Do You Believe in the Death Penalty?

[Stronkadonk]

Well?
Do you?
State your reasoning.

I am for it, as long as the person has committed murder. Any other sort of thing, I believe in severe jailing. But the death penalty should always be the punishment for murder, as it brings back what the killer did.

 

[Shikon no Tama]

I live in Canada. We don't have the death penalty.

But I don't believe it's just, though. I mean, what's the point of ending the person's life before they have a full grasp on the consequence of their actions? A death penalty can be seen as a punishment to us, but it could seem like a freedom from prison to the offender. Frankly, I think if you do the crime, do the time. It's the best way to make the person regret what they did.

 

[PiroMunkie]

There are pros and cons to both sides of this argument (of course). Most people who are given the death penalty are incarcerated for homicide, so many people feel that those who approve the death penalty are just as low as the murderer since you are, basically, doing what they did. Others think that it is an easy way out for the criminal which is why life behind bars is another option since the criminal has to suffer with essentially nothing for a much longer period. The downside to that is the amount of tax payer's dollars that is required for that inmate.

I can definitely see and understand both sides, but I will say that I am usually more for life behind bars because, frankly, I think the death penalty is too easy on the criminal. Let them pay immensely for what they did. When I sit here and think about if I was given only two options for the rest of my life: be killed automatically or sit behind bars for the rest of my life (70-80 years) I would choose death. That is why I believe death is the easy way out for criminals because I'm assuming most people would choose the same outcome.

 

[▲]

Murder is murder however you slant it, and both church and state don't approve of murder.

Now, say you wanted to punish those who did a horrible deed. Isn't it worse for them to sit in prison their entire life? Many criminals want to committ suicide, so living for them IS torture moreso than ending it so quickly...see what I mean?

 

[Clairissa]

I do in extreme crimes... Rape and murder being two big examples.
Though I don't follow any religion and I tend to disagree with American politics 75% of the time.
Edit: The prison system isn't a big a punishment as you may think, ▲

 

[Ripper]

I don't believe in the death penalty, I believe in torture, especially for offences such as murder.

Think about it, if someone commits a murder to someone not deserving of it, then they've received more (worse) than they've deserved. If you kill someone, you deserve to be killed, but we shouldn't give them what they deserve, we should go one step further (as they did to their victims).

 

[PiroMunkie]

I do in extreme crimes... Rape and murder being two big examples.
Though I don't follow any religion and I tend to disagree with American politics 75% of the time.
Edit: The prison system isn't a big a punishment as you may think, ▲

Would you care to elaborate?

 

[Clairissa]

Would you care to elaborate?

Three meals a day, gym, hot water, working bathrooms, TV, some have internet and gaming systems, can buy cigarettes, and of course other inmates would get in their own drugs...
It's not a whole lot different then living in a "bad neighborhood", only a lot more violent people.

 

[Nick]

I believe all human life, regardless of the actions that someone committed, is sacred. Taking one human life for the loss of another is just feeding the destruction in my opinion. Though I do agree with the fact that every crime deserves to be served with a swift hammer of justice, I don't think taking someones life would help anything but cause even more pain for those involved. I'd much rather have someone who murdered a love one of mine live with the horrible guilt afterwords (which usually will build) than have them executed. Having them die won't bring back a loved one. It will only make those of the person's family, who are most likely already hurt enough that their relative would commit such a horrid crime such as murder, hurt even more inside.

 

[Ripper]

I believe all human life, regardless of the actions that someone committed, is sacred. Taking one human life for the loss of another is just feeding the destruction in my opinion. Though I do agree with the fact that every crime deserves to be served with a swift hammer of justice, I don't think taking someones life would help anything but cause even more pain for those involved. I'd much rather have someone who murdered a love one of mine live with the horrible guilt afterwords (which usually will build) than have them executed. Having them die won't bring back a loved one. It will only make those of the person's family, who are most likely already hurt enough that their relative would commit such a horrid crime such as murder, hurt even more inside.

Problem is some don't care about the guilt. Which makes any form of painless punishment pointless. I've proposed a fair method which involves no death.

 

[PiroMunkie]

Three meals a day, gym, hot water, working bathrooms, TV, some have internet and gaming systems, can buy cigarettes, and of course other inmates would get in their own drugs...
It's not a whole lot different then living in a "bad neighborhood", only a lot more violent people.

Your perception would be correct if it weren't for the fact that we were talking about inmates who have committed a crime that is worthy of the death penalty. Such inmates are usually considering maximum security prisoners and are generally locked in solitary confinement for 23 hours a day with almost no contact from any other human beings. These cells have no windows whatsoever with lights that are controlled by guards. They are not allowed privileges such as eating with other inmates, job or educational opportunities, sports and recreational activities, and religious activities. There only form of exercise is usually only a tall, cement room with a single chin up bar. There are usually no attempts at rehabilitation either.

They have no contact visits, only visits from behind plexiglass. Telephone and visitation privileges are strictly limited. Books, radios, television, and magazines are very limited and can be denied completely based on the discretion of the guards. Of course, this verbal communication usually only comes through speakers and microphones.

As for hot water and working bathrooms, these prisoners have no personal privacy whatsoever considering they are constantly being watched by cameras. Showers can be limited to only three per week for ten minutes each (and each is monitored completely for multiple reasons. One being suicide attempts which one prisoner my father (who is a guard, might I add) was watching attempted last year while taking one of these limited showers).

Your description is correct when talking about inmates who are serving time for misdemeanors and, quite possibly, low-end felonies, but it does not paint an accurate picture for life of high security criminals.

