What is your position regarding death penalty?

Question

And why? Please tell me what your religion is, as well

Answer 1

I used to be for the death penalty. "An eye for an eye" etc. But looking at the people who were hanged then given a posthumous pardon I began to doubt it. Were there an absolute certainty of a person's guilt I'd be for it. But the police make mistakes like anyone else. An there are a small minority of corrupt coppers who depend on a conviction to succeed therefore frame an innocent person.
Think of DNA evidence. It is said that it is a million to one chance yours will match someone elses. Hang on, million to one chances happen or no one would win the lottery! Hanging is extreme. It's non-reversble. Stronger penalties down the scale are needed. Really uncomfortable prisons for example so that a once visited never again culture could be created.
Religion? Haven't one. I'm an agnostic.

Answer 2

It is predictable and entirely appropriate that individuals have strong emotional reactions to horrific crimes. However, a civilized society (and a political system) would be expected to take action based on more utilitarian considerations. It comes down to learning about the way the capital punishment system actually functions. 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 3

Against, but from a different perspective than religion. 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 thinking about these.

125 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 those 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.

You may also want to look at the views of many religions on the death penalty. Take a look at www.religioustolerance.org, scroll down to hot topics and click on death penalty.

Answer 4

My reasons for generally opposing against the death penalty are as follows:

1.) The system in which it is administered is fatally flawed (pardon the pun). There have been instances in which death sentences and convictions had to be overturned due to lack of or shoddy evidence and unreliable testimony by questionable witnesses. Texas is notorious for this.

2.) Contrary to conservative misconception, capital punishment is NOT a deterrant to crime. Study after study has shown there is no correlation between the institution of capital punishment and the rate of violent crime.

3.) It is simply a waste of human life, regardless of how heinous the crime committed. There is always a use for someone and I'm not completely convinced that any one could possibly be beyond redemption. Perhaps they would make great case studies into how the criminal mind works. Who knows. Also, costs the state far less money to lock them up for life without parole than it would be to put them death after housing them on death row and exhausting the appeals process.

Answer 5

I am for the death penalty. I am sick and tired of just bad people being supported through our penal system. There is a huge flaw in how society mets out the penalty, however. There is that one in a thousand that is found, years later, to be innocent. The death penalty HAS to be for 100% confirmed bad people. Like the ones that request it. And we should not wait 5, 10 or 20 years to carry it out. How about 6 months. How about 1 month.
Also, what has gone wrong when it costs $1M+ to put somebody out? There's just something really wrong here and it's not the penalty.
Evangelical and in prison ministry.

Answer 6

Wicca-based Pagan.

I believe that if someone intentionally and maliciously takes the life of another, then their own is forfeit.

However, I have issues with the way the death penalty is issued in the US, based on the fact that the participants in the justice system are more interested in "winning" than "the truth".

Answer 7

In an idealistic world, I'm pro death penalty. I do not have enough faith in the judicial system to believe it is capable of properly finding people innocent or guilty. I've watched as real evidence was deemed inadmissable, and as circumstantial evidence was used which is not legally enough to find someone innocent or guilty.

So, as long as we are stuck with our current system, I'm only pro death penalty as long as there is NO room for doubt based on hard evidence...not he said she said crap. And, if it reaches that point, no appeals, no expensive procedure. End the life quickly and cheaply.

Answer 8

Christian.

I don't believe in the death penalty for the following reason. I am not willing to put that person to death myself, so I do not think it is right for me to tell someone else to put that person to death.

Now, if someone harms(rapes, tortures, kills, etc.) any of my loved ones...I think I would not have a problem killing that person myself...but that is vengeance...not the death penalty. Even in this case, I wouldn't want that person to be put to death by anyone except me. I'm sure I would feel immense guilt afterwards...but since it would be me taking the action I would accept that consequence.

Answer 9

I agree with it,if the guilt of the criminal is proven beyond doubt.First,serial killers,rapists,paedophiles,etc are evil and do not deserve to have the free medical care,3 meals a day etc and even be able to study and get degrees as they do in jail, plus how stupid to lump a bunch of like-minded evil people together so they can rub off onto each other and enhance their methods,pool their knowledge and organise themselves into gangs!I do stress that it has to be proven that they are guilty,like they either confess without being coerced or there are reliable eyewitnesses,DNA evidence and other stuff...
Muslim

Answer 10

What difference does it make in the US, since they have years and years of appeals at Taxpayer expense and If they can Prove Beyond a Shadow of Doubt they are innocent, they go free anyway!

I'm Christian...and that is Justice in this life Romans13. That connotation is based on Judeo- Christian Ethics found in the Bill of Rights.