Will we grow enough to abolish capital punishment, or...

If you haven’t the nerve to kill a person yourself, you shouldn’t try to spread the guilt around by having the State do your dirty work.

I think for that to occur, we have to completely rethink our prison system. Right now, it only serves to incarcerate and punish. There is no effort to rehabilitate. Prison is just a deterrent, a means to scare people from doing certain things. Considering our prisons are packed to the brim, it doesn’t seem to be working so well. I do see the validity in the argument against this that some people just can’t be rehabilitated. It’s a really complicated issue. I think it will be very hard to end capital punishment, because the most effective way to do so would be a federal law. However, that would defy state rights and would not be constitutional. Like I said, complicated…

I’m also quite torn on this issue.

I think capital punishment exists as a political way to appease a bloody mob though. You want to see a pedophile dead.
I want their heads detached from their shoulders just as much. Maybe they have problems, have been abused themselves…I try to stay rational and logical, but it pisses me off.

It pisses off a lot of people, and it’s understandable. I believe the truth of the matter is, the death sentence exists as a means for the government to show an initiative and sense of goodwill towards the populace and the folks victimized in the social order which justice itself is meant to uphold. If we just put criminals in nuthouses or send em to church basement meetings, people would loose confidence.
The ol’ Vlad the Impaler Syndrome uses fear to keep people in check; the problem today is, I think it’s all done for reasons other than what we’re told.

I don’t know how much I agree with any of it, I’m not a sociologist nor did I major in political science…but it is what I seem to observe, is giving angry peeps their Frankenstein monster. I don’t have much faith that the government does this for the interest of anyone.

Why, mostly because killing criminals doesn’t solve the problem. It’s like cutting the leaves instead of getting at the root. And everybody knows it.

Let’s say I’m a pedophile; the fact that others have been put to death before me doesn’t bother nor does it scare me, I’m still going to mistreat children, at least until I’m caught.

It bothers me because we’re not getting to the root of the problem. However, getting to it is a whole other subject indeed…how do you want to police human nature when it comes to crime? It is, essentially, impossible. until money stops being a priority for us all, i doubt we’ll ever outgrow this.

But to keep face, you gotta show retaliation…so I have no idea how I stand on the issue, and it’s not for me to judge who and what should happen to people, else I’m really no better than the current faceless name of justice. I always thought justice was more of a tool rather than an ideal anyways.

I mean I know we need it, but it seems to exist under something else than what it’s currently defined as. Yeah I make no sense, and I know not where I stand. I’m just saying, I don’t think we’re doing it right.

I mean…I don’t always agree with the death penalty, but I certainly don’t want no fucking convicted pedophile to have parole and be released in society, especially when psychological study shows that most pedophiles always start up their shit again as soon as they can.
Chances are, it all revolves around some financial issue or another. ;/

I am sorry ; BUT I do not think that we need to ABOLISH “Capital Punishment” , nor should we “outgrow” it .

There are certain crimes ssuch as Rape, Murder, and Kidnapping that I feel deserve the death penalty ; as it serves NO purpose to keep this monster alive that would do such a thing….

My 78 Year old grandmother was brutally raped and left for dead back in the ‘70s . her rapist was Never caught ; BUT if he had of been , I most definately would have wanted him put to death.

My mother was MURDERED by my sister ; lack of evidence kept her a** out of jail ; BUT if there had been a trial ; I would have pushed for the death penalty and volunteered to have inserted the needle , myself.

My Uncle was murdered by a guy who hung him up on a meat hook with the hook going thru his chin and lfet to bleed to death . He was “supposedly” never caught; BUT such heinous crimes need HARSH punishment .

If there is unquestionable DNA as well as fingerprints etc…. I say the “Death Penalty” can be very appropiate in MANY cases .

@HighShaman, I am cringing, reading this part of your family history. Good heavens, you’ve been through more than your share of hell. You also illustrate a point that hadn’t occured to me, and I’m almost ashamed of it. I’ve never had a beloved family member brutally murdered. I can GUESS what it feels like, but I know me. I know I would be bitter and angry as hell. GA.

@phillis Thanks for seeing and understanding the “Other Side” of the argument .