 

[Aurafire]

I maintain the position that the death penalty in the US, (I'm not sure how it is implemented in other countries), is an absolute joke. Sure, someone can be convicted of murder and sentenced to death, but the sentencing has no power of influence if the felon can appeal for 15-20 years until it actually happens. It's really kind of pathetic how our legal system works =/

But anyway...Yes, I am in support of the death penalty. If you take the life of another, you've lost the right to live in my opinion. If the death penalty was handed down and actually happened soon after the sentencing, it would deter much more crime than it does now. But again, our legal system sucks.

 

[Legobricks]

I do, but only the most severe cases.

Public hanging by long drop is the preferred method.

Instead of everyone falling the same standard distance, the person's height, weight and strength was used to determine how much slack would be provided in the rope so that the distance dropped would be enough to ensure that the neck was broken but not so much that the person was decapitated.

And why public, you may ask? Examples must be set.

 

[Clairissa]

Your perception would be correct if it weren't for the fact that we were talking about inmates who have committed a crime that is worthy of the death penalty. Such inmates are usually considering maximum security prisoners and are generally locked in solitary confinement for 23 hours a day with almost no contact from any other human beings. These cells have no windows whatsoever with lights that are controlled by guards. They are not allowed privileges such as eating with other inmates, job or educational opportunities, sports and recreational activities, and religious activities. There only form of exercise is usually only a tall, cement room with a single chin up bar. There are usually no attempts at rehabilitation either.

I believe you are thinking of people who have been sentenced to death, many inmates are not and do not live on death row, even then most are not executed outside of Texas.
The man who killed my father, for instance, was not sentenced to death, but life in prison, as such he was free to enjoy those other activities in prison.

 

[PiroMunkie]

I believe you are thinking of people who have been sentenced to death, many inmates are not and do not live on death row, even then most are not executed outside of Texas.
The man who killed my father, for instance, was not sentenced to death, but life in prison, as such he was free to enjoy those other activities in prison.

I believe you may be correct. I am man enough to admit whenever I make mistakes, and yes, I was thinking about death row. My apologies and forgive me. I wish I would have noticed before I spent all of that time typing. :laugh:

 

[Spinor]

Death Penalty? Give me a break.

No man deserves death for a few murders, but instead suffering in his lifetime.

If a man goes serial even after punishment and overdrives in murder and rape, then only shall a slow a painful death befall him so he takes his punishment to hell. I believe the Death Penalty is only a last resort to those that have been convicted of murder before.

Although prisoners suicide to decrease punishment on earth and hell. It is said in the commandments that "Thou shall not kill". Even if a man commits suicide during jailing, "kill yourself" is just the same verb "kill", with an adverb.

So if you kill, and can't take it, or if you kill again, you are:

(Large Image)

Spoiler:

 

[Nick]

Problem is some don't care about the guilt. Which makes any form of painless punishment pointless. I've proposed a fair method which involves no death.

Your proposal to torture someone for a crime isn't one that I would agree with. Torturing someone just makes you the same as they are; dirty scum. Regardless if they have any guilt, that action of murder will come back to bite them in the ass and chances are it will be noted deep within their minds. I strongly believe that when a murder occurs, there will always be some guilt in the mind of those committed of it. Whether they show it or not, chances are they are suffering for their actions and to me that's good enough.

Now, I'm all for showing someone who they really are in a disgustingly vile way and would be glad to do it myself, but actually harming them in a form of torture is a bit much if you ask me. It's not something that you need to evoke physically, but mentally. That's where it is all occurring and that's where it's going to wake them up from their little dream of power and show them that they are scum. When a murderer finally recognizes and admits to themselves being scum, then that's where the job is complete and the guilt will finally enter.

Now, I use the term scum loosely. There's another word I have in mind, but that wouldn't be appropriate to be placing onto a Pokémon forum.

 

[Ripper]

Your proposal to torture someone for a crime isn't one that I would agree with. Torturing someone just makes you the same as they are; dirty scum. Regardless if they have any guilt, that action of murder will come back to bite them in the ass and chances are it will be noted deep within their minds. I strongly believe that when a murder occurs, there will always be some guilt in the mind of those committed of it. Whether they show it or not, chances are they are suffering for their actions and to me that's good enough.

Now, I'm all for showing someone who they really are in a disgustingly vile way and would be glad to do it myself, but actually harming them in a form of torture is a bit much if you ask me. It's not something that you need to evoke physically, but mentally. That's where it is all occurring and that's where it's going to wake them up from their little dream of power and show them that they are scum. When a murderer finally recognizes and admits to themselves being scum, then that's where the job is complete and the guilt will finally enter.

Now, I use the term scum loosely. There's another word I have in mind, but that wouldn't be appropriate to be placing onto a Pokémon forum.

By your words, if America were attacked by China and America retaliated by shooting down some of the planes that had just bombed USA, they would be 'dirty scum' for they are retaliating, and are therefore like them. You haven't taken into the consideration (much like many others) that we are not the same as they are, for we are retaliating and making them pay for their crimes.

 

[Stronkadonk]

For those that believe in human life, should those who murder hundreds, even thousands be left alive?
Should Bin Laden live?

 

[Nick]

By your words, if America were attacked by China and America retaliated by shooting down some of the planes that had just bombed USA, they would be 'dirty scum' for they are retaliating, and are therefore like them. You haven't taken into the consideration (much like many others) that we are not the same as they are, for we are retaliating and making them pay for their crimes.

...We're talking about murder within one's country; not war between others. You can't honestly contrast the two.

What do you suppose should happen when someone's being under attack? Just grab them from 4,000 feet in the air and start torturing them? Um, no. That's not how it works when a nation is under attack. Murderers are just as easily kept away from doing other harmful things if they're locked away forever to reflect on what they did. They have nothing else to live for when they take someone's life away.