Death Penalty, is it right or wrong? Options

[EmeraldKnight]

I am very for the death penalty...i actually think we she us it for more crimes...and none of this appeal shit....they get the death penalty fry them, hang them, poison them, and in some states shoot them(montana) in singapore the punishment for drunk driving is death...i think we should do that here....did you now Drunk driving is the leading cuz of death between the ages of 15-44...after that its heart disease....i know this because i just got home from my 5 Hour pre lisencing course....but i think that if we cracked down harder then people with get the message...

Yes, we need ppl to get the message, but given that our current legal system is pretty much based on a group of ppl which some like to call the jury, deciding who has the better lawyer.. you have to consider the amount of innocent ppl that might be killed, and sure, you might argue that they're "causualties" or something in the war against crime, but put yourself in their place, as someone wrongly sentenced to death because of an incompetent lawyer or something, I say the death penalty should be kept, but used sparingly (ie. only when there is clear, undeniable evidence that the person is guilty not some vague case that can be argued either way)

[Spirited Away]

I say the death penalty should be kept, but used sparingly (ie. only when there is clear, undeniable evidence that the person is guilty not some vague case that can be argued either way)

But that's how it is being used. Innocent until proven guilty.

When they are on death row, they don't die right away. The process takes years and sometimes they don't die until their old and gray. They have plenty of times to get acquitals. And NOT ALL lawyers provided by the court are as incompetent as we may think. Sometimes, YOU JUST CANNOT ARGUE that someone is innocent, WHEN THEY'RE NOT.

In the US system, you can have the most solid evidence, but that doesn't mean that justice will be served. Many criminals who deserve the death sentence still walk free, or in prision enjoying cable television, due to this 'innocent until proven guilty' law that we must adhere to.

In other words, it's pretty hard for you to die on death row.

[*Kathleen*]

In other words, it's pretty hard for you to die on death row.

Exactly. So many people are against this, but they don't know what this country would be like with capital punishment used effectively. It could make this world a better place by keeping those criminals and potential criminals off the streets.

[EmeraldKnight]

Exactly. So many people are against this, but they don't know what this country would be like with capital punishment used effectively. It could make this world a better place by keeping those criminals and potential criminals off the streets.

I guess... I dont know.. I just feel sorrie for those ppl wrongly accused because of circumstantial evidence or something... but yeah... the death penalty ultimately helps the most ppl by a. keeping criminals off the streets, and b. saving the government money to take care of the prisoners...

However.. it also depends on the crime.. while I guess you could say a murderer deserves to die.. depending on the situation, I disagree with that.. because unless they're a serial killer or something and killed multiple ppl.. if its just a one time thing, like killing a particularly hated person, or because of depression or something, they shouldnt be killed.. chances are its just a one time thing and they wont pose a threat to society anymore.. i mean.. we, as human beings cant focus on revenge.. its just.. not practical.. i mean.. like gandhi said, "an eye for an eye will just make the whole world blind"

[Spirited Away]

I already talked about Ghandi a couple of pages back...

But how many people are usually wrongly accused of murdering someone? That's a heck of an accusation. Now, I'm not saying that it doesn't happen, but I'm asking how often does it happen?

I agree that if a person killed only once, it doesn't seem that he/she should receive death sentence, but how do we know that the person only killed once? Or will only kill once?

And it is very hard to die on death row, infact, I think a couple of people died while waiting on death row. Kind of ironic isn't it?

[*NatiMarie*]

Well you have a good point. There is a book I saw about this topic. It was called "Death Penalty" (who could have guessed )
Anywhoo, yeah I didn't read it and I have no idea why i said it. Anywhoo, I mean, people shouldn't get the death penalty because it's just wrong. It's so sad how people could be accused.

I was seeing a book about Torture and it was so disgusting how people were wrongfully accused for things they didn't do. Like the people accused of being witches were put in a chair and thrown in the river to see if they would float. If they did float, that meant they were witches but if they didn't and drowned, that means they weren't. What the heck? They die anyways...*sigh* I don't think people should be killed, I probably said something else before, but I wasn't really thinking. I was probably just tired...or maybe brain cramp?

