Death Penalty

[DuzyEverwork]

Should the death penalty be brought back for extreme crimes or would the decision as to which crime would incur the penalty be too difficult to make? Similarly, should 'life imprisonment' mean just that?

[apricot]

I do not believe the death penalty should be rei-instated. I have listened to arguements for it to be re-introduced for people who kill police. Are police more important than a child? I do feel that life imprisonment should mean just that. Some crimes are so awful, for example sex crimes against children, and the chances of rehabilitating offenders are so minute that no chance should be taken that further offences occur.

[Robinia]

I'd agree with all that apricot says & have thought long & hard about this issue over the years.I expect that many people are going to leap up & shout Yes - string them up, electrocute them etc. However, would they then be willing to be judge, jury and executioner? Again, many will probably say yes. I wouldn't want to be any of those things, knowing that I had contributed towards ending someone's life, however evil.

[jenstar]

I'd only support the death penalty for people I really didn't like. The other 5% can go free.

[Gef]

My gut feeling is that it should - an eye for an eye etc. However, how many dodgy convictions have we seen in the last 20 years or so. At least someone who has their conviction quashed can walk free under the present system.