Do you believe in Capital Punishment?

Question

If someone is proven beyond a shadow of a doubt guilty of a horrible, planned murder, is it fair for the family of the victim to have to pay for that person for the rest of their lives through taxes?
Opinions please!

C D - inmates these days get three square meals a day. If you're 30 years old and spending the rest of your life in jail...that's a lot of meals you're going to be eating. I'm pretty sure a bullet is cheaper than that!

Answer 1

Yes, of course I do. I also think it should be televised - primetime.
The condemned should get their 15 minutes of fame and the rest of the country should get to see what happens. Hell of deterrent.

Answer 2

The death penalty is much more expensive than life without parole. Many people are surprised to learn this. One example is New York State where over $200,000,000 was spent in a process that sentenced 7 men to death. Four of them had one appeal and the rest none. In contrast, New York spends an average of $35,000-40,000 per year to incarcerate an inmate. If these 7 men were to serve 50 years, the cost would be between 12 and 14 million. This may be hard to believe, but the legal process in a capital cost is extremely complicated and takes a long time. The clearest explanation of why the costs are so high is at this is at www.deathpenaltyfocus.org. Click on facts and then on costs.

Beyond that, murder victims families do not all support the death penalty. Even for those who do, family members across the country have testified the drawn-out death penalty process is painful for them and that life without parole is an appropriate alternative.

Answer 3

That's a bit of a loaded question if I've ever heard one. With our current justice system being the way it is, I believe there is a chance that you, me, or anybody who is innocent of murder could in fact be arrested, charged, and convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death, so for that reason I don't believe in capital punishment.

I also don't believe in guilt beyond a shadow of a doubt. Things aren't always what they seem, and the only thing somebody can be sure of is that he or she exists, and that true knowledge of anything else is impossible.

Answer 4

when i first hear of a violent horrendous crime my 1st. reaction is the gas chamber or electric chair but after the initial shock and i feel more rational usually a life sentence with out possibility of parole is justice enough for me,although i have never had a family member or loved one victimized i may think differently. i think any one working in the capital should be punished for being irresponsible, oh sorry i don't think you were speaking of that reference.

Answer 5

Well, since it's actually cheaper to keep them alive in jail for the rest of their lives than to execute them, I don't think the whole money argument holds water.

I just can't condone killing because it makes us no better than the murderer we're executing.

Answer 6

well, if there is no shadow of doubt........

then, no, it is not fair that we have to pay for them to sit on death row for 10 or 15 years and then they get a stay of execution most of the time.

there is no justice in that for the dead or the mourners left behind.

Answer 7

No, it is not fair. Everything would go a lot smoother if those people were just quickly and justly executed. We don't need people rotting in our jails and have to suffer (taxes) to extend their lives.

Answer 8

I'm on the fence. not because I don't believe in it ,but because death is the easy way out. Spending years in a tiny cell is a far worst punishment. plus doesn't it cost taxpayer more to execute someone?

Answer 9

Yes.

Answer 10

I agree with it, support it and I'd even go as far as extending it to child molesters and other heinous offenders!