Do you believe in the dath penalty? If so, what crime do you think is severe enough to use it?
452823
I want to say I believe.  As a matter of fact most of my life I was the strongest supporter of the death penalty....UNTIL\n\nUnlike some of the other people who have posted to this question....I have first hand experience to what happens when you are incarcerated.  \nThere is no internet, gym, phone time, lounge time....\nMost inmates get limited 10 minute calls once a week to people who are on their call list.....NO INTERNET......, NO GYM, lounge time is confined to your bunk....which usually doesn't even have a pillow.  Showers are with others and you crap in front of the guards.  \nOh and death row inmates or lifers get worse than that.  \nAll you have in prison is time to think.  What could be worse than your mind killing you slowly.  Every day you have to think about what you did, the people you lost and/or affected.  Day in and day out....memories, thoughts.....that is a slow horrible death.....and that is what they deserve.  Every day to live with the consequence of what they did.\nThat is MY complete torture....but I can't honestly say that if something was to happen to my children TOMORROW and they arrested the person who did it....that I wouldn't want him to die and know he was in the ground.  BUT...what I am trying to say is slow, mental death....is PURE TORTURE.\n\nJust my thoughts though.
579018
I don't know the circumstances, but I feel if somebody commits a crime, they should have to pay. What's right is right!
714730
I do not totally agree with you, but I do feel something has to be done. The death penalty maybe a bit harsh, but tougher penalties should be applied to users and dealers alike.\n\nDrugs are the root of 75% of our crime. Your users can not afford their habit and resort in stealing, robbing, and prostitution to pay for more drugs. \n\nYour dealers use violence to protect their investment. A lot of our gangs are heavily into drug trafficking and also use violence to control their drug turf.\n\nThe way the Laws are set up today punishes the dealer more than the user, but if there was no one demanding the drug, then there would be no need for the dealers. That's why the users need the same penalty as the dealer.\n\nIn Texas today, a first time offender caught with less than 2 oz of Marijuana is only breaking a class B Misdemeanor. That's one step above a speeding ticket and usually results in little to no jail time. \n\nNow imagine if the penalty were a Second Degree Felony. That's just below premeditated murder, and comes with not jail time, but hard Prison time for several years. \n\nIf that first time offender knew the risk he was taking in getting caught, I do not believe he would have made the wrong decision.
185445
i say we put on a harsher punishment system such as singapore. its proven it works, and if you know your not sopossed to do something, it would make you think twice before doing it.
1178694
Depends on the crime.
1086965
I think the punishments should fit the crime. You are correct that there has been stiffer sentences handed out for drugs than for violent crimes. Different states have their own interpretations of what a small amount of marijuana is, and have their own laws regarding it. For some less than an ounce for recreational use with no distribution intent charge is a petty misdemeanor while other states are quite stringent.  Bottom line though, as long as no one else was affected by their use, make the punishment fit the crime and focus on reducing violence by handing out stiffer penalties for that.
736662
I think he should be punished....The guy is a total idiot...Don't forget he gets caught with coke and hookers about once a year and still retains his positon...
371715
There's loads of things - simply attemting to commit a crime is a crime in itself.\n\nI guess the most obvuious answer to your question would be attempted murder.
8395
Definitely right.  Murder would be the best example of a crime that merits the punishment.
163476
yep, let the punishment fit the crime!
1070462
I commend you on your question and I agree with you 110% there should be something a amendment in the laws to seperate a  person who was convicted of a felony and what there crime was or some type of system that seperate's the one's who commit murder vs someone who does drug's or larceny etc. The one's who commit the crime's against children these sick,perverted animal's and crimes of rape should be put on a island to themselves they should not be allowed back into society how many of these animal's have they given a second chance to and were released back into society for them to have said I'm sick who's child did they kidnap,rape and discard their bodie's like trash I do not have any remorse for these animal's I think our government should set up a island and ship the people who commit this type of crime's and let them fend for themselves if they die there so what ? at least our taxpayer's money isn't being wasted.  I don't think everyone convicted of a felony are bad people I think maybe, circumstance,poor judgement and other factor's should be examined before , you judge every convicted felon a bad person they need a second chance to show society they have changed poor choice's sometime's is all it take's.
1108413
Depends on what country you are in and the actual nature of the crime!
193385
Without any shadow of a doubt I would impose a custodial sentence and all but the most minor of criminals.  For a second offence I would give them 10 times the sentence, the thrid offence 100 times the sentence etc.  \n\nLoss of liberty is the tried and tested method that has been used for thousands of years in just about every country in the world.\n\nIn recent times we've seen a softly softly appraoch and lo and behlold a massive rise in the number of offences and repeat offenders.\n\nI'd also ensure that during their custodial sentence there was no interaction with other criminals and the only materials available to them were educational ones.\n\nIf they wanted any luxuries such as chocolates, cigarettes etc they'd have to buy them and to buy them they'd have to earn wages by doing work inside the prison that would benefit the community as a whole.\n\nOh, and I'd keep themn under lock and key 24 hours a day.\n\nThat should cut down on the enormous costs incurred - here in the UK it costs an average £8500 a week ($15,000) to have an offender on probation.  That money should be spent on more deserving causes such as the elderly, schools, hospitals etc.
1069926
Abosfuckinglutely!\nI think there ought to be a special law allowing us to bludgeon repeat offenders.\nWith a bar of soap in a pillow case.
98268
considering how many cases have been overturned (especially with advances in DNA testing), i think it is obvious that the death penalty is "flawed", not neccessarily 'bad' or 'good'. \n\nimagine if someone you knew was faslely sentenced to death for a crime they did not commit... or even you. is it worth the risk of making those mistakes and ending innocent peoples lives to "punish" the wrongdoers?\n\nadditionally, consideration should be given to the concept that death is the ultimate punishment. is death really the worst outcome for a convicted murder? proponents of capital punishment claim that "scum" are rewarded with an easy life of "freebies". if those freebies include shivs and anal rape, then they may be right. point being - prison is not a cake walk. some would consider a lifetime of confinement greater punishment than instant death. \n\nmoreover, as one person noted, the death penalty may not actually scare off future criminals. some cultures do not believe in "punishing" people who commit crimes, but instead focus on recovering, as a community, after such an act. \n\nthe plain fact of the matter is, people make mistakes. even big ones. why not try to understand the cause for these crimes (i.e. why did this person feel the need to steal) instead of endlessly reprimanding them when we already know it will happen regardless? often when a person commits a crime, it is out of a sense of neccessity, not enjoyment. few people take such big risks for the sake of fun. most act out of desperation - fearing they have no real alternative. \n\ni feel the death penalty is not working well in any aspect and should be reexamined. so, to put it simply "bad".
1052275
Does seem a bit out of whack...now the one committing the crime is considered the victim of an uncaring society.\n\nMy favorite is that folks will be sent to jail for longer sentance for tax evasion than for a robbery & assualt or even rape.
1150629
This is a hot topic today, considering the secularist attacks on some of our (U.S.) society's traditional practices...\n\nHowever, I believe most courts will allow you to swear in "...under penalty of perjury" as opposed to "...so help you God."