Well me and xyz came about onto the topic of the death penalty during the forum game, "Word Association". I started this thread so that he/she and I could discuss it [and in particular how xyz feels about my reply]. If any of you feel like you want to chime it, don't hesitate.

Also, please be respectful of other's viewpoints.

I'm currently against the death penalty in the U.S. for U.S. citizens, unless they're designated enemy combatants or the like. And even then, there might be issues.

One big reason is it just takes too long. I think its cruel and unusual to leave someone on death row for 20 years and then finally execute them.

Also, for some crimes, death is getting off too easy.

How about posting your reply? Or did you send him a PM?

I think my main point against the practice is that I don't think a country, judge, jury, dictator or whatever, has the right to decide if someone has to die.

I'm not that well informed about costs, or particular cases of death sentence, as it is banned throughout the EU.

Especially German politicians strongly oppose it. Resocialisation being the goal of any punishement is written down in the Basic Law.

I'll be back - not much time these days.

I don't think cost should be a factor in deciding for or against the death penalty, money just shouldn't come into play on issues of deciding whether someone lives or dies.

The claim is that it costs more to leave someone on death row than just execute them. In reality, I think I've read it costs more for all the appeals and whatnot. Either way, it doesn't matter.

As for who decides what, I don't think a criminal should decide if someone has to die either. So the question is one of how do you deter them making that decision. Legislators can make laws to decide what judges, juries, can do. What is your plan to keep criminals from killing?

Of course murderers shouldn't be allowed to decide, and they usually aren't.

I think I'd be king of the world if I knew a way of how to stop murder.

There are just to many different reasons why a murderer kills in the first place, a single solution is very unlikely to exist.

What I can tell is that I really doubt that the death sentence helps preventing murder. I can't imagine someone thinking about killing his and making the crime dependant on whether he will get shot, hanged or sentenced to life.

The reason people still want the death sentence, and harsher punishments is that they want revenge, it's human nature to seek revenge in some way or another.

Murder often is symptom of social problems. What's important is to find the roots of these problems and find solutions. Bad education may be one of the thousands of reasons. People might find no job, take bad and cheap drugs, get aggressive and so on.

A note to xyz, thanks for posting the original post or at least a copy of it to provide context. I haven't had the time to come here in a few days.

I'll admit that the death penalty doesn't aid in the prevention of murders or killings however you may be right in that it is primarily based upon the human nature of revenge. I did not consider that but I was thinking about the families of the victims. I mean, I've heard cases where associates and family of the deceased are sometimes afraid of the person who murdered their relative/friend. Mostly its the family who is seen like this. Rasczak is probably right in that its cruel to leave someone on death row for 20 years and then kill them but there is some form of cruelty in letting the criminal go with a few years punishment.

Now I don't want any of you to think that I think that everyone on death row is a violent killing machine gone maniac and will kill later on but they have killed before. They made the choice to kill.

The idea to find the roots of their problems has been around for some time and I've seen very few people act on it with limited results. Its good in theory, but hard in practice.

If anyone is wondering about my reasons behind supporting death row/the death sentence is two reasons really. One, I live in Texas and I was born in a state that has the death penalty, so it is a normal thing to me [if anything is normal about it]. Two, I was taught before that killing criminals [I'll admit not all of them have to be killed, even among those on death row, but I'm referring to the murderers and psychopaths] is somewhat more efficient and cost effective [hate to put it like that]. I don't know how to describe it really. Maybe later on I'll be able to describe it.

Let them sit and rot there or think about the diabolical crime they've comitted, and they'll probably hang themselves anyway!

Surely the most likely custodial replacement for a death sentence would be life - not "a few years"?

My opinions on the issue are very similar to MRiGnS:

My belief's and opinion's:
There used to be a social understanding of what was right and wrong. Those who did wrong were seen as a weak link and taken out. This removing bad dna from the gene pool.
I think as this is no longer 'right' and those rights fo the victims have been given to those who offend I am all for the death penalty as long as it is proven beyond a reasonable doubt (a guilty plee would help) and that the person has significantly altered the life of someone else - rape, murder, torture, etc etc

WOW!talk about a controversial issue, this would fit the bill. At one time I was for Capital Punishment...enter ( children ) I softened. I started putting myself in the shoes of those who were family to the possible individual besetting their demise as it were. I then also did likewise to the victim and their families...I couldnt seem to make a finalized decision in this area...I know my passivity is not honored by all means with such a deep subject matter...its just so hard. I like to believe that if the facts,..and I mean just that...the proven facts are in play and the truth is revealed...should it be an eye for an eye? tooth for a tooth...or do we forgive and live and let live...this is what happens to the perpetrator...they just exist in prison...some get educated and actually change..rare but ya it happens. I cant imagine living for 20 years in prison if you know you will get the death sentence...what is worse than that...so many get away with murder..per say and are right back on the street. Sorry I digress..truly...I do tend to skip over the subject matter of the death penalty...Wow that is a tough one! but United we stand divided we fall, and with all the technology we have to ( CATCH A THIEF ) so to speak and we still cant seem to hit the target...I wonder..if it came down to an incident in our own family..then the answer in our hearts with this question will be even so more revealed than that of words...rather your the victim or the perpetrator. Hopefully neither.

Sherri

HOME IS WHERE YOUR MOM IS!

I'm sorry, but some people deserve to die for their crimes. Not far from where I live, a man raped a three year old girl and then buried her alive. He is a convicted sex offender. He will do this again.

Time and time again people who do horrible things do them again. They go to prison, they get out, and another innocent victim pays the price. It is a noble idea to think that you can find out what is wrong with them and fix them. But from where I sit, it looks like a pipe dream.

In one viewpoint, it was said that to leave someone on death row for twenty years is cruel. I agree. We need to speed up the executions on those that have no doubt as to the guilt.

I nominate the death penalty as the second most pointless issue to argue about - nobody will ever change the viewpoint of those with opposing viewpoints. It gets number 2 position slightly behind abortion and slightly ahead of gun control.

You are probably correct.

What is a forum without pointless arguments?

A better forum than one with pointless arguments - a less tedious forum if you like.

One persons tedium is another persons wild ride.