How many of you are AGAINST the death penalty and why?

Question

I am and i just wanted to know why others are agianst it or not.

Answer 1

You don't have to sympathize with criminals or want them to avoid a terrible punishment to ask if the death penalty prevents or even reduces crime and to think about the risks of executing innocent people. Your question is much too important to settle without having answers to these questions.

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.

Answer 2

I am against it for a few reasons.
1- Our judicial system is too flawed for this to be fair. There are hundreds - perhaps thousands of people who are wrongly imprisoned. I think the court system is so quick to lock someone up, throw away the key and put them on death row without ever being 100% certain that that person is guilty party.
2- While I do think that people should not go unpunished for their actions, I don't think that anyone has the right to take another man's life. Only God can give just punishment for any sins against Him and his decrees.
3- Killing someone does little to solve problems. Killing someone doesn't bring the victim back. It doesn't help the offender to repent and try to be a better person. If anything, it gives the jailed a "way out" so to speak if he chooses to not reform.
Those are just a few of my reasons.
Great question!

Answer 3

I am absolutely for the death penalty. Not only is it a waste of money to house those criminals till they die, but I am also of the opinion that some people are just beyond rehabilitation and should never ever have the chance to be put back into society. The plagues of society should be put to death so that they can never do what they did again. The only just punishment for murderers, terrorists, serial killers is death.

Answer 4

The likelihood of innocent people being put to death is enough for me to have a problem with the death penalty.

Answer 5

I'm from Tx. and we have an express lane for that...lol. Some people are beyond help psychologically and most of those people are in prison. Most of the offenders in prison have some type of mental problems and the more horrific crimes are perpetrated by these people. They can't be reformed or mentally repaired with that in mind, which is more humane, keep them locked in a 6x6 cell for the rest of there lives or put them to death.

Answer 6

this question truly boggles my mind.

most of the time. i think it's wrong. why? because I'm a catholic, and for me, God is the only one that can take away life.

but, on the other hand, if one of my family member was killed by someone, yes, i would like that person to receive a death penalty.

so , i guess I'm partly torn... =)

Answer 7

I used to be against the death penalty.

However, with the advent of the current corrupt regime in America, I am willing to accept that the appropriate sentence for TREASON is "Death by Hanging."

bush and cheney deserve no less.

Answer 8

I am against it because it seems to easy of an out.

Spending life in prison, and every day knowing what you are missing out on because of your foolish actions, to me is a better punishment.

Answer 9

I am only against it if we can allow them to repay society with donations of a kidney, eye, or other transplantable item.
They could also volunteer to be lab rats for cancer and aids research, saving some innocent puppy a painful death.

Answer 10

I definitely am

I believe that the measure of our culture and civilization is the way we (the society) treats the "outcasts" of society. The people that are not "normal" like you and me..

These include poor people, immigrants, gay, addicts of any kind, and of course criminals etc etc.

In our contact with these "outcasts of society" we are show how much we have progress are human race.

The death penalty is a form of revenge that has shown that does not deter crime.
And it is a way to alleviate the problems society faces by placing them on a criminal and the hanging him.