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Topic ClosedCapital Punishment: For or Against?

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Poll Question: Do you stand by it?
Poll Choice Votes Poll Statistics
14 [30.43%]
32 [69.57%]
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Henry Plainview View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 26 2009 at 21:03
Not so, Rob, because no justice system can ever be perfect, and you can undo a life sentence by letting someone out of jail. You can't undo death, and I can't tolerate a single innocent person being killed. In fact, I believe the Supreme Court said that innocent people have never been killed, but if one were that would be cause to rethink it. It is entirely possible I made that last sentence up.
 
Also, one could say that the problem with your scenario is not how society treats criminals, but how it treats the unemployed. ;-)
 
I would not have a problem with convicted criminals doing labor as long as their working conditions were the same as a normal person. The problem, I suppose, is that it wouldn't stay that way because there are people like Sheriff Joe around.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 26 2009 at 20:49
Originally posted by Henry Plainview Henry Plainview wrote:

I used to be for it, but now I am not so sure.



Arguing against capital punishment on the basis of killing an innocent person does not an argument against capital punishment make.  One can argue against punishment period on that basis.  What it does is question how good a judicial system is.

I have absolutely zero qualms against capital punishment.  What I do have a problem with is life in prison.  Why should a convicted murderer live a better life than a child whose father lost his home due to being laid off (theoretically)?

I find a lot of the liberal talking points against capital punishment come from those who espouse utilitarian "solutions" for other problems (like health care).

Very well.

If we are going to imprison criminals for life (or at all, really), ensure they put in to the society they take from.  Folks in prison do not pay a debt to society at all- they ultimately rob society even further.

Let them truly pay a debt to society.  Otherwise, if the crime warrants it, get rid of them. 

Publicly.  So it's a deterrent like it used to be.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 26 2009 at 20:43
well I would never "stand by" something like the death penalty or put any real hope or faith in it, however I don't begrudge those who support it and would never want to be in the shoes of a crime victim's loved ones

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Henry Plainview View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 26 2009 at 20:35

I used to be for it, but now I am not so sure.

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 26 2009 at 20:26
As much as I deteste many criminals for their acts, I cannot sanction the state to kill. Simple as that.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 26 2009 at 20:24
A very sensitive subject, and one that really splits society down the middle.

On one hand you have the people that either value human life too much, think it's too much of a risk that you will get it wrong and/or believe it's not an effective deterrent.

On the other you have the ones that believe it is morally correct to take certain criminals lives, appreciate prisons are over-crowded and/or think criminals shouldn't be allowed to repeat certain crimes.

Both pretty valid opinions, however I am more drawn to the former.

Where do you stand?


Edited by The Pessimist - November 26 2009 at 20:25
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