For Sociology I am writing a paper and we have to do a survey and use some of the information in the paper itself. For those who have a couple of minutes to spare, if you could possibly answer the following questions - I would greatly appreciate it.

1) Do you support the death penalty? Yes/No
2) When should the death penalty be used?
3) Since when does it make it right for the government to execute someone?
4) Do you belive that the eye-for-an-eye theories should be used? In this case life-for-a-life.
5) On a scale of 1-10, how inhumane do you consider death by leathal injection to be?
6) What about cases in which the person was proved guilty beyond reasonable doubt; yet lacked any "decent" evidence such as DNA, video, or credible witnesses?
7) How would you like to be strapped down onto a gurney?
8) What do you think is the next best alternative?
9) For those who support the death penatly; why do you support it?
10) For those who do not support the death penalty; why don't you support it?
11) Do you believe mentally retarded murderers should be executed? Explain why or why not.

Choose only #9 or #10; and I appreciate your responses.

Originally posted by Fiber
For Sociology I am writing a paper and we have to do a survey and use some of the information in the paper itself. For those who have a couple of minutes to spare, if you could possibly answer the following questions - I would greatly appreciate it.

1) Do you support the death penalty? Yes/No
2) When should the death penalty be used?
3) Since when does it make it right for the government to execute someone?
4) Do you belive that the eye-for-an-eye theories should be used? In this case life-for-a-life.
5) On a scale of 1-10, how inhumane do you consider death by leathal injection to be?
6) What about cases in which the person was proved guilty beyond reasonable doubt; yet lacked any "decent" evidence such as DNA, video, or credible witnesses?
7) How would you like to be strapped down onto a gurney?
8) What do you think is the next best alternative?
9) For those who support the death penatly; why do you support it?
10) For those who do not support the death penalty; why don't you support it?
11) Do you believe mentally retarded murderers should be executed? Explain why or why not.

Choose only #9 or #10; and I appreciate your responses.

1) yes
2) frequently
3) since the victors get the spoils, or if the law passes it.
4) I believe that we should use the body parts of prisoners for a time servered. Kidney = 10 years lung = 15 to 20 depending on health and body so forth ...
5) death by injection should also include small probes within the feet giving intense pain. so that everyone watching the execution will see the duffering and think twice.
6) judge by a jury of your peers, you shall suffer their choices. so you statement is invalid. the guy should have got a better lawyer.
7) if it was to save my life sure why not. ( again you did not define the situation )
8) stiff board
9) accountablity of peoples actions are no longer valid. you can now safely commit violent act's of crime without worry. prison is still life, and even if you get to 90 years old and sent out, they have to place you in a nursing home ( nifty that my tax dollars are keeping you alive ).
11) kill the parents for not supervising them, the mentally impared have clouded judgement. they are innocent and are truly the only one's that can say " heck If I know what I'm doing"

Originally posted by Fiber
For Sociology I am writing a paper and we have to do a survey and use some of the information in the paper itself. For those who have a couple of minutes to spare, if you could possibly answer the following questions - I would greatly appreciate it.

1) Do you support the death penalty? Yes/No


Yes. (Given they are guilty of a truly horrid crime)


2) When should the death penalty be used?


When needed. I.e., murderer's, rapists, pedophiles.


3) Since when does it make it right for the government to execute someone?


When they commit an act worth of death. I.e., refer to above.


4) Do you belive that the eye-for-an-eye theories should be used? In this case life-for-a-life.


If the situation ir correct and fitting, sure. However, look above at "death" and the death penalty is sure fitting of those crimes.


5) On a scale of 1-10, how inhumane do you consider death by leathal injection to be?


They commit a crime badly enough, I really don't care how they are exterminated. I think if they are going to be inhuname in how they commit the crime, the punishment will fit it.


6) What about cases in which the person was proved guilty beyond reasonable doubt; yet lacked any "decent" evidence such as DNA, video, or credible witnesses?


That's not for me to decide, since I'm not on their cases' jury. Without DNA, video, witnesses, confessing, etc., it's hard to say what a reasonable doubt is. That's a tough call to make, I'd hate to be asked to make it... I don't know if I could, but at the same time I don't know that I'd trust the decision to other people.


7) How would you like to be strapped down onto a gurney?


That's a silly question.


8) What do you think is the next best alternative?


Punishment to fit the crime. Be it life in prison, death penalty, or whatever.


9) For those who support the death penatly; why do you support it?


Because we need it, it is a better deterent than cable and weight rooms. I speak of extreme cases of capital crimes.


10) For those who do not support the death penalty; why don't you support it?


Not applicable.


11) Do you believe mentally retarded murderers should be executed? Explain why or why not.


That's a tough one. To what degree are they mentally challenged, and what was the crime.


Choose only #9 or #10; and I appreciate your responses.

I choose #9.

