Isn't capital punishment murder?

Question

If murder is the killing of one human being by another, then the death penalty is itself murder.

Answer 1

absolutely. Killing is killing. Killing another human being is murder. Whether you do it, I do it or someone in Uniform with orders from Someone with a title does it.
Edit: Ok, thumbs down..but do you think that mans law is the highest law? How can any kiling be lawful? You think man has the authority to pass law that takes the life of another sentient human being? And isn't sitting on death row, planning the death of another human being Premeditated and with malice itself?
What about "Thou shalt not Kill" I think that says it all.

Answer 2

It isn't 'murder' because not all 'killing' is murder. Not even if it is intentional. For example, some countries allow voluntary euthanasia, which is intentional taking of a life, but isn't 'murder'. The same applies to killing during wartime. A soldier might intentionally take the life of many people, but he is not a 'murderer'. Essentially, 'murder' is a construct of a legal system - a name given to a type of act we, as a people, want to sanction.

I completely disagree with capital punishment, but its supporters and the people who carry out the act are not 'murderers', as much as a soldier or doctor who unplugs a life support machine are not 'murderers' either.

Answer 3

it is punishment that fits the crime!
To all the whiners that say killing is killing wait for the day someone near you dies from some piece of crap!

Answer 4

Here is a different take on it. 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.

126 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.

Answer 5

A pacifist in boxers clothing,
when you are a victim of such a crime against your friends or family, then you are in titled to judge others feelings until then change your avatar, it don't suit you.

Susan S, you make a strong case for the killer,
would you be as supportive, if say I retaliated against said killer and shot him dead, would I then be given life
It don't add up Susan, a life for a life does not mean a life in prison, and where's the deterrent or proof that prison cuts the amount of murders,

Answer 6

Is state sponsored murder - nothing more.

If the death penalty had been in effect in UK, most like the Guildford Four and Maguire Seven would have been wrongly executed - as they were innocent. Not only that, but many brave men and women fighting the illegal occupation of the north of Ireland would have been put to death.

Edit: Korky, first off - this 'life for life' shite is biblical law and US does not operate under biblical law. Secondly, you say that life in prison does not deter others from murdering - well nor does capital punishment.

Answer 7

This is quite a common anti-death penalty argument, but I go by the words of the bible that start with 'an eye for an eye...' besides most countries with the death penalty have a very low per capita murder rate

Answer 8

it doesn't make much difference to the person getting capitally punished or murdered if you like

Answer 9

Yes. This is why it has been banned in a lot of countries. :-)

Answer 10

It is interesting how everyone has chosen the legal definition of murder. It is obvious that the law would exclude itself from this definition. However, under the ten commandments, it states, "thou shalt not kill". That would give a different outcome, wouldn't it?

Answer 11

Governments have been killing people since the beginning of time. Sometimes the reasons have been good, sometimes not so good.

Capital Punishment is authorized by a Court and a jury after a person has been found guilty of a serious and heinous offense after receiving due process of law. There is no "murder" when Capital Punishment occurs. It is just a means of delivering the guilty to a higher venue.

Capital Punishment is the only means which absolutely guarantees that the guilty party will not repeat his offense.