Capital Punishment, Yes or No?

[johnlambert]

The Americans have just carried out the 1000th execution since 1976, should we also bring back capital punisment for killers (all murderers, not just for killing a Police Officer)

Im going to stir up a hornets nest and say yes we should

[johnlambert]

We cant use America as an example, they have the right to possess arms, it's written into the Constitution, and they are far too freely available, I know, I was in New York a couple of years ago and could have bought one over the counter in WallMart (Asda in UK).

We do not have that right, therfore weapons are not as prevelant as they are over there, so in my opinion if someone carries a weapon here, then they intend to use it. The deterent is to bring back hanging

[stevie_c2it]

Sadly, the death penalty in the UK is a non-starter. Clearly it�s not a deterrent (see the crime stats for the USA, certain Middle Eastern countries etc), nor is it 100 per cent reliable (too many innocents killed). Why �sadly� because I object to my taxes been wasted on housing convicted murderers, who (in the main) have little to offer society except the risk from those that might re-offend when released. When you take into consideration the financial burden of keeping them locked up in relative comfort for 25 years (or nine depending on if they�ve been good???), you get a sense of what an enormous drain on public resources they represent. Money that could well be spent on more worthwhile causes (schools, hospitals, urban regeneration etc). For those however, that argue against capital punishment because it has no place in a �civilised� society, can I ask, where do you live because I think I should move?

[Clanad]

A couple of things... firstly, johnlambert wouldn't have been able to walk into WalMart and buy a gun over the counter. since he's a foreign national as far as the U.S. is concerned, he wouldn't have shown up in the required background check and would have been denied. Secondly, although it's probably a philosophical argument, one can never determine the true detterent effect of capital punishment simply because we cannot poll, query or otherwise receive an answer from those that have decided not to commit a heinous crime because they feared the death penalty. As a U.S. citizen, I'm ambivalent about it, but can understand the argument on both sides. There are some clear cut cases where it is deserved but others are somewhat grey, in my opinion. I have to rely on the judicial system, which is made up of my fellow citizens (for better or worse)... (ronniemonda6's irrational babbling rant aside)

[metagirl]

Old Testament teachings are hardly the basis for the American judicial system ronniemonda6 but as always it is very easy for non unAmerican types to make these types of sloppy accusations. Boring.

We are supposed to create the type of society that we want to live in. We may not live in a "civilised" world, but that does not mean we should give up our attempts in trying to create one. Individuals may have a long way to evolve before we are born with a set of "civilised" values, but governments are different - they are nothing but the practical manifestation of a country's values - and what value does capital punishment have?

[maggie01]

Yes as long as it is 100% certain that the person is guilty of the crime.

[Octavius]

Ok johnlambert, what would you suggest?

Beheading / guillotine
Burning at the stake
Hanging
Hung, drawn & quartered
Firing Squad
The Press
Gas Chamber
Electric chair
Lethal injection

?

Take your pick, which one lends itself to the most civilised society? Which would you prefer to be used? If you like I can give you a detailed account of each method and what happens to the prisoner from the night before and morning of their execution, right through to the moment where their lives are terminated.

Would you like to volunteer to be an executioner or just a spectator, how about you get to choose which condemned person gets which form? Maybe you could decide when you are sitting on jury service? Or is it something that you would prefer went on behind closed doors and didn't need to know about the details...?

[galltin]

I think 'no' to capital punishment but for murder (i.e. not manslaughter) life should mean life - no parole ever -. Every time Myra Hindley was refused parole it chipped away at her a little bit more. That was a slower , more fitting punishment than hanging would have been. I'd have been happier with the turds who killed Anthony Walker getting that as well.

[stevie_c2it]

Hey ronnie, good come back!

[Octavius]

stevie - what makes you think that money saved on not keeping people interred for 25 years would be spent on schools, hospitals and urban regeneration. What world do you live in?

And why has this thread descended into a religious rant? Capital punishment today has eff all to do with religion, get over it.

[stevie_c2it]

Octavious, you must have misread (or misunderstood), I didn't say the money 'would' be spent on worthwhile causes, but voiced the opinion that I would prefer it to be used that way. If you'd read my answer, you would know, I like you, sadly live in the real 'uncivilised' world.

[Octavius]

So we don't live in a world having a high state of culture and development both social and technological?

I think there are many places in the world that may be considered to be under repressive and dictatorial regimes. But I don't think the UK is uncivilised.

[stevie_c2it]

Again Octavius, you've spectacularly misquoted what is in black and white in front of you, I did not say the UK was �uncivilised�, but the world generally. Hence the question, why in 2005 do we still need to debate the issue of Capital punishment? And yes there are tyrannical dictatorships that are still tolerated and existing on the planet. I repeat �this is the �reality� of our global civilisation; we�re still killing one another despite the advances in technology and culture. Please feel free to quote me again (accurately - for once) when you enlighten us as how to resolve these issues.

[Drisgirl]

NO - Capital punishment is barbaric.

You cannot possibly say if 100% sure because that means the other people who have been convicted should walk free as there is doubt in their particular conviction.

Life should mean life - in the jail.

I have said before - capital punishment is the easy option because the bast*rds who commit atrocious crimes end up trying to do away with themselves as the the thought of life rotting in jail is worse.Let them rot.Let the warders turn a blind eye when they get slashed.Let them be segregated.Let them be afraid to bend down in the shower.Let them realise that this is THEIR life until they expire

Little wonder Shipman West and the rest took the soft option themselves.Huntley Brady Sutcliffe and more have tried.Good - let them go slowly insane.

[Octavius]

Well rightly or wrongly I took the question to be specific to the UK and not the world as a whole, or the global issue of tyrannical regimes.

Erm.. "spectacularly misquoted"? I am grateful you acknowledge my eloquence with grace.

I am afraid I do not have an answer, people will kill people as the world turns. I am saying that in the UK, capital punishment is not the answer and I doubt quoting you would provide any enlightenment to change that fact. I don't think I have quoted you verbatim, merely debated your opinions.

[Drisgirl]

I agree with metagirl ie (not verbatum) the executioner is taking a life also.I hesitated to use this metaphor as I could potentially unjustly say that that is what our soldiers potentially do.

The difference being that the executioner coldly does the business and it is not a gut reaction ( its them or me) type of situation like a soldier.

BTW Big up to our soldiers who across the world are fighting sometimes a futile war and love to their families at this family time:)

[metagirl]

Going back to a comment that was made regarding the execution - hanging of that unfortunate Australian in Singapore today.

I agree that the threat of an automatic sentence of death for certain, well defined, drug offences would be a deterrent because it is so extreme and those who would be sucked into the trade may think twice, but isn't it interesting that the threat of a death sentence for potential murderers, isn't?

[Trotbot]

I would vote for capital punishment only if the volunteer (and there are always lots of people ready to say they would pull the proverbial trigger) to carry out the punishment would accept the same fate if subsequent to the execution there was reasonable doubt about the safety of the original conviction.

[Drisgirl]

Trotbot

This doesnt work and I suspect you know this.

You are either Guilty or Not Guilty in our judicial system.

There can be no half measures.

You cant have doubt after the event.

I daresay if someone took one of mine away my maternal animalistic reaction would be let me at them and I'll show them pain and suffering.In the cold light of day I would want them banged up for the last of their days with no mercy and believe me there are ways and mean round making a persons life a misery in the jail.