Hey, this is a potentially active thread.. I can see some real controversy from it. :-)

Anyway, this subject is a little more complex than a poll or a question on a web board and most cases vary in degree and circumstances, it's too difficult to just say yes or no and not get into specifics or scenarios.

1) Do you support the death penalty? Yes/No


NO!!


2) When should the death penalty be used?


Never


3) Since when does it make it right for the government to execute someone?


Nobody have the right to take somebody else life, not a criminal nor the government.


4) Do you belive that the eye-for-an-eye theories should be used? In this case life-for-a-life.


No


5) On a scale of 1-10, how inhumane do you consider death by leathal injection to be?

10


6) What about cases in which the person was proved guilty beyond reasonable doubt; yet lacked any "decent" evidence such as DNA, video, or credible witnesses?

Answer in #3


7) How would you like to be strapped down onto a gurney?

:confused:


8) What do you think is the next best alternative?

Life in prision, but not watching TV or taking drugs, the prisoner must do things to the community.


9) For those who support the death penatly; why do you support it?

Not Applicable


10) For those who do not support the death penalty; why don't you support it?

Answered in the #3


11) Do you believe mentally retarded murderers should be executed? Explain why or why not.

How can somebody who do not what's doing must be executed? this is just insane.

I think that most of the ppl outthere that dont support death penalty would change their mind if someone from their family members were murdered, I dont know how long do you stay in the prison after you murder someone in the US, but for the most EU countries it varies from 6-12 years, so if you kill someone with 20, you ll be free at least when you are 32, and the victim doesnt have that chance right?

If they kill, burn them:angry:

1) Do you support the death penalty? Yes/No
- No

2) When should the death penalty be used?
- Never

3) Since when does it make it right for the government to execute someone?
- Im not sure when.

4) Do you belive that the eye-for-an-eye theories should be used? In this case life-for-a-life.
- Maybe a lifetime spent behind bars ( I literally mean life )

5) On a scale of 1-10, how inhumane do you consider death by leathal injection to be?
- 1, its quite fast and painless actually.

6) What about cases in which the person was proved guilty beyond reasonable doubt; yet lacked any "decent" evidence such as DNA, video, or credible witnesses?
- What about it?

7) How would you like to be strapped down onto a gurney?
- Im married, but thanks for offering!

8) What do you think is the next best alternative?
- Life in jail with Bubba.

9) For those who support the death penatly; why do you support it?
n/a

10) For those who do not support the death penalty; why don't you support it?
- If you murder the murderer, does that not make you a murderer yourself? If the government is going to kill people, why not kill the ones that want to die? For instance the terminally ill?

11) Do you believe mentally retarded murderers should be executed? Explain why or why not.
- No, I do not believe in the death penalty for one. And second, I don't think that being mentally undeveloped makes you any less human that anyone else. They should have the same fate as any of us if we were to commit such a crime.

I love this arguement, I really pissed my Philosophy teacher off this semester with me response to this question.

Am I in favor of the death penalty? Yeap.

When should it be used? Whenever you are found guilty of voluntary manslaughter. Meaning you intended to kill someone, and didn't do it by accident.

Why do I favor this? Because why is it that someone who murders another on purpose receives the chance to become a reformed member of society when the person(s) he/she killed will never receive that chance? I don't care how sorry the murderer is or will be, once you kill intentionally, you lose all rights given to you by the Constitution of this country. And this guilty by reason of insanity has gotten way outta control, my view? Who cares if you are insane, all the more reason to remove you from society. Oh well Bob Smith was temporarily insane when he murdered Jane so he should be put into an mental insitution where we can cure him and put him back into society as a normal person within six months and he won't serve any jail time. HELLO!! What the hell is wrong with people?

To me the death penalty works more as a deterrent then anything. If we used the death sentece for EVERY guilty conviction of voluntary manslaughter, then I feel we would see a drop in murders. But the reason it currently fails as a deterrnet is due to the fact that it is rarely used, half the time murderers walk away from prision within 10 years of the start of their sentence.

Also I think the death sentence should be used for counts of treason and terrorism, especially in today's times. If you decide to spy for another country and pass sensitive secrets to other countries of your homelands defense secrets, retalliations for a nuke strike, recovery from a nuke strike, nuke secrets, etc.. you should be executed. Like the guy from the FBI that was just convicted, he should be put to death or like the other Air Force guy (I think he was in the Air Force) that was caught with the letter he was planning to send to Saddam and others about satalites and other secrets.

Wow this is a long post, but I just love this subject, it is so touchy and people have so many views on it, I love to read peoples views, cause I feel it broadens my stance.

1) Do you support the death penalty? Yes/No

No

2) When should the death penalty be used?

Never

3) Since when does it make it right for the government to execute someone?

It dosen't

4) Do you belive that the eye-for-an-eye theories should be used? In this case life-for-a-life.

