Capital Punishment Thread

Obviously im making another debate thread after Jona's success in his abortion thread , so here goes mine .

1)whats everones view on capital punishment?
2)Should it be legal under certain circumstances?(ex. mass murderer)
3)Should it be legal under any circumstances?

Ill post my views on this manner after a few replies . and Jona , props to your thread i really enjoy reading what people had to say .

Life imprisonment is cheaper than capital punishment. Therefore, of course go with the cost efficient one. It's that simple!

This whole issue about allowing the state to kill people is a big farse. People kill each other every day, driven by anger,hate,lust and other base emotions... I will not even begin to analyze the issue, seeing as how easy it is for governments to kill thousands of innocent civilians waging needless and ego-driven wars, and get away with it. It's just one big charade.

From a legal standpoint, since it is an area I have delved in, it is not allowed in most 'democratic' countries, since the General Constitution disallows it. The whole US bureaucratic mess with each state upholding its own laws is a lawyers' nightmare. Legally speaking, taking a convicted man's life denies him the opportunity to provide evidence at a latter stage that can clear him. Capital punishment makes the court's ruling non-appealable and therefore final. Courts are meant to help society prosper, not play God over it.

Anyway, that's my two Euros on the subject... but keep in mind that any government can kill more people via a 'guided' missile rather than by lethal injection. The strange and appalling part is that there are more people bitching about the right of a rapist to life, rather than the right of a poor war victim to the same thing.

I don't get why people would want capital punishment anyway if life imprisonment is in fact cheaper. Saves money, makes the criminals more miserable, prevents mistakes from happening and saves all that time justifying capital punishment. Shouldn't all sides be happy with that? Oh and criminals escaping? It doesn't happen nearly enough to become a real valid point.

Shouldn't all sides be happy with that?

It's mostly for two reasons why it is still discussed:

1- 'solace' for the victim's family. That's crap in my book, it's just plain old cold-hearted revenge. But I guess you never can know how it feels until you experience it, so it can swing both ways.

2- Crime prevention. If the offender has in the back of his mind that the penalty for what he is about to do is death, then he might have reservations. This is somewhat valid, although killers and rapists are not known for the solid and thought through decision making.

It maybe cheaper but prisons in America are getting overcrowded which is causing some "lesser" offenses get off earlier because they don't have any room. Some people don't like that.

Just a little addition to the debate...I'm not saying I support it or don't because I think you guys know what side I'm on already.

I'm not saying I support it or don't because I think you guys know what side I'm on already.

Bush's side? j/k

Really, what is the Republicans' traditional stance over this matter. I know they are usually the most conservative of the parties, but how does their conservatism apply in this case?

I think life imprisonment is a worse fate than the death penalty, but I don't see anything wrong with the death penalty. Some people point out rare occasions when it takes longer than usual to kill someone, the one I've heard most is from the electric chair, but it's really such a small percentage I don't consider it. I for once Warning, this may shock you agree with Dweaver that the whole immorality of the death penalty is dumb (if I understand what you wrote correctly).

I for once Warning, this may shock you agree with Dweaver that the whole immorality of the death penalty is dumb (if I understand what you wrote correctly).

Well, I'm not shocked, and yes, that was what I meant. (PS: This is a wink and smile smilie... )

there will always be a time in a life of a human being where he will eventually snap and decide that he'll kill somebody today [am i wrong here?]

anyways my point is if the death of someone will save the deaths of many more. then go on death penalty

Life imprisonment is cheaper than capital punishment. Therefore, of course go with the cost efficient one. It's that simple!

are you kidding me i think billions to house prisoners is more costly than than capital punish punishment. take into account the food there giving them, the water to drink, and shower, light bills, heat bills.in many cases it costs moe but it all depends where you are.(like mexico ; i heard they are cheap and harsh with there prisons)

I thought so too. Here are some proofs:
http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/article ... rom%20DPIC
http://www.amnestyusa.org/abolish/cost.html
http://www.lwvcincinnati.org/publicatio ... nalty.html
http://www.angelfire.com/stars/dorina/cost.html
http://justice.uaa.alaska.edu/death/issues.html

The last one has both sides. Also, I am aware that all of these sources do have their biases, but I don't think there could be one without bias.
So there you have it. Life imprionment is actually cheaper...no way to certainly find out I guess. Still I think the advantages are far greater, economically or cruelty wise. Whichever it is that one wants.

Thanks for the comments about the thread Doobie.

I think capital punishment is completely acceptable in some extreme cases, like mass murders, rapes and the like.
Some criminals are mentally ill, so I prefer to have them psychiatrically treated before giving such a potent veredict.

Just bury them alive. that'll save money..

And will scare teh shit out of people not to commit a crime worthy of being punished that way.

lol, I like Jowe's suggestion.

1) That's usually reserved for the worst criminals, but really, I think it's the easy way out for them. Let them suffer prison for life, that'd be worse, imo.
2) I don't mind it under extreme cases, but still, I prefer my scenario above (or Jowe's )
3) They're already dead, what difference would it make?

All people can be rehibilitated, that's my stance. I also believe that the current death penalty we have is racist, and many innocent people get put to death.