@Xann009 and @Symbeline, You guys are thinking what I’m thinking (even as I just responded to HS). This is all bass-ackwards. I have high hopes for the criminologists who are working their asses off, studying MRI’s of the worst criminals. If we can discover these people early in life, before they’ve had a chance to hurt someone, then possibly they CAN be rehabbed. Once we’ve mapped and isolated the brain dysfunction, it may be possible to circumvent a very high percentage of these crimes. All speculation, of course, but my hope is high. Because I have no other answers.

@HighShaman, Of course! That’s all I can do, is try. I surely cannot relate. If I haven’t been through it, assuming I know how it feels would serve as a major slap in the face to you. I don’t want that.

“You” who,@Kelly_Obrien?

@Phillis Yeah, that would definitely be a good thing. I have to look at it from HighShamans point of view as well, and I can definitely see the validity in his arguments. It’s easy to stay up in an ivory tower when we aren’t the ones being affected. If someone did something so horrific to one of my family members, I would want them dead but also would be torn… It’s complicated on many levels, I suppose. I’ve never had something of such magnitude happen to me, so I can only guess as well.

@Kelly_Obrien People like you like to argue “If you’ve ever told a lie, your a liar. If you’ve ever stolen, your a thief.” Well, if you’ve ever killed another person, your a murderer. How’s that?

Excellent analogy, @Xann009!! Damn, you NAILED it.

@Xann009 People like you like to argue “If you’ve ever told a lie, your a liar. If you’ve ever stolen, your a thief.” Well, if you’ve ever killed another person, your a murderer. How’s that?

Gee, so the people involved with the execution of that murderer are themselves murderers for killing him?

The death penalty serves a very blunt and direct function as a check and balance to help keep in check evil deeds. I’m sure anyone of us at some point and time wanted to inflict serious harm to another but our laws of punishment keeps most of us in line. To legal impose a penalty to take a criminals life for crimes committed is with out question extreme but so are the crimes that require such punishment. Yes there are meek among us who would never initiate the final judgment but that is why we live here and pay taxes.

@Cruiser. Another great point! What about those who cannot protect themselves? Excellent feedback. GA

@Cruiser I’m sure anyone of us at some point and time wanted to inflict serious harm to another but our laws of punishment keeps most of us in line.

Yes, this is all well and good for he cowards and toadies.

I use to believe completely in capital punishment.
That was until I saw a movie called The Life of David Gale and I too became torn about the issue. There are so many arguments made for and against it and they all concern the same thing – the cost, the guilt etc.
Just recently a man was executed in Texas for raping and murdering a young girl.
When I read the article on it, it turned my stomach considering what he did to her and I felt absolutely no pity for his fate.
In reality, how many people have actually been executed and were later found to be innocent? I’m sure very, very few.
People against capital punishment put emphasis on the criminal’s fate, but tend to ignore all of the men, women and children who lost their lives at the hands of these people. I don’t mean ignore as in not care, but I think the people who lost their lives are more important.
With that said, I am still for capital punishment.

I have a family member in jail. Doing 30 years. I care for this person.
I have put a great deal of thought into it.

Looking at it from all directions.

I feel if someone has to do more then 15 years. Capital punishment is the way to go.
The legal system needs to do a better job deciding who goes to jail and for how long.

I also feel that rapist and child molesters should not do any time. They should be sent right to the chair.

The prison system does nothing to rehabilitate the inmates. They will come out worse then when they went in.
Us spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to get them there.
The prison system is a billion dollar industry. Nothing is going to happen to cut profits to benefit the inmate.

We need to face the ugly part of living in a world that is far from perfect. And, sometimes decisions have to be swift.
Annexing our problems is just a cop-out.

Try to be easy on beating me down. There is so much more to be said.

I think they deserve the death penalty, I just don’t think it is for the good of society to give it. I think it undermines our societal concept of the value of life to establish parameters around non-life threatening situations where it is ok to kill.

I don’t see the retributive value in it. I think there is more punishment in a lifetime in prison than in a quick death.

I also think that it creates more victims, not the killer, but their families who now have to grieve the loss of their loved one. This doesn’t make the situation more fair, these people were innocent too.

I don’t see how justice is better served by their execution instead of imprisonment.

@Kelly_Obrien history is rife with psychopaths that will inflict harm with no regard for consequences of any kind. These animals of humanity are what keep the death penalty torch burning.

@Vunessuh Exactly half of me feels just like you do! Plus, for the few innocent ones who were put to death and did not commit the crime, how many have been saved by killing the ones who WERE guilty? I’m not advocating it. I’m just thinking about it.

@ChazMaz….that isn’t quite true, my newest friend. There IS a rehab recitivism rate somewhere in the neighborhood of 76%, depending on whose article you’re reading, because htey all vary, for some strange reason. But your point concerning the BILLIONS wasted on housing these inmates is just too vast to ignore. You also touched on something else I’ve thought for a LONG time. How long is too long for a prison sentence? At what point does it go from being a punishment to being a way of life? Excellent points.

@gradyjones. You do have the kindest heart. I felt so touched when I read your response. I know what you mean, when you say it probably isn’t out place. You encapsulated the other half of me with your answer. It was truly sweet.

“There IS a rehab recidivism rate somewhere in the neighborhood of 76%, depending on whose article you’re reading, because they all vary, for some strange reason.”
75% of released inmates become repeat offenders.
They vary because the data is bogus. It is bogus because no one cares about the inmate. There are over 1 million people incarcerated.
When it comes to prisons. We all prefer to be lied to and the bottom line. No one cares. It is ugly. I do not find entertainment in prison movies any more.
That data comes from a few prisons that are given a bump so that articles like the one you sited can pacify.

“At what point does it go from being a punishment to being a way of life?’
I would say after two years, it becomes a lifestyle.

Hi phyllis. How are you? and no we need to kill people, because we are stupid animals:)

@Kelly_Obrien I’m not saying that is how I feel, but if you cross apply the logic, that is the outcome. Think about it. I love people who cherry pick (/sarcasm)

@phillis True, I’ll hope along with you, but we are a long way from it. But it’s a start.

No person needs to be murdered. It’s barbaric! But there HAS to be consequences to one’s actions and so, the one who murders and is convicted of purposefully killing someone(s) and all appeals have run out and those appeals were spent to try to eliminate the convict from the scene of the crime (just to be sure), should be killed. I say, like they killed their victim but that would never fly. Putting them out of our misery painlessly will suffice.

@Kelly_Obrien I am locked and loaded and will even beat them with my teddy bear if I have to be the judge and jury! My cahones are just fine sir…feel for yourself!! BTW my state just rolled out the red carpet for the worst of the worst….I might even apply for the job!

@Cruiser There you go. And I’m sure you will enjoy each execution to the m_ax_.

What would you like me to to, @Cruiser? Pull the switch? Insert the needle? I’m yours.

@phillis I think I will need help with the Teddy Bear executions…One Teddy Bear just might not be enough to do the job!

I can’t click on your link on this page! I’ve tried three times to PM you, and finally gave up. I’m going to have to manually serch for you in the search box in order to do it :(

[mod says] Personal attacks are not permitted, and have been removed.

[Vanessa says] Mods pretty much kick ass.

V, you have to make comments within the context of the question! For instance “Mods have no problem flipping the switch, but sometimes they debate about it first.”
HAHAHAHAH!!! I’m so funny to me :)

@phillis Oh right, right. Going off topic is equivalent to pulling a gun on a police officer around here. Geesh.
“I’m so funny to me” – cute. :)

Oh and to stay on topic, I’m still for capital punishment, but I think there should be some kind of law where the executioners have to wear pink boas and funny hats to lighten the mood.

Yeah, and maybe skip the water. The lack of contact is quirky fun!

For me they have too much TV and they have a Gym at the prison, Get rid of the TV and the Gym and have put on a Chain gang and go out and dig ditches, clean the side of the freeway in Uniform! then they go back tired and don’t have energy to have fights in the cell block.

No kidding, Phil!! All they have all day long is time to figure out how to kill other inmates and cheat the rules. I couldn’t agree more!

@phil196662 – I totally agree.

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