No

5) On a scale of 1-10, how inhumane do you consider death by leathal injection to be?

10

6) What about cases in which the person was proved guilty beyond reasonable doubt; yet lacked any "decent" evidence such as DNA, video, or credible witnesses?

Irrelevant

7) How would you like to be strapped down onto a gurney?

Not much

8) What do you think is the next best alternative?

Prison

9) For those who support the death penatly; why do you support it?

n/r

10) For those who do not support the death penalty; why don't you support it?

- Possibility of error
- Does not prevent crime
- Become as bad as the person committing the crime
- Is not a self defense resolution. Prisons are just as effective
- Expensive (about 4x as much as keeping someone in prison their whole life)
- Suggests that people are never able to be rehabilitated
- Turning into sport, watching people be killed. I can imagine WWF fans loving it however
- It is not the states duty to make the victims feel better so this is a null argument. If the victim of a crime would feel better by torturing their persecutor that does not mean the state should torture them.

11) Do you believe mentally retarded murderers should be executed? Explain why or why not.

Definitely not. Does anyone really think this?

Choose only #9 or #10; and I appreciate your responses. [/B][/QUOTE]

Originally posted by Angel78
I think that most of the ppl outthere that dont support death penalty would change their mind if someone from their family members were murdered, I dont know how long do you stay in the prison after you murder someone in the US, but for the most EU countries it varies from 6-12 years, so if you kill someone with 20, you ll be free at least when you are 32, and the victim doesnt have that chance right?

If they kill, burn them:angry:

This is a typically irrelevant example given. When deciding a national policy you do not ask the victims what should happen. Apply that to something like war, we would never ever have peace. Of course (most, not all) victims are going to want to see what ever is possible done to the person inflicting harm on them but why does that make it right that harm should be inflicted?

And it is very rare that someone is let out after killing someone in under 20 years, let along 12.

1) Do you support the death penalty? Yes
2) When should the death penalty be used? In cases where there is absolutely no doubt possible that the person is guilty and where the person would never be released from prison. e.g. serial murders \ rapists
3) Since when does it make it right for the government to execute someone? ? since the person decided to live outside society and societies rules to such a degree that they drastically affected the lives of members of society.
4) Do you belive that the eye-for-an-eye theories should be used? In this case life-for-a-life. to a minor extent. why should society pay for scum to live in prison for the rest of their life when theyve taken other peoples lives.
5) On a scale of 1-10, how inhumane do you consider death by leathal injection to be? i dont view it as inhumane so 1 or 10 depending on your scale.
6) What about cases in which the person was proved guilty beyond reasonable doubt; yet lacked any "decent" evidence such as DNA, video, or credible witnesses? no way. no 'decent' evidence = no death penalty.
7) How would you like to be strapped down onto a gurney? by my girlfriend very much thanks.
8) What do you think is the next best alternative? to what? as a form of execution. firing squad.
9) For those who support the death penatly; why do you support it? because i think its in societies interests to renmove these people. what purpose does keeping them locked up serve. they will never be released. why pay 1000's a week to keep them there.
11) Do you believe mentally retarded murderers should be executed? Explain why or why not. no because as your research should show, they cannot be charged with murder, only manslaughter. they werent capable of making the decision like anyone else would therefore its a different case.


you may want to include the nationality of the people surveyed and whether capital punishment exists in their country,
im from the united kingdom which doesnt unfortunately.

Originally posted by padders


This is a typically irrelevant example given. When deciding a national policy you do not ask the victims what should happen. Apply that to something like war, we would never ever have peace. Of course (most, not all) victims are going to want to see what ever is possible done to the person inflicting harm on them but why does that make it right that harm should be inflicted?

And it is very rare that someone is let out after killing someone in under 20 years, let along 12.

in the uk if they bahave themselves they will be out on parole in about 13 years. it varies country to country. just a fyi :)

1. Theoretically, I support the death penalty; practically, I do not.
2. Appropriate conditions for the application of the death penalty are as follows: 1. There must be no doubt that the person convicted is actually guilty; 2. They must have been mature and aware of their actions when they took place; 3. They must pose a clear danger to society.
Given that, since 1973, over 80 people have been released from death row as a result of new evidence which proves them innocent, I think that, practically speaking, the death penalty should not be used, even though I support it theoretically. The scapegoat mechanism is too far ingrained into human psyches for the death penalty to be appropriately used.
3. It is reasonable for the government -- the people -- to use the death penalty in order to protect themselves from a clear danger... but only under conditions which are, as yet, not satisfied.
4. Revenge is not Justice. In any case, this would only be self-consistant if prosecutors, judges, and juries could be held responsible -- and put to death -- if they cased the execution of someone later held innocent.
5. Death by lethal injection is perfectly humane. Humans are cruel in the extreme.
6. Guilt is either proven or not proven; the type of evidence is immaterial.
7. ???
8. If someone poses a danger to society, let him be locked away for the rest of his life; but if a man kills another under circumstances which will never recur -- that is, if he does not pose a future danger to society -- then let him go free, on the condition that he attempts to make amends for his actions. Guilt is a far harsher punishment than either imprisonment or death.
9,10. see above.
11. No; if someone is unaware of their actions, they should not be held responsible for them.

