Are you for or against capital punishment and how does...?

Question

Your religion affect that belief?

Answer 1

I am totally for capital punishment especially when it comes to parents killing their children. An eye for an eye. A tooth for a tooth. You can find those very words in the old testament.

Answer 2

I oppose capital punish for 3 reasons.

1. Capital punishment isn't uniformly applied. Some 1st degree murderers get the death penalty and some don't and may actually have the chance to reenter society. I think the finality of death logically demands a definitive threshold of what deserves the death penalty and what doesn't. With it being unevenly applied as it is, the door is open for all different kinds of personal biases to corrupt the sentencing decision.

2. By using capital punishment, there is a real possibility of executing people for crimes they did not commit. DNA typing and other new methods has been effective at exonerating the wrongly imprisoned, but executing the convict makes that impossible.

3. The death penalty is ineffective as a deterrent for violent criminals.

I have no religion.

Answer 3

Yes, I am against the death penalty.

Because only God can know the state of someones soul. Perhaps a person who does a horrible thing will repent and choose to accept the salvation offered by Christ's sacrifice. They should not have that taken away from them.

Even though they committed a horrible crime, such as the murder and torture of other human beings...their eternal life is of another matter. They may die bitter, angry sinners and that is their choice. But they may find salvation...and that should be our hope for all people.

I am a Catholic and the Church's stance is against the death penalty as well.

"We believe much of capital punishment's support springs from a desire for revenge or from a desperate attempt to balance the terrible damage wrought by a capital crime. And such feelings are understandable in the face of brutal and senseless violence inflicted upon innocent people. Justice is a legitimate desire.

However, we believe that justice cannot be achieved through vengeance. This belief is deeply rooted in our Scriptures. While many people claim that the bible endorses capital punishment, the verse generally used as a support (Leviticus 24:20, "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth") is in fact a plea for less violence, by urging people not to avenge one offense with a larger one. In the Gospels, Jesus said that retaliation was an incorrect response to violence. Rather, Jesus tells us to offer the other cheek and extend our hand in blessing and healing (Matthew 5:38-48)."

EDIT: the statisic that "a word please" has written is incorrect. Actually, there has been no DNA proof that any American was wrongly executed. I'm not sure where he/she got that statisic from.

Answer 4

Against, from a different perspective. 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.

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 5

I'm against it because I don't believe that the state should be in the business of killing people, nor do I believe that executing one hundred criminals makes up for executing even one innocent man. The state is all of us, and I don't think we should be murderers in any context.

I'm an atheist, so my opinion on capital punishment is not derived from any holy text, but rather belief in the rights of man.

Answer 6

I am for capital punishment, up to including instant death penalties... no more death row, do it right at the court house! I have worked at a prison for over 10 years, and I can't understand how these people get more benefits, education, and services than the average person on the street who works their butt off to pay for their family. Lets stop the over crowding of jails, the lifers who earn masters degrees and take a advantage of free for life health care. I'm tired of hearing the pedophiles complain and write reports of their "unfair treatment". I think if our justice system were more harsh, less crime would be committed, either out of fear or the death of the repeat offenders. And because you asked, my religious belief has absolutely nothing to do with how I feel about it.

Answer 7

I am for capital punishment. I remembered when I was a young man in Singapore 40 yrs. ago, It was hell living here with all the triads and gangsters causing a lot of problems. Drugs were available so easily. The girls cannot go out as what they can do today. Ever since capital punishment was brought in Singapore in 1971, today this is the best place to live in and raise our children. No more fear of triads and gangsters causing a lot of problems. I had personally had seen gang clashes and people being bullied. Now ask anyone who has been in Singapore, they can tell you it is the safest city in the world. Thanks to capital punishment. Now anyone intending to commit crime, they will have to think again.

Answer 8

I think there are many people that should be taken out and hanged. However; I am against capital punishment on the grounds that it is not applied fairly. Rich man goes to club fed. Poor man goes to the row. I will let as many guilty go as necessary to keep one innocent from dying for something they did not do. DNA has shown that mistakes are made.
My religiion has nothing to do with it.

Answer 9

I am for Capital Punishment. I believe Christianity supports it for two reasons. First, we are to obey the law of the land as long as it does not go against God. Second, God himself set up rules for killing those that disobeyed.

If a person is known to be guilty. They should only have a court hearing for a chance at a reduced sentence. If they fail they should have a month to get their affairs in order and then execute. No appeals should be afforded them. But, if it is not known that the person is guilty all due diligence should be given and the death penalty should be the very last recourse.

Answer 10

For it.
I am a Christian-we are commanded in the NT to obey the law of the government as long as it is not contrary to Biblical principles.
Capital punishment is in line with the Bible. Capital punishment is not the indiscriminate killing of innocent people, but is the penalty for certain crimes.