Capital Punishment for or against?
541830
There has been a lot on the news lately about DNA proving people innocent. I'm all for that but, like you, believe if someone commits a crime that requires the death sentence that's what they should get. Death. When you have someone confess to a murder and relates the details and is able to take you to the body what else do we need to know? I also don't believe the inmate should know when they're going to die. Their victim(s) (in case of murderers) didn't know when they were going to die and have time to tell their family that they loved them and see them one more time. Unfortunately, we can't punish the guilty inmate without punishing his innocent family. \n\nI would, however, like to see a plan implemented that would make use of prisoners for life or death row inmates to be utilized to test affects of new products and drugs for human consumption. I have never believed in using animals for testing. If you want to know how a product affects a human then test it on a human. No more guessing at what's going on. A human can verbalize what an animal can't. Not only could the testing time be possibly shortened and the product able to be used by the general public much sooner, but would give them the opportunity to give something back to the society they have taken from. Along with this their families could hold their heads up once more in the fact that their convicted family member IS giving something back instead of only taking. Not only would testing time be saved but possibly money as well. Not to mention the accuracy of the testing to begin with.
1087557
I'd address three topics:\n\n1.Is it justified (eg. eye for an eye, revenge Vs rehabilitation, rights of the victim and their family, risk of miscarriage etc)\n2.Is it effective (eg. is it a deterent, does it make better societies, is it cheaper than permanent incarceration etc)\n3.Is it legal (eg. is it a cruel and unusual punishment, the position of international law, etc)\n\nYou've probably been asked the US/UK part because we are fairly similar societies with a largely common ancestry\nand tradition, but the UK abolished the death penalty whilst much of the US still uses it.  You can go two ways on this - \n1. the US is a much younger society still in a vigourous development phase facing the challenges of it's huge size and diversity so frontier justice is still appropriate (similar claims for China by the way, the other big executor).  when the UK was trying to hold a huge empire together it executed loads of people too.\n2. the existence in the US of a more fundemental christianity gives people a different perspective on life (and death) from the broadly humanist (post christian) views in Europe (including the UK) where morality is more personal and less something learned from religion.  Religious Europe was a very bloody place indeed for hundreds of years.\n\nHope this helps, BTW my opinion is that it is as morally justifiable as war.  I really don't want to have to do it, but sometimes I might have to protect my family and society.  Right now I think both our societies could live without capital punishment, and therefore should - but that could change.
393585
If you are referring to the death penalty, I'm all for it.  The more criminals who get the death penalty, the less taxes I have to pay to keep them alive!  \n\nIf you are asking if it is right to personally murder someone who murdered a loved one, no that is not right.  The legal process is in place to serve justice; it's not our place to do that.
268411
I fully support capital punishment. The only real problem with capital punishment is how long it takes from conviction and sentencing to execution. Upon conviction and imposition of the death sentence, there should be an immediate and thourough appeal review. If that review also concurrs with the conviction and sentence then sentence should be carried out expeditiously. In my opinion the time between sentence and exectution should be less than 30 days.\n\nAll punishments should be swift and sure. Then they really WILL act as deterrents. Even without the deterrent factor, removing a murderer from society will always be a wortwhile act.\n\nWhile we are at it we should return capital punishment to desertion and treason.
910170
No. Capital punishment is revenge not justice.\n\nIf a con doing an armed robbery is shot dead at the scene by coips then that is justice. Murdering them months or years later is not!
800060
I am so torn on the death penalty issue... I don't have a stance yet.\n\nFrom a strictly economical side, I'm against the death penalty, because I've heard in multiple places that it costs 2-3 times more than life in prison w/o parole.\n\nFrom a moral standpoint, it's hard to say.  Killing someone removes them once and for all as a threat.  Granted, while in jail they are only a threat to other inmates and the prison guards, but still, you cannot make a blanket judgment on whether those people (in the case of the other prisoners) deserve the threat, or (in the case of the guards) willingly accept the threat by being in that job.  Also, there's always the chance of escape.  You don't have that chance with death.\n\nIn addition, there's the obvious fact that if you accept the death penalty, almost regardless of standards for conviction, you're going to eventually get an innocent person in there.  Making the standards for conviction extremely high just leads to multiple expensive appeals, which brings us back to the economic reason to be against it.  It also makes the death penalty so rare that any appeal to it being a deterrent is just silly at that point, because even if you are convicted you'd have to be one of the unlucky ones to get the chair.\n\nIn fact, I have not seen any evidence that it actually serves as a deterrent, regardless of the extensiveness of its use.\n\nI do believe that the highest value must be placed on human life, but when you have one human life that continues to threaten others, isn't it respecting that value to end their life?\n\nI don't know.  I'm an atheist struggling to have a position on this.