Originally posted by DjPaj
I love this arguement, I really pissed my Philosophy teacher off this semester with me response to this question.

Am I in favor of the death penalty? Yeap.

When should it be used? Whenever you are found guilty of voluntary manslaughter. Meaning you intended to kill someone, and didn't do it by accident.

Why do I favor this? Because why is it that someone who murders another on purpose receives the chance to become a reformed member of society when the person(s) he/she killed will never receive that chance? I don't care how sorry the murderer is or will be, once you kill intentionally, you lose all rights given to you by the Constitution of this country. And this guilty by reason of insanity has gotten way outta control, my view? Who cares if you are insane, all the more reason to remove you from society. Oh well Bob Smith was temporarily insane when he murdered Jane so he should be put into an mental insitution where we can cure him and put him back into society as a normal person within six months and he won't serve any jail time. HELLO!! What the hell is wrong with people?

To me the death penalty works more as a deterrent then anything. If we used the death sentece for EVERY guilty conviction of voluntary manslaughter, then I feel we would see a drop in murders. But the reason it currently fails as a deterrnet is due to the fact that it is rarely used, half the time murderers walk away from prision within 10 years of the start of their sentence.

Also I think the death sentence should be used for counts of treason and terrorism, especially in today's times. If you decide to spy for another country and pass sensitive secrets to other countries of your homelands defense secrets, retalliations for a nuke strike, recovery from a nuke strike, nuke secrets, etc.. you should be executed. Like the guy from the FBI that was just convicted, he should be put to death or like the other Air Force guy (I think he was in the Air Force) that was caught with the letter he was planning to send to Saddam and others about satalites and other secrets.

Wow this is a long post, but I just love this subject, it is so touchy and people have so many views on it, I love to read peoples views, cause I feel it broadens my stance.

It is simply untrue that the dealth penalty deters crime. How many people who kill people are considering the consequences of their action. If we had a dealth penalty for car theft or for insurance fraud then sure those will go down because people weigh up the consequences of their action. People just do not do this when deciding whether to murder someone or not.

There is a difference between the temporary insansity used in some cases, probably as an excuse they can get away with and people who are actually insanse. Some people really are insane. Really want to kill them? I remember someone else who thought that killing insanse and the mentally ill was a good plan (as well as a few other people).

It is always interesting that the US has problems with lots of other socities records on human rights. However if you look at the one thing that most military dictatorships have in common, which almost all other democracies do not you will see it is the dealth penalty. America's criminal justice system is really quite strange, they imprison i higher percentage of their population than Stalin did, about 4%. Capital punishment is just another extension of this attitude of hiding away the bad bits of society in the easiest way possible.

Someone, I am not sure who, said that you can tell a lot about a society by how it treats its criminals. Taking nothing else into account but the incredibly high prison percentage, capital punishment, questionable human rights treatment for people at Cuba would put the US inline with just about any military dictatorship out there.

Originally posted by richy


in the uk if they bahave themselves they will be out on parole in about 13 years. it varies country to country. just a fyi :)

That depends. I was under the impression that was about right for manslaghter, but not for murder.

varies case to case and the judge can set a minimum time spent inside but the average time for a single murder charge is 13.5 years of a 20 year sentance.

Greetings:

"1) Do you support the death penalty? Yes/No "

How about a third choice?

Like when circumstances make sense. Henious crime. Guaranteed guilt (no mistakes). No hope of rehabilitation. Danger to society.

"2) When should the death penalty be used?"

See above.

"3) Since when does it make it right for the government to execute someone?"

It is called being sovereign.

"4) Do you belive that the eye-for-an-eye theories should be used? In this case life-for-a-life. "

No, but see the answer to #1.

"5) On a scale of 1-10, how inhumane do you consider death by leathal injection to be? "

Not enough education on this matter to make a statement.

"6) What about cases in which the person was proved guilty beyond reasonable doubt; yet lacked any "decent" evidence such as DNA, video, or credible witnesses? "

You stated beyond reasonable doubt, so there must have been enough evidence to convict.

"7) How would you like to be strapped down onto a gurney?"

Been there, but not for legal issues ;-)

"8) What do you think is the next best alternative?"

Not sure in the case of henious crimes or complete danger to society with no room for rehabilitation.

Will you or others pay to keep them living in prision?

"9) For those who support the death penatly; why do you support it?"

If the individual is a complete danger to society with no hope of rehabilitation, then that's why.

