The Death Penalty

[kris31280 (Premo)]

As I get ready to finish the paper, anyone else have any opinions?

[PsyOps]

Originally Posted by vraiblonde

I think the death penalty is right for practical reasons, not moral or religious. So I didn't vote.

Wasn't that answer #5?

I believe the death penalty has it's uses, but is not right nor wrong.

[PsyOps]

Originally Posted by kris31280

As I get ready to finish the paper, anyone else have any opinions?

I see it a lot like war, I hate it but it's sometimes necessary.

Good luck on your paper.

[Pete (Premo)]

I believe the death penalty is neither right or wrong and it has its uses.

I used to be a strong proponent of the death penalty until the Timothy Mcveigh case. To me executing McVeigh was allowing him to escape. For what he did he deserved to sit in a cell for the 60 or so years until his death bored out of his melon. Killing him allowed him to escape the agony of solitary confinement. The agony of artificial light, stale air and crappy food. The agony of having no freedom to do anything.

Then there are those so sociopathic they should be put down like rabid dogs to prevent them from doing further harm to society. There IS a segment of our society, albeit small that are criminally insane and not only deserve death but death is for the good of our society to remove them.

The problem I have with the death penalty is centered chiefly on one thing; That our juries are made up by our "peers". I have very little confidence that the average American or even 12 average Americans are capable enough to put the CSI Miami reruns or preconceived notions out of their mind and use their cognitive thought process to determine guilt or innocence let alone determine death. Look at OJ, look at the huge civil liability payouts that juries have awarded that boggle the sane persons mind.

Sure their are appeals processes but they are strictly limited by law to procedures and judicial decisions and not finding of fact. Look at how many people have been cleared using DNA evidence after years of sitting in prison.

I have often thought of this forum as a microcosm of society as a whole. If you were accused of a capital crime and every member of this forum were in the jury pool how would you feel? Would you have a warm fuzzy looking over and seeing Nitwit, Toppic, or even me, depending on your opinion of me sitting in the jury box with the power to stick a needle in your arm?

I realize that there are some cases that are cut and dried and guilt is not even a question. But in those cases, and there are many, where cognitive thought, logical process is paramount for a correct verdict, there is no litmus test, there is very little screening to prevent 2/3rds of the jury box from being occupied by goobers who walk into the trial with the thought of "Kill the effer, I saw a case just like this on a Law & Order rerun on A&E while I was waiting for my $100 psychic reading email to come back from Ms. Cleo.

[Lexib_]

Originally Posted by kris31280

As I get ready to finish the paper, anyone else have any opinions?

Me personally...I'm for the death penalty. However they should how they die is how they committed the crime. If they beat someone to death they should be beat to death. Eye for an eye works for me. That would deter crime don't you think ?

[kom526]

As soon as the person is found guilty (beyond a reasonable doubt) and sentenced, you walk out of the courtroom and into a soundproof chamber then dispatch him immediately.

[Go G-Men]

I think the death penalty is right for many reasons.

An eye for an eye... You take a life (murder), you forfeit your right to life.

It will keep the cost down for folks in prison (without the possibility of parole).

Finally, Most of the wacko's serving time for murder will never be of value to society and should be put out of our misery.

[toppick08]

Originally Posted by Go G-Men

I think the death penalty is right for many reasons.

An eye for an eye... You take a life (murder), you forfeit your right to life.

It will keep the cost down for folks in prison (without the possibility of parole).

Finally, Most of the wacko's serving time for murder will never be of value to society and should be put out of our misery.

I agree with the death penalty.........but let's say we get it done within 60 days.........


True deterrent..........maybe....

[Penn]

[quote=Go G-Men;2827128]I think the death penalty is right for many reasons.

An eye for an eye... You take a life (murder), you forfeit your right to life. /quote]

I can't help but agree here. To me, it's a moral thing; you get what you deserve in return for a gristly act. Let me add one more thought here: You mess with a child, causing torture, abuse, and death, it's automatic.

Maybe some might consider it a harsh philosophy, but I'm not happy that - hanging by the neck until dead, or facing a firing squad - is no longer considered a suitable punishment.

[Big Fatty (Premo)]

Originally Posted by kris31280

Dear Forumites:

I... am a slacker. I have waited until the last possible week to write my research paper. I hate writing research papers... I feel this will be the downfall of my college existance...but I digress.

I need your help, dear forumites. I need to create an original source, and so I have chosen this forum to do so. I am creating a poll and asking for your response to the question.

I have not decided my position on the death penalty yet... I will need to come to my own conclusion prior to writing my paper.

But you all have opinions... I know you do... so share them with me.

The death penalty: Right or Wrong? Why do you feel that way?

TIA

Eye for an eye. Punishment must befit the crime. Kill 'em.