how retarded can you be if you say you you are pro-life, but you support the death penalty? can someone just give me a straight answer?
2007-10-29 12:05:54 · 27 answers · asked by Sticky crud 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
As much as many try to tie them together, these are two totally separate and unrelated topics.
Many like to paint with a broad brush and say that "conservatives" are all pro-life (anti-abortion) and pro-death penalty, while "liberals" are all pro-choice and anti-death penalty.
God help us if we're not just a little more complex than that.
There is no inherent contradiction in being pro-life and anti-death penalty, OR vice-versa.
These are both highly complex issues, and both deserve critical thought and constructive discussion. Unfortunately, both debates all too often devolve into name calling and the citing of bumper sticker slogans.
2007-10-30 16:11:20 · answer #1 · answered by El Guapo 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Many people support the death penalty because they are concerned about dangerous criminals that might be released into their communities. However, as we read about more and more people on death row who were wrongfully convicted, Americans are paying attention to how the system actually functions.
You don't have to condone brutal crimes or want the criminals who commit them to avoid a harsh punishment to ask whether the death penalty prevents or even reduces crime and whether it risks killing innocent people. For someone who is opposed to the death penatly, you can accomplish a great deal by getting out the facts. Here are a few, with sources.
124 people on death rows have been released with proof that they were wrongfully convicted. DNA is available in less than 10% of all homicides and isn’t a guarantee we won’t execute innocent people.
The death penalty doesn't 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 don’t.
We have a good alternative. 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.
The death penalty costs much more than life in prison, mostly because of the legal process which is supposed to prevent executions of innocent people.
The death penalty isn't reserved for the worst crimes, but for defendants with the worst lawyers. It doesn't apply to people with money. When is the last time a wealthy person was on death row, let alone executed?
The death penalty doesn't necessarily help families of murder victims. 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.
Problems with speeding 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.
2007-10-29 14:56:45 · answer #2 · answered by Susan S 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I am pro-life, and do not support capital punishment.
The motive for abortion is convenience, and I cannot support that.
The motive for the death penalty, at it's very core, is vengeance, and I cannot support that either.
Why do Libs who are against the death penalty for the most evil of acts, support killing innocent full term babies?
Should the method used for late-term abortions be used with death row inmates?
ADDITION: Christine is flat out wrong, and only spews the cliche of a hack. Conservatives are actually *MORE* generous than liberals, you can look it up.
2007-11-06 08:48:08 · answer #3 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some of it has to do with responsibility. Do the crime / face the punishment or Keep your pants on and you won't get pregnant. Are these legit- I don't know.
However, the argument that abortion and the death penalty are somehow related is a bit far fetched.
An unborn child is certainly not committing any crime.
There are crimes in this world that, should you choose to commit them, you run the risk of forfietting your life.
If you want to simplify it and say both are being killed, look into which of the two are responsible for their death.
2007-10-29 12:17:30 · answer #4 · answered by Patrick B 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
How can Liberals be "Pro-Choice" (killing an unborn innocent baby) and yet be opposed to Capital Punishment (killing a guilty adult) ? Now who's retarded ?
Being pro-life and pro capital punishment are two entirely separate issues for blatantly obvious reasons.
Steve J USA, you've obviously never dealt with criminals, seen the inside of a correctional facility or had to comfort the victims of crimes.
2007-10-29 12:13:48 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 2⤋
capital punishment implies the individual made a decision put pro life implies the child did not have a choice.
2007-10-29 12:16:21 · answer #6 · answered by Looking ahead 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Let me answer so that even you can understand.
A unborn child is innocent of all things. They did not ask or force the mother and/or father to create it. It's only crime is being an inconvenience to the parents. For this, it is condemned to death.
The convicted murderer killed another for their own selfish needs. They choose to take another life and in return should forfeit their own.
What would the bleeding heart liberals say if those on death row were put to death in the manner that the innocent unborn child was? The worst of our society are given more rights and compassion then the unborn.
2007-10-29 12:18:24 · answer #7 · answered by rikv77 3 · 3⤊ 3⤋
We support the humane execution of violent and sick murderers who have committed heinous crimes and caused great pain and suffering to the families of their victims after being found guilty by a jury of their peers in accordance with the law, AND after a long gamut of appeals to ensure that they are guilty beyond a shadow of a doubt.
We do not support the inhumane killing of an innocent life who has not committed so much as one sin in their young life just because someone decides they dont want to grow up and take care of the child they have created.
Doesn't sound too retarded to me...
2007-10-29 12:12:17 · answer #8 · answered by flaming_liberal415 4 · 7⤊ 3⤋
This question...yet again *sigh*.
Abortion is the murder of an innocent while capital punishment is a way to punish someone who is not innocent.
Let the thumbs down begin.
2007-10-29 12:10:39 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 1⤋
How can you compare abortion; the termination of an innocent life, to the death penalty; termination of a proven guilty and evil life?
2007-10-29 12:12:00 · answer #10 · answered by DOIN' RIGHT AINT GOT NO END 3 · 7⤊ 2⤋