"10) For those who do not support the death penalty; why don't you support it? "

N/A.

"11) Do you believe mentally retarded murderers should be executed? Explain why or why not. "

If it has been proven they are mentally retarded, then no.

Why? Because their chances of knowing right vs. wrong, cause and effect may not be present.

Thank you.

It is simply untrue that the dealth penalty deters crime. How many people who kill people are considering the consequences of their action. If we had a dealth penalty for car theft or for insurance fraud then sure those will go down because people weigh up the consequences of their action. People just do not do this when deciding whether to murder someone or not.

True true, but if you read more into what I was saying, I stated that since the death penalty is not used 100% of the time in murder cases, it does not act as a deterrent, but if there was no other alternative but the death penalty to those convicted of voluntary homicide, than I believe it would act as a better deterrent. Those who kill do not think of the consequence due to the fact that they know that in the US there is a good chance they will get 40-50 years with chance of parole in 10, a reduced sentence from a plea or even nothing if they can get the temp. insanity charge. To one who is going to kill those are good odds, now if you placed one and only one end, the death penalty, I think people would think twice.

Originally posted by padders


It is simply untrue that the dealth penalty deters crime.
.

You might be right, but it saves our tax dollars,

BRING BACK Beheading, even a cheaper way of elimination.

Originally posted by ADEhost
You might be right, but it saves our tax dollars,

It doesn't, actually. It costs twice as much in the US to execute someone as it would to keep them in jail for the rest of their life.

Greetings:

"It doesn't, actually. It costs twice as much in the US to execute someone as it would to keep them in jail for the rest of their life."

Can you provide statistics with sources for this statement?

Also, another person made a statement that the death penalty does not deter crime.

That may be true, but if a person has been proven beyond doubt to be a danger to society and cannot be rehabilitated, then is it not a deterent to that person if they cannot commit the crime any more?


Thank you.

Originally posted by dynamicnet
Greetings:

"It doesn't, actually. It costs twice as much in the US to execute someone as it would to keep them in jail for the rest of their life."

Can you provide statistics with sources for this statement?

Also, another person made a statement that the death penalty does not deter crime.

That may be true, but if a person has been proven beyond doubt to be a danger to society and cannot be rehabilitated, then is it not a deterent to that person if they cannot commit the crime any more?


Thank you.

How could you possibly show that someone could never be rehabilitated?

I don't have stats handy on the price of execution but look on any of the typical anti death penalty for calculations on how to do this with figures. The costs are basically there because of all the extra legal proceedings that need to be gone through before someone can be executed. These fees are enormous.

And if you want another reason why the death penalty is so cruel it is because people have to sit on deathrow. Imagine sitting in jail, not knowing if you are going to live or die. Sure, you have done something very very bad to ever be in this situation but do you really think that sort of treatment is something a civilised country should be practicing.

I would also recommend reading some books about it, even something like The Chamber by John Grishman might make you think about what it is we are doing killing someone.

Originally posted by dynamicnet
Can you provide statistics with sources for this statement?


http://www.amnesty-usa.org/abolish/cost.html

Originally posted by DjPaj


True true, but if you read more into what I was saying, I stated that since the death penalty is not used 100% of the time in murder cases, it does not act as a deterrent, but if there was no other alternative but the death penalty to those convicted of voluntary homicide, than I believe it would act as a better deterrent. Those who kill do not think of the consequence due to the fact that they know that in the US there is a good chance they will get 40-50 years with chance of parole in 10, a reduced sentence from a plea or even nothing if they can get the temp. insanity charge. To one who is going to kill those are good odds, now if you placed one and only one end, the death penalty, I think people would think twice.

Do you really think so? I am sure that if you compare the murder rates in states with the dealth penalty and active use of it they will not be lower than in states without the death penalty.

I don't think many people really think, well if I kill this person I will probably only spend 15 years in jail, so I guess on the face of it that is a fair enough trade off. People kill someone because either they are not thinking rationally or don't believe they will ever get caught. The punishment difference between a long enough time in jail and death penatly I doubt ever comes into the equation.

Originally posted by padders
I am sure that if you compare the murder rates in states with the dealth penalty and active use of it they will not be lower than in states without the death penalty

In fact, if you look at the 12 states without the death penalty, 10 of them have murder rates below the national average.

Greetings:

Thank you for providing the statistics on http://www.amnesty-usa.org/abolish/cost.html.

One would think it would cost a lot less. I'm thinking of $600 toliet seats. Is it the government that it costs this much?

In any event, I only believe in capital punishment when there is a true danger to society and no hope of rehabilitation and in the caes of henious crimes.

So I'm not sure where to go from here. The statistics where mind opening.

Thank you.

And if you want another reason why the death penalty is so cruel it is because people have to sit on deathrow. Imagine sitting in jail, not knowing if you are going to live or die.

