capital punishment

[MeezDiscreet]

what are your views on the death penalty? i am torn on the issue. on the one hand, i don't feel it right for anyone to take the life of another person, whoever that person may be. then on that other hand, isn't it a method of self-defense for the country? what are your views?

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I hope life isn't a big joke, because I don't get it.

Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.

Maybe in order to understand mankind, we have to look at the word itself: "Mankind". Basically, it's made up of two separate words - "mank" and "ind". What do these words mean ? It's a mystery, and that's why so is mankind

[This message has been edited by MeezDiscreet (edited June 05, 2001).]

[D.COM]

Fundamentally, I think:

1)Hammurabi's rule if they had intent.
2)Accidental incidents with evidence that clearly proves it was an accident are exceptions, therefore another form of punishment would be granted.
3)If they are crazy, then they should not be in the general population because of the risk of hurting many other people.

I do disagree, however, the manipulations and ways of HOW this world goes about capital punishment...that bothers me.

[This message has been edited by D.COM (edited June 17, 2001).]

[prettydeltagirl]

totally against the death penalty. I can not even stomach the thought. i think it is dead wrong for any human to feel like they have the right to take someones life especially as a form of punishment. besides death is an easy way out for the guilty................ i am not saying it is right for the guilty to have committed the crime they did but what makes the killing of the guilty more justifiable than the killing of what one would call the "innocent"? Murder is murder no matter who you are and not matter what your reason (unless it is truly self defense). We as human beings do not have the right to decide when we think someones life should be over. thats just my $19.13cents

[DST Diva Oo-oop!!]

I am totally against the death penalty. No judge will ever let me sit on a jury because of my strong belief.

I know that I am nowhere close to having Godly powers, therefore, I should not try to act as God does. I strongly believe that God is the only being that has the right to take the life of a living being.

What does it accomplish when you put someone to death? I'll tell you what:

• one more dead body
• more greiving family members
• a checkmark next to your name on the list of sinners

And it doesn't undo the crime that was done in the first place. What does two deaths accomplish? People always say two is better than one, but not necessarily.

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With Sisterly Love,
#32 Well Suited
Spring 2001 - Operation 1913: 41 Rescued
Iota Theta Chapter

[D.COM]

What does two deaths accomplish? People always say two is better than one, but not necessarily.

[/B]

Okay, so you would "lock up" the person instead, let's say...then what? What if they escape and kill more people? What if they kill a close family member or something? Then one would think, if only this person was not here, this EXTRA murder wouldn't have happened.

So, what would be your "punishment" for this person?

[DST Diva Oo-oop!!]

If I was on the jury, I'd never give anyone the death penalty. If the person was found guilty...then they'd be in prison. If they escape and kill more people, then I still would not give anyone the 'death chamber'. I personally feel that would make me just as guilty as them for taking a life. The way I see it, God lets things happen for a reason. If another murder occurred, it happened because God allowed it. Who am I to question God's intentions, and who am I to say you are going to die for what you did?

I have had a family member killed, and when we were asked by the prosecution how we felt...I stood strong and said that I did not want the guy to get death.

Like I said before, I am not God...thus I will not act as such.

Originally posted by D.COM:
Okay, so you would "lock up" the person instead, let's say...then what? What if they escape and kill more people? What if they kill a close family member or something? Then one would think, if only this person was not here, this EXTRA murder wouldn't have happened.

So, what would be your "punishment" for this person?

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With Sisterly Love,
#32 Well Suited
Spring 2001 - Operation 1913: 41 Rescued
Iota Theta Chapter
operation1913@home.com

[D.COM]

Okay...I see your point. Just wanted to stimulate the thought process

Originally posted by DST Diva Oo-oop!!:

If I was on the jury, I'd never give anyone the death penalty. If the person was found guilty...then they'd be in prison. If they escape and kill more people, then I still would not give anyone the 'death chamber'. I personally feel that would make me just as guilty as them for taking a life. The way I see it, God lets things happen for a reason. If another murder occurred, it happened because God allowed it. Who am I to question God's intentions, and who am I to say you are going to die for what you did?

I have had a family member killed, and when we were asked by the prosecution how we felt...I stood strong and said that I did not want the guy to get death.

Like I said before, I am not God...thus I will not act as such.

I'm for the death penalty. But I do think there should be a moratorium (sp?) put on it until some things are cleared up. Those on death row should have access to DNA testing that wasn't available to them at the time of their trial. (We know that some people have been on death row for years). I mean since we the taxpayers pay for everything else in the prison system, why not give them a chance to prove their innocence?

I know I am not God, but neither was the criminal. Does the death penalty deter crime? Maybe, maybe not. But prison alone, doesn't seem to do the trick either. (Think about the "3 Strikes" rule some states have adopted) Didn't they learn anything the first time?
We just have to accept that our society has people who have no remorse for property or life, regardless of the punishment.


[This message has been edited by c&c1913 (edited June 10, 2001).]

[D.COM]

I agree c&c1913.

Originally posted by c&c1913:
I'm for the death penalty. But I do think there should be a moratorium (sp?) put on it until some things are cleared up. Those on death row should have access to DNA testing that wasn't available to them at the time of their trial. (We know that some people have been on death row for years). I mean since we the taxpayers pay for everything else in the prison system, why not give them a chance to prove their innocence?

I know I am not God, but neither was the criminal. Does the death penalty deter crime? Maybe, maybe not. But prison alone, doesn't seem to do the trick either. (Think about the "3 Strikes" rule some states have adopted) Didn't they learn anything the first time?
We just have to accept that our society has people who have no remorse for property or life, regardless of the punishment.


[This message has been edited by c&c1913 (edited June 10, 2001).]

[Salience]

I am anti-death penalty. I, too, believe that there should be a moratorium while it is an unjust and cruel institution. I even went to Terre Haute to demonstrate. It costs more to murder a convict than it does to house them for the rest of their lives.

But mandatory sentencing is a completely different ball of wax, and those laws are also unjust. We should stop focusing on punitiveness, and try to REALLY work for prevention and rehabiltiation. But we're just too lazy to think out of the box, IMO.

[Six_Three_Sigma]

The death penalty should be done away with completely. There is not NO WAY this country will ever be able to equally apply this punishment to convicted people.

Another reason it should be done away with is the fact that it is not fool proof. (Once you execute someone, that's it!!!) You'd better hope that you did not have anyone "fooling around" with the evidence or case or whatever.

The last reason it should be done away with is the fact that it costs to much to execute a prisoner. Once reason it costs so much is the fact that the appeals process in some venues is allowed to drag on (as it should) to guarantee that everything was done properly.

Finally, how can this country (or anyone else) justify executing a person as a result of being convicted of killing someone else? Hell, if we are going to just allow people to sentence a person to the death penalty, why don't we just allow killers to be killed by the families of the victims!! (I know that's reaching!)

My point is get rid of it!!!!