[EmeraldKnight]

I already talked about Ghandi a couple of pages back...

-i didnt read the whole thing, as it is very time consuming, so i'm just responding to the most recent arguments

But how many people are usually wrongly accused of murdering someone? That's a heck of an accusation. Now, I'm not saying that it doesn't happen, but I'm asking how often does it happen?

oh it happens.. ppl looking for a scapegoat, circumstantial evidence implicating them.. it happens more often than you're making it seem

I agree that if a person killed only once, it doesn't seem that he/she should receive death sentence, but how do we know that the person only killed once? Or will only kill once?

Criminal records can tell how many times the person killed, and though we cant fully predict the future, psychologists can run tests to see, and depending on the situation.. i mean, analyzing their motives.. if its killing as part of gang wars, or driveby killing or robbery or something, then yes, they should receive the death penalty, but if its because of an act of extreme momentary anger or something, then I dont think they should... *sigh* its very hard to explain, and i'm not doing a very good job, but basically judging by their motives and chances for recurrence.. the death penaly should be administered on a case by case basis, we shouldnt get rid of it as a whole, but we should be careful with it

And it is very hard to die on death row, infact, I think a couple of people died while waiting on death row. Kind of ironic isn't it? 

heh, but we still spend thousands of tax dollars on them

[EmeraldKnight]

I was seeing a book about Torture and it was so disgusting how people were wrongfully accused for things they didn't do. Like the people accused of being witches were put in a chair and thrown in the river to see if they would float. If they did float, that meant they were witches but if they didn't and drowned, that means they weren't. What the heck? They die anyways...*sigh*

well that was before.. the judicial process is a lot more refined now

. Anywhoo, I mean, people shouldn't get the death penalty because it's just wrong

but what about the acts they commited? the general population must spend money keeping someone who has killed others alive?

My argument is that each case be reviewed separately and judged depending on chances of recurrence and severity of the crime (as in, # ppl killed)

[Spirited Away]

oh it happens.. ppl looking for a scapegoat, circumstantial evidence implicating them.. it happens more often than you're making it seem

Yes, people look for scapegoats, how many succeed?

Criminal records can tell how many times a person is killed ONLY if the murder is reported. How many children/people are missing/kidnapped? How many of those people got murdered? We don't know because there aren't records of the killers. Many murder cases are closed because no one figured out who the killer is. If one is caught, how do you know for sure they only killed that one person?

heh, but we still spend thousands of tax dollars on them

Erm, ACTUALLY, it works both ways, if we keep give them life in prison, we would still be spending MILLIONS of tax dollars on them.

[EmeraldKnight]

Yes, people look for scapegoats, how many succeed?

I cant give you an exact value, but more than you're making it out to be

Criminal records can tell how many times a person is killed ONLY if the murder is reported. How many children/people are missing/kidnapped? How many of those people got murdered? We don't know because there aren't records of the killers. Many murder cases are closed because no one figured out who the killer is. If one is caught, how do you know for sure they only killed that one person?

We dont, thats why the mental state of the defendant must also be taken into account as well as the motives

Erm, ACTUALLY, it works both ways, if we keep give them life in prison, we would still be spending MILLIONS of tax dollars on them.

We could also ship them off to some far corner of the planet

Alright well.. if you havent noticed, i'm just helping this debate along by throwing ideas out there, not taking either side..

[Spirited Away]

I cant give you an exact value, but more than you're making it out to be

We dont, thats why the mental state of the defendant must also be taken into account as well as the motives

We could also ship them off to some far corner of the planet

Alright well.. if you havent noticed, i'm just helping this debate along by throwing ideas out there, not taking either side..

Oh, I'm sorry if I seem mad... I'm not! Really! You're points are very well considered.