Good they should have to sit there and suffer, just as the families and friends do of the person that was murdered at the hands of this person. It's funny how people take into account the feelings of a murderer sitting on death row, why even waste your time and engergy caring for such a waste of a human? Can he be rehabilitated? Who cares, why do I want to waste my hard earned tax dollars to place a person convicted of murdering someone back into society, where they are probably going to do noting but once again waste my tax dollars sitting on welfare. I know I may be very ignorant but I'm sorry that's just how I feel. I see no reason why we should waste our time and money trying to rehabilitate someone who has commited such an act where we can spend our time and money other places like educating our youth, so they won't grow up to be such people.

I feel that once a murderer always a murderer. It takes a certain mindset to be able to take the life of another human being and I don't think we can alter that mindset.

Greetings:

"And if you want another reason why the death penalty is so cruel it is because people have to sit on deathrow. Imagine sitting in jail, not knowing if you are going to live or die. "

Excuse me?

If they have committed henious crimes and are a danger to society, what would you want us to do?

Would you take these people into your home? Have them sleep in the same house as your children or parents or spouse?

Why not? They are in jail for a reason. The victims have gone through worse, and those victims that live will have trouble the rest of their lives. The families of the victims will have trouble the rest of their lives.

My sister Tara was murdered in Florida and left naked in a muddy ditch in early 2000. She is survived by her very young daugther (about 8 now), her brother Raymond, her parents, and other family members.

In this case the person or persons involved have not been caught.

I'm too biased to discuss penalty; however, know that Tara's immediate family has been living with this for over two years now and will bear this for life.

Instead of speaking up for criminals who have abused society, why not focus on the victims of the crimes where the death penalty is involved.

Put yourselves in their shoes and ask why they should feel any differently or the state who represents the victims if they are now deceased.

Thank you.

I am wary of discussing the issue with someone who has had to go through something so horrible. Some crimes are so terrible that you would think whatever you do to the criminal does not matter and in lots of senses I agree. If someone ever did something to someone i loved anyone would be hard pressed to stop me going and doing what ever I could do to get revenge.

However I trully feel there is a big difference between this and what our legal system should do. I also think that everyone does deserve a least a chance to be rehabilitated.

I can see three reasons for punishing people, rehabilitation, deterrence and punishment. I think they should all be used to some degree when someone has committed a crime. I am sorry to say that I don't feel the aim of state sanctioned punishment is to make the victim feel better. However unfair that may sound I don't think we should encourage a society where people are made to feel better about a crime by hurting, killing etc the person who did it.

You are perfectly free to completly disagree with me, but this is what I think.

Greetings:

"Some crimes are so terrible that you would think whatever you do to the criminal does not matter and in lots of senses I agree. If someone ever did something to someone i loved anyone would be hard pressed to stop me going and doing what ever I could do to get revenge."

In the case of my sister, Tara; I am too biased to make statements, but it is not an issue of revenue.

"However I trully feel there is a big difference between this and what our legal system should do. I also think that everyone does deserve a least a chance to be rehabilitated. "

Do you believe there are some people who just cannot be rehabilitated?

And because they cannot be rehabilitated to the point where they are not a danger to society... that there in itself is a reason to consider the death penalty?

Or at least not be concerned with their comfort given the crime or crimes they committed?

In ending, because this can go on and on, it would be my hope that those who care for the criminals feelings and what it must be like for them would also consider the feelings of the victims and the survivors of those victims.

Thank you.

If I ever go to jail, these are the things that I will do.

First I will create my own religious system. and due to the ways laws are structured in the US federal system, I will get my worshipping done,

My worshipping will cover the following requirements:

1) 3 shot's of vodka ( every 15 minutes toasted to god )
2) Music played at the volumen levels I desire
3) mandatory reading that must be done in open air envionment, coving a text of worship
4) cigars that are from havana ( well I'll settle from Dom. Rep. )
5) weekly rum nights ( to go with the cigars )

the legal system will let me get away with 2, 3, and 1. If I have a large enough following I can get the prison system to spring up for 4, 5

I was watching 60 minutes not that long ago, and in some federal jail there was a guy that was smoking pot. Go figure

mike

Yes, I do feel that everyone can be rehabilitated, and even those that can't I certainly don't think we can tell apriori that they can't. Ie, we can only tell they can't when we have tried for the full length of their life and failed.

I certainly agree that prison should be a pretty horrible place but there are I believe certain levels of rights that even the worst of our society should be given. I am not concerned with their 'comformy but there is a difference between someone's comfort and for example turning a blind eye to rape in prisons or forcing people to live with the prospect of execution on their head for 15 years. Perhaps they do deserve it but I don't think just because someone deserves something that it necessarily means that we should give it to them.