993573
Pro:\n\nDeath penalty serves justice...it is what people fear, so it is what is taken away.  \n\nDeath penalty shows that some crimes against humanity are so terrible that the ultimate punishement is the payment for doing the action.\n\nThe Cons...is that\n\nIt takes too long...appeal after appeal.  Some have been on "Death Row " for twenty plus years.\n\nThat the wrong person could get executed.\n\nThat the law is prejiduced against blacks and minorities.
679248
Capital punishment\nFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia\nJump to: navigation, search\n"Execution" redirects here. For other uses, see Execution (disambiguation). \nIt has been suggested that Death penalty paradox be merged into this article or section. (Discuss)Contents [hide]\n1 The death penalty worldwide \n1.1 Global distribution of death penalty \n1.2 Public opinion \n1.3 International organizations \n1.4 Juvenile capital punishment \n1.5 The death penalty in specific countries \n2 History \n2.1 Movements towards "humane" execution \n2.2 Abolitionism in different countries \n3 Debate: Retentionism versus Abolitionism \n3.1 Abolitionist movement \n3.1.1 Reasons to oppose to death penalty \n3.1.2 List of famous abolitionists \n3.2 Retentionist movement \n3.2.1 Reasons to support the death penalty \n3.2.2 List of famous retentionists \n4 Religious views \n5 Abolitionist themes in arts and media \n6 Methods of execution \n7 Notes \n8 External links \n8.1 Resources opposing capital punishment \n8.2 Resources favoring capital punishment \n8.3 Religious views on the death penalty \n \n \nCapital Punishment, or the death penalty, is the most severe punishment that can be imposed by the State for crimes known as capital crimes or capital offenses. When a person is sentenced to die, their life will be terminated in a lawful place (in nearly all cases, a prison) in a process known as an execution. In "capital punishment", "capital" comes from the latin noun "caput", which means head; therefore, to be subjected to capital punishment means to figuratively lose your head. Historically, the execution of criminals and political opponents was used by nearly all societies both to punish crime and to suppress political dissent. Among democratic countries around the world, most European and Latin American states have abolished capital punishment (except the United States, Guatemala and most of the Caribbean), while democracies in Asia and Africa retain it. Among nondemocratic countries the use of the death penalty is common.\n\nIn most places that practice capital punishment today, the death penalty is reserved as a punishment for premeditated murder, espionage, or treason or part of military justice. In some majority-Muslim countries, sexual crimes including adultery and sodomy, carry the death penalty as does religious crimes such as apostasy. In many retentionist countries, drug trafficking is also a capital offense. In China, human trafficking and serious cases of corruption are also punished by the death penalty. In militaries around the world, courts-martial have imposed death sentences for offenses such as cowardice, desertion, insubordination, and mutiny.\n\nCapital punishment is a contentious issue. Supporters of capital punishment argue that it deters crime, prevents recidivism, and is an appropriate retribution for the crime of murder. Opponents of capital punishment argue that it does not deter crime more than life imprisonment, violates human rights, leads to wrongful executions, and discriminates against minorities and the poor.\n\n[edit]\nThe death penalty worldwide\n[edit]\nGlobal distribution of death penalty\n \nUse of the death penalty around the world (as of 2005/06).\n\n██ Abolished for all offences (86)\n\n██ Abolished for all offences except under special circumstances (11)\n\n██ Retains, though not used for at least 10 years (25)\n\n██ Retains death penalty (74)\nReports from NGOs opposed to the death penalty tend to publicise the view that abolition is a global trend. In 1977, 16 countries were abolitionist, while the figure was 122 for the end of 2005. In more detail, 86 countries have abolished capital punishment for all offences, 11 for all offences except under special circumstances, and 25 others have not used it for at least 10 years. However, Sri Lanka recently declared an end to its moratorium on the death penalty. A total of 74 countries reta
930856
Question goes even deeper:  Is it right to kill anyone in the name of the law?  Sadam certainly qualifies for the sentence under current guidelines.  But, in his case, like any case, is anyone really sending a powerful message telling others to avoid this type behavior or you will be killed?  Would Sadam evenly remotely had considered doing things differently.  \n\nSo is the death penalty a crime deterent.  Or, is it more a tool for emotional revenge?  When I was younger I used to strongly believe in the death penalty.  But now, I wonder if the whole ball of wax ever even slightly affects capital crime.  "Have to get caught, trials and appeals last several years, greater than even chance of getting life, some even accept their fate. \n\nBut to answer your question - he got what the law said the punishment must be... right or wrong!