We could just pull them out into orbits when we have one of our launches. Saves money. And that's that.

[EmeraldKnight]

Oh, I'm sorry if I seem mad... I'm not! Really! You're points are very well considered.

lol no you dont, you're very good at debating, i just ran out of comebacks
cuz this topic i realli dont particularly have an opinion, there're things either way.. but i need the practice for next year

We could just pull them out into orbits when we have one of our launches. Saves money. And that's that.

haha yup... also sneak them into enemy countries in times of war, have them wreak havoc from the inside out

[*Kathleen*]

I cant give you an exact value, but more than you're making it out to be

I don't think it's much more than you think...I mean, you do realize that we have pretty fair trials, and there are many talented defense lawyers out there...

We dont, thats why the mental state of the defendant must also be taken into account as well as the motives

How will you know if they enjoyed that killing and somehow became psychotic? No matter the circumstances, killers are susceptible to killing again...many of them can easily fool psychiatrists, too, and you can't depend on that.

Hehe getting back on topic.

[ComradeRed]

Exactly. So many people are against this, but they don't know what this country would be like with capital punishment used effectively. It could make this world a better place by keeping those criminals and potential criminals off the streets.

We don't punish "potential criminals" in the US ...

[cornflakes]

I am against it. Most of you should also be against it also. It is barbaric, and for all you christians, remember "thou shalt not kill"? It applies to even the Government.

[*Kathleen*]

We don't punish "potential criminals" in the US ...

No...I'm saying that the convicts that eventually get out kill again, thus, being potential criminals.

I am against it. Most of you should also be against it also. It is barbaric, and for all you christians, remember "thou shalt not kill"? It applies to even the Government.

Whether it is barbaric or not is an opinion; remember something called Seperation of Church and State?

[EmeraldKnight]

No...I'm saying that the convicts that eventually get out kill again, thus, being potential criminals.

How do you know that they will kill again? Ppl deserve a second chance, and people can change, I'm not saying that there isnt the possibility, but it doesnt seem... right, i guess.. to take another's life and not give them another chance.. i know its risky but.. *sigh* its hard to explain what i'm getting at here.. ok, I propose what we do, is after we sentence someone to death through the whole court process and all.. and we see how they react prior to their execution, like.. if they show any remorse or regret, if they truly start to value life and have a change of heart or something, if they do, then I dont think they deserve to die, but if someone is either psychotic or firmly believed in their killing, then they should die... does that make sense at all?

[*Kathleen*]

How do you know that they will kill again?

Read back a few pages; uninspiredfae found statistics for that.

ok, I propose what we do, is after we sentence someone to death through the whole court process and all.. and we see how they react prior to their execution, like.. if they show any remorse or regret, if they truly start to value life and have a change of heart or something, if they do, then I dont think they deserve to die, but if someone is either psychotic or firmly believed in their killing, then they should die... does that make sense at all?

Then people will know what they must do to not get the death penalty; just because they're psychotic certainly does not mean they don't know what's going on, nor denies the fact that they will still be able to act or play a part in favor of them.

[cornflakes]

It being barbaric is the truth not opinion. It is fact, also it is my opinion. First it is barbaric though.

[ComradeRed]

No...I'm saying that the convicts that eventually get out kill again, thus, being potential criminals.


Whether it is barbaric or not is an opinion; remember something called Seperation of Church and State?

They arne't potential criminals after they kill someone; they're already criminals.

When we punish them, we punish them for what they already did, not for what they MIGHT do in the future.

[*Kathleen*]

It being barbaric is the truth not opinion. It is fact, also it is my opinion. First it is barbaric though.

Um...yeah I just won't say anything about that.

Ah! Minda! You know what I mean.

[IIO__oII]

i think its for God to decide.. not us =]

[EmeraldKnight]

Um... and how will God decide?

[IIO__oII]

Um... and how will God decide?

it will happen on judgement day...

[m@dcow]

Must everything relate back to religion?

I'm pro-cloning