And I certainly care about the victims of crime, otherwise there would be no point in having punishment at all, however I don't think the point of punishment is to make the victim feel better. Sorry, but that is just me.

Do I believe in the death penalty? Only in the case of heinous crimes - such as offering unlimted bandwidth.

I dont support it. The idea of the government owning your life has always been a little scary to me.

Greetings:

"Yes, I do feel that everyone can be rehabilitated, and even those that can't I certainly don't think we can tell apriori that they can't."

You are a better person than I to have such hope. I state this compliment seriously.

I know some people can and do change. However, I've also met people where no incentive (including life or death) will get them to be a different person.

Take care.

1) Do you support the death penalty? Yes/No
- No

2) When should the death penalty be used?
- Never

3) Since when does it make it right for the government to execute someone?
Never.

4) Do you belive that the eye-for-an-eye theories should be used? In this case life-for-a-life.
- No

5) On a scale of 1-10, how inhumane do you consider death by leathal injection to be?
10

6) What about cases in which the person was proved guilty beyond reasonable doubt; yet lacked any "decent" evidence such as DNA, video, or credible witnesses?
Never

7) How would you like to be strapped down onto a gurney?
That's right!

8) What do you think is the next best alternative?
Chain Gangs.

9) For those who support the death penatly; why do you support it?
n/a

10) For those who do not support the death penalty; why don't you support it?
- It is not the governments decision.

11) Do you believe mentally retarded murderers should be executed? Explain why or why not.
- No - But I do believe they should be punished. Anyone who kills someone must be somewhat insane or mentally retarded anyway so where's the argument.

1) Do you support the death penalty? YES
2) When should the death penalty be used? NOW
3) Since when does it make it right for the government to execute someone? "An eye for an eye a tooth for a tooth."
4) Do you believe that the eye-for-an-eye theories should be used? In this case life-for-a-life. YES
5) On a scale of 1-10, how inhumane do you consider death by lethal injection to be? 1
6) What about cases in which the person was proved guilty beyond reasonable doubt; yet lacked any "decent" evidence such as DNA, video, or credible witnesses? Well, that depends, if you're in the wrong place at the right time, then I guess you're going to die.
7) How would you like to be strapped down onto a gurney? If I had done the crime to deserve it, it would be just fine.
8) What do you think is the next best alternative? NOTHING
9) For those who support the death penalty; why do you support it? I believe that everyone should be punished for their wrong doings. I believe in the Golden Rule, "An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth."
10) For those who do not support the death penalty; why don't you support it?
11) Do you believe mentally retarded murderers should be executed? NO, because, they do not have control over themselves, however, I do believe that they should be kept under strict supervision, in a mental hospital or in prison.

Originally posted by iamdave

11) Do you believe mentally retarded murderers should be executed? NO, because, they do not have control over themselves, however, I do believe that they should be kept under strict supervision, in a mental hospital or in prison.

damm that's harsh. and I thought I was ruthless.

LOL

Originally posted by dynamicnet


I know some people can and do change. However, I've also met people where no incentive (including life or death) will get them to be a different person.

Take care.

I do agree with you, the chance of rehabilitating for example the people now at Cuba is really pretty low. I still think we have an obligation to at least try.

1) Do you support the death penalty? Yes/No
- No

2) When should the death penalty be used?
- Immediate danger situations
- Extreem cases where it should never be asked "should it be used" like shooting a hostage taker.

3) Since when does it make it right for the government to execute someone?
- Never.

4) Do you belive that the eye-for-an-eye theories should be used? In this case life-for-a-life.
- No

5) On a scale of 1-10, how inhumane do you consider death by leathal injection to be?
- I do not know enough about it.

6) What about cases in which the person was proved guilty beyond reasonable doubt; yet lacked any "decent" evidence such as DNA, video, or credible witnesses?
- Never

7) How would you like to be strapped down onto a gurney?
- Whats changed?

8) What do you think is the next best alternative?
- Depends on the crime, for murder I think locking up a long time

9) For those who support the death penatly; why do you support it?
n/a

10) For those who do not support the death penalty; why don't you support it?
- If there is a mistake made anywhere, lets face it mistakes can happen in most systems. Its not worth killing 1 inoccent person by mistake just to satisfy other peoples feelings about the subject.

11) Do you believe mentally retarded murderers should be executed? Explain why or why
- nope, I think a straight jacket is fine, along with some pink walls, dripping taps etc.


An interesting point about how much effort the prisons would put in :
I watched a documentary a couple of years back about the difference between British and German prisons. The two heads of the services met. The German told how once a month the married prisoners get a visit from thier wife and kids, in fact they get to stay in the prison. The kids get great beds, the parents get laid. Mom and kids go home, dad misses home, when dad goes home he has a home. They have a low re-offending rate. The British head of prisons stood thier like a disgruntled old man not quite knowing what to say, like someone else controlling his head. WE DONT DO THAT HERE! Yeah, we have a very high re-offending rate. I dare say many blokes home lives are completely destroyed. Bare in mind this could be a driving offence. I dont think murderers etc get the same treatment, but the attitude I dare say carries all the way.

