a challenge, so he chose Florida – the most active execution state at the time – to carry out his final murder spree). Personally, I think it has to do with the hypocrisy of taking 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. When Ted Bundy was finally arrested in 1978, he told the police officer, “I wish you had killed me.”

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. James 4:12 says that God is the only one who can take a life in the name of 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

The death penalty isn't an effective way of preventing or reducing crime and it risks executing innocent people. The system has numerous flaws that have led to innocent people being sentenced to death. Human beings aren't perfect and make mistakes. Here are answers to questions about practical aspects of the system with sources below.

What about the risk of executing innocent people?
124 people on death rows have been released with evidence of their innocence.

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 and regions 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, mostly because of the legal process. When the death penalty is a possible sentence, extra costs mount up even before trial, continuing through the uniquely complicated trial (actually 2 separate stages, mandated by the Supreme Court) in death penalty cases, and appeals.

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?
Over 50 of the innocent people released from death row had already served over a decade. If the process is speeded up we are sure to execute an innocent person.

Answer 3

Well, in the Old Testament, The Lord says that whoever kills another person intentionaly, must lose their life too. I think it's fair, as the victim was not given a chance either. I know that God can forgive even the most monstruous crime if the person repents truly, but He doesn't say anything about being saved from the punishment. Remember that the criminal who was at the cross, next to Jesus, was given the promise to be in Paradise on that same day, but he still dies the awful death on the cross.

Answer 4

No, I do not agree with capital punishment, i think that it is a sad thing that uncivilized cultures have to resort to, out of all the western civilized nations, such as those in europe the americas, and others the United States is the ONLY ONE WITH CAPITAL PUNISHMENT. The western nations all see it as a barbaric institution that should be abolished and thus nearly all of them have. I do think that only under the most extreme cicumstances should something even close to capital punishment be allowed, such as castration for rapists. For a guy death is alot better then being castrated. Capital Punishment goes against every religion out there, since life is seen as sacred in every religion. The USA claims to be the most sophisticated and cultured nation in the world, but people do not realise that it is cultured yes but its not one culture its many cultures all sectioned off in their own areas. And sophistication is not exactly very high on the USA's list of how to improve its image, many in the usa are not sophisticated in any way, you can go to europe and see many tourists from america and they act rude to everyone they meet because they believe since they are from a nation that is one of the superpowers that they are better then everyone which is not true.

Answer 5

If we had a system the could nearly perfectly identify the perpetrators of some crimes, I could go along with it. There are things that warrant nothing less than death. However, we are so far from perfect in identifying perpetrators that it is pathetic. The number of persons on death row who are acquitted by DNA evidence each year that was untestable at the time of their conviction is awful.
Also, the more scandalous the case, the more likely we are to call for the death penalty, and paradoxically, the more likely we are to wantonly convict on insufficient evidence.

Answer 6

Yes I do,, however the system here in the US is flawed. I only believe it should be used when there is so much overwhelming evidence that someone is guilty of murder. People have been sent off for little evidence.

Answer 7

Yes however it takes way too long to carry out. But I have a whole theory on our so called justice system that would take hours to go into. Basically criminals should not live better than innocent children. Meaning they shouldnt get cable, a/c, pools, tennis courts, so much access to varying foods and what not when we have starveing children whose only crime is being born.

Answer 8

I think death is an easy way out. A life behind bars to think and consider all of the horrible things you have done is a much better punishment.

Also people shouldn't be judged by the most horrible thing they have done. It was only one moment of their lifes, maybe they have more to give to the human race: IE a cure for some disease, a great new invention,or something else.

Answer 9

I agree w/ capital punishment depending on the situation. Some people deserve to be sentenced for their entire lives while other people deserve an "eye for an eye". It all depends on the case.

Answer 10

Honestly I do not agree with CP.. I don't see where 2 wrongs ever make a right for one.

I don't see it as punishment.. seems more like Revenge to me..

Too many people have been executed who were later found innocent..

No man has the right to choose who lives or dies..

JMO of course..
Blessed Be
Moon