850013
The emotional part of me supports the death penalty...i know if someone killed a family member i would want them to face the ultimate punishment.\n\nBut the rational and prevailing part of me opposes the death penalty because of the risk of innocent people being killed. People think DNA is the killsafe...it is not..not all cases involve DNA and those convicted before the use of DNA often cannot get appeals to have the test performed. So oppose it, lest I or someone I know faces the fate of the unknown amount of innocents sentenced to death.
916102
I'm against because innocent people get judged guilty and are killed. And anyway some crimes are so horrific that death is too soft a punishment.
608775
Well personally I'm opposed to the death penalty for any reason...First off as a Christian I believe Jesus taught let he without sin cast the first stone...secondly in our criminal courts the rich can afford all the expert witnesses they need while the poor are being executed...sometimes innocent because they couldn't afford a great lawyer and expert witnesses
45251
Typically most liberals do not support the death penalty. Its OK to have views that differ from whatever political affiliation you have.
147898
Abolish it entirely.  Our justice system is not infalible.  There have been multiple people sentanced to death and exhonorated post-mortem.  That's enough reason for me.  Besides which the death penalty is motivated by revenge, not justice.  An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind.
674676
Yes I agree with the death penalty. Life in prison is not a punishment for long term prisoners. Three meals a day, cable TV, no bills. They think it's a good life.
413161
Capital Punishment: (N) Legal Killing, or Execution. There's no better definition than this.
598300
Question: "What does the Bible say about the death penalty / capital punishment?"\n\n \n\nAnswer: The Old Testament law commanded the death penalty for various acts: murder (Exodus 21:12), kidnapping (Exodus 21:16), bestiality (Exodus 22:19); adultery (Leviticus 20:10); homosexuality (Leviticus 20:13), being a false prophet (Deuteronomy 13:5), prostitution and rape (Deuteronomy 22:4), and several other crimes. However, God often showed mercy when the death penalty was due. David committed adultery and murder, yet God did not demand his life be taken (2 Samuel 11:1-5, 14-17; 2 Samuel 12:13). Ultimately, each and every sin we commit should result in the death penalty (Romans 6:23). Thankfully, God demonstrates His love for us in not condemning us (Romans 5:8).\n\n \n\nWhen the Pharisees brought a woman who was caught in the act of adultery to Jesus and asked Him if she should be stoned, Jesus replied, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her" (John 8:7). This should not be used to indicate that Jesus rejected capital punishment in all instances. Jesus was simply exposing the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. The Pharisees wanted to trick Jesus into breaking the Old Testament Law...they truly did not care about the woman being stoned (where was the man who was caught in adultery?) God was the One who instituted capital punishment: “Whoever sheds man's blood, by man his blood shall be shed, for in the image of God He made man” (Genesis 9:6). Jesus did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17). Therefore, I would say that Jesus would support capital punishment. Jesus also demonstrated grace when capital punishment was due (John 8:1-11). The Apostle Paul definitely recognized the power of the government to institute capital punishment where appropriate (Romans 13:1-5).\n\n \n\nSo, basically, we are back to were we started. Yes, God allows capital punishment. But at the same time, God does not always demand the death penalty when it is due. What should a Christian’s view on the death penalty be, then? First, we must remember that God has instituted capital punishment in His Word; therefore, it would be presumptuous of us to think that we could institute a higher standard than He or be more kind than He. God has the highest standard of any being since He is perfect. This standard applies not only to us but to Himself. Therefore, He loves to an infinite degree, and He has mercy to an infinite degree. We also see that He has wrath to an infinite degree, and it is all maintained in a perfect balance