It is time to end capital punishment throughout USA

Meh, I think we should have the death sentence for all crimes.

We are fallible. The death sentence is an infinite sentence for a finite crime that we can not be certain a person is guilty of.

I would say No, because the death penalty saves innocent lives, overall.

Arthur Shawcross, Ed Wein, Robert Stroud (the Birdman of Alcatraz), Henry Lee Lucas, Jack Unterweger, and others are examples of murderers who were sent to prison, and then killed other people. According to the Bureau of Justice in the US, 1.2% of murderers go on to commit other murders. Thus, by executing 1000 murderers, we can save twelve innocent lives, overall.

There are multiple examples of murderers who killed guards or other inmates while still in prison.

Since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976, there has not been a single instance of a factually innocent person being executed. (Please note what I posted - no one, factually innocent, has been EXECUTED.) During that same period, multiple instances have been demonstrated of murderers who went on to commit other murders and grievous offenses (like Willie Horton, supposedly serving life without parole, who nonetheless got out and raped and tortured innocent people). If those murderers had been executed, innocent lives, overall, would have been saved.

If our concern is for threats to the innocent, the death penalty is more effective in reducing those threats than life in prison. Especially since the average sentence served for "life in prison" is 18 years.

Regards,
Shodan

I would keep it for first-degree murder or worse. But only if the evidence is really solid, like caught in the act solid.

There are a few people (very few) that you don't want to have locked up for life because they are too far gone in the head.

Belk said:

We are fallible. The death sentence is an infinite sentence for a finite crime that we can not be certain a person is guilty of.

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I read that in one of the American states their first execution was of an innocent man.
They should have taken that as a Sign.

I happen to think killing people is wrong, even if the state says it's not. Even if the state gives itself permission.

Confused-by-christianity said:

I happen to think killing people is wrong, even if the state says it's not. Even if the state gives itself permission.

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Always wrong under all possible circumstances?

Estrid said:

Always wrong under all possible circumstances?

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For the sake of simplicity, I'll stick to subject matter. The state shouldn't kill people.

Shodan said:

, by executing 1000 murderers, we can save twelve innocent lives, overall.

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The problem is, the courts do a terrible job of determining who the murderers are when you consider racial and economic background of the accused.

Whyayeman said:

I think America should repeal the death sentence for all crimes.

Discuss.

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Yes. Prison ministries are making an impact on many.
The church on death row | The Christian Chronicle

Whyayeman said:

I oppose the death penalty in all circumstances. That is, the state should not execute criminals.
I have to reject the justification that executions save lives (even though there are a small number of convicted murderers who are released and kill again). My principal ground for rejection is that murder is wrong. When the state executes someone in our name we are implicated; we share the responsibility.

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Mine is principle based on execution of the innocents.
There are times and places when someone needs to be
killed, for sure, but it not necessary to execute a prisoner.

If I'm not mistaken, we're one of very few countries that still has a death penalty.

Like criminalization of marijuana, it's a vestige of another time that doesn't belong in modern times.

(Edited to make it clearer what I was trying to say)
Ringo

I agree with your conclusion.

However, I disagree with your characterization of "developed country". You seem to mean "white" or derived from European culture . I would not call Taiwan or Iran underdeveloped countries (or CHina for that matter).

The death penalty for murder is just plain silly. Folks end up with trials and appeals for many, many years. The maximum should be life without parole in a supermax facility.

The open question is what crimes should be subject to these penalties. European systems of punishment and incarceration are much different than hours. We might compare US incarceration rates, crime rates, length of sentences with those of the countries that we compare ourselves to: EU, UK, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.

Shodan said:

Since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976, there has not been a single instance of a factually innocent person being executed. (Please note what I posted - no one, factually innocent, has been EXECUTED.)

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That simply isn't true.

Trial by Fire

mark46 said:

I agree with your conclusion.

However, I disagree with your characterization of "developed country". You seem to mean "white" or derived from European culture . I would not call Taiwan or Iran underdeveloped countries (or CