Referendum.

[Marvelman]

If Britain had a referendum on should hanging be brought back, what do you think the result would be.

[Ric.ror]

I think it would be yes - but I hope it would be no

[Kim A]

I'd think it would be no, but hope it would be yes, with the proviso that that correct mechanisms would have to be put in place to prevent miscarriages of justice and that the penalty would only be applied to a very narrow, strictly defined band of very serious capital crimes, where the burden of proof had been properly and expertly demonstrated.

[jenstar]

It would be yes, because the majority of people in this country are cretins.

[Theland]

Sadly it would be "Yes" as things stand now .... but .... after some vigorous campaigning, if people really really thought deeply about the issue, then I don't think so.

[naomi24]

I think it would be yes.

[stokeace]

it would be no because there are to many do gooders in this country.

[Marvelman]

I have been talking about this subject to many people this last few weeks, i would say that about 85% have said that with certain guide lines laid down they would say yes, most say they are fed up with child killers, murdering rapists, bombers, etc, etc, going to prison for a few years at our expence, then being let loose again. for myself, i am not sure.

[Panic Button]

I think without an open debate it would be yes, but with resoned open discussion about it people would realise how ineffective it would be and how it lowers us all to the level of the murderers. The vote would then be no.

[naomi24]

A quick lethal injection would be more humane. In some people's eyes execution might lower us all to the level of murderers, but the alternative doesn't cure the problem. There is currently no effective deterrent because a life sentence rarely means 'life'. How many murderers have been released only to murder again? Public safety should be paramount - not the rights of criminals.

[Pippa68]

I think that because Joe Public can't be trusted to make the right choice, there would be no referendum.

I think I have heard the governen say that about something else..but it will still apply ;o)

[IggyB]

i have little faith in the majority of the uk and think they would vote to have it reinstated... i predict that certain sections of the media would stoke up sufficient hatred and rage to stop reasoned debate on the matter getting through and the negative elements would only be seen later (when it was a bit late probably)

[flip-flop]

If you'd've posed this question five years ago I'd've vehemently said No and would have voted against the death penalty.

However, I now find I am swinging the other way and would now vote yes.

BUT, it should only ever be for the most heinous of crimes where there is no room for doubt and there is unequivocal DNA evidence.

I'm talking about the Huntleys, Shipmans, Neilsons of the world - oh, and that animal a year or so ago the kicked the living crap out of a baby in arms over a sustained period of time. People like this cannot be rehabilitated and do not deserve our help.

Certainly if I were the father of either Holly or Jessica I would gain satisfaction knowing Huntley had been executed.

I see Jen thinks that anybody who has a contrary opinion to her is a cretin - Nice.

[gina32]

flip-flop, well said about jen, what right has she to call people cretins?

[Ladyboyg1]

unfortunately those who believe that it would work ,IF there were unequivocal DNA evidence or that the burden of proof has been properly and expertly demonstrated seem to forget that often the problem in many cases is one of evidence tampering...and there are many times where there have been misscarriages of justice simply because a scapegoat is required to assuage public opinion.
I cannot imagine a method of proving 100% that a person committed a crime worthy of execution ..so therefore we do not have the right to pass these sentences....x

[flip-flop]

There is no doubt over Huntley, there was no doubt over Shipman, there is no doubt over Neilson, there is no doubt over Whiting, there is no doubt over the guy who beat the baby to death last year (wish I could remember his name).

There is no doubt whatsoever about these four sub-humans.

What is the point in keeping them alive? (OK, academic where Shipman is concerned, but you get my point).

They cannot be rehabilitated. And we should not waste resorces in trying to be rehabilitate them. They are rogue humans - humans in the loosest sense of the word obviously.

And I'm afraid I can't go along with the old trolley that executing them lowers us to their level. No. It. Does. Not.

What we would be doing is removing "people" who are inherently evil. What they did was cold bloodedly murder innocent people.

There is a whole world of difference, and comparing the two actions is imbecilic.

[Marvelman]

You can not hang someone that you are certain is guilty, and not hang someone that you are not certain about, they must all be found guilty beyond any reasonable doubt. if it is not then they go free, that is the law, imagine the judge saying to someone , we are not going to hang you because we are not certain that you are guilty, but you will go to prison for life, just in case you are.

[Le Chat]

Good point Marvelman.

[flip-flop]

Yes, but with the Huntleys of the world THERE IS NO DOUBT. Where there is no doubt whatsoever, what is so wrong with humanely despatching him? What is so wrong with that.

[Marvelman]

I agree, but my point is that if anyone is found guilty, they are guilty beyond any reasonable doubt, that s what the law says, there is no such thing as certain or not certain, if you are not certain then the person is innocent.