RE Cuba,

Cuba got their prison system banned did it not? Against the GC? I think its the only system that trully works for hardened criminals, and if applied to a government, well that might just work too! Good reason to ban it eh?

Before even thinking about how to cope with murderers the prison systems have to be more sympathetic towards low end offenders, then less re-offending and more room and time to rehab the bads.

:dgrin:

I support it. KILL KILL KILL `em!

The world is way too over populated anyway.

1) Do you support the death penalty? Yes/No

Yes

2) When should the death penalty be used?

Take a life, pay for it with your life. End of story.

3) Since when does it make it right for the government to execute someone?

If it were up to me to decide, the government wouldn't have to do the executing. Just leave the criminal in a locked room with five of the deceased's family members for a half hour. Nature will take its course.

4) Do you belive that the eye-for-an-eye theories should be used? In this case life-for-a-life.

Yes
5) On a scale of 1-10, how inhumane do you consider death by leathal injection to be?

I consider death by lethal injection to be far to kind. I personally prefer the thought of flinging the murderer against a brick wall, via catapult.

6) What about cases in which the person was proved guilty beyond reasonable doubt; yet lacked any "decent" evidence such as DNA, video, or credible witnesses?

As someone else stated in this thread, this question is flawed. If a person is proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt, it implies that the evidence against them is solid.


7) How would you like to be strapped down onto a gurney?

Huh?

8) What do you think is the next best alternative?

If not the death penalty, then perhaps a medival (sp) prison. No toilet, no running water.. walled up behind a brick wall with just a slot big enough to shove a cup of water and a slice of bread through daily. Certainly not one of the Country Club prisons currently supported by the liberal masses in this country. Why the hell should a prisoner live better than a free citizen? They are Prisoners!!! WTF is wrong with this country?

9) For those who support the death penatly; why do you support it?

It doesnt waste my tax money attempting to rehabilitate someone who is most likely far beyond redemption. It also doesnt allow for a murderer to be out walking the streets a few years later because he 'was a model prisoner'

11) Do you believe mentally retarded murderers should be executed? Explain why or why not.

If it can be proven that the defendant is capable of understanding right and wrong, Yes. The rules apply to them as well.

1) Do you support the death penalty? Yes/No
- Yes

2) When should the death penalty be used?
- Proven guilt in premeditated murder or kidnap/torture cases

3) Since when does it make it right for the government to execute someone?
-See 2 above.

4) Do you belive that the eye-for-an-eye theories should be used? In this case life-for-a-life.
- Yes

5) On a scale of 1-10, how inhumane do you consider death by leathal injection to be?
-1

6) What about cases in which the person was proved guilty beyond reasonable doubt; yet lacked any "decent" evidence such as DNA, video, or credible witnesses?
-If self admitted and proven

7) How would you like to be strapped down onto a gurney?
-If I took a life it would only be fitting!

8) What do you think is the next best alternative?
-Life in prison.

9) For those who support the death penatly; why do you support it?
It is only right that a person who plans and executes a murder, forfeit their life.

10) For those who do not support the death penalty; why don't you support it?
-NA

11) Do you believe mentally retarded murderers should be executed? Explain why or why not.
- Not if they are truly mentally retarded. If they can differentiate between right and wrong, then they should suffer the same punishment.

After watching Crimewatch UK tonight, I maybe change my mind on point 4.:mad:

1) Do you support the death penalty? Yes/No

Yes and No - in theory yes in practice no.

2) When should the death penalty be used?

Only late at night.

3) Since when does it make it right for the government to execute someone?

When it is more right than letting the person live.

4) Do you belive that the eye-for-an-eye theories should be used? In this case life-for-a-life.

When it is more dangerous to let the people live.

5) On a scale of 1-10, how inhumane do you consider death by leathal injection to be?

I rate it an L. For lazy. There are swifter ways to accomplish it.

6) What about cases in which the person was proved guilty beyond reasonable doubt; yet lacked any "decent" evidence such as DNA, video, or credible witnesses?

Government will always make "mistakes" and this is why I am opposed to death penalty in practice.

7) How would you like to be strapped down onto a gurney?

Depends on who's doing the strapping.

8) What do you think is the next best alternative?

Stasis.

9) For those who support the death penatly; why do you support it?

Because it is necessary. Some people are more dangerous alive. Bin Laden, for example. Arafat and other criminal terrorists like that too.

10) For those who do not support the death penalty; why don't you support it?

Because the government is imperfect and I do not trust them (any government) with deciding who gets to die.

11) Do you believe mentally retarded murderers should be executed? Explain why or why not.

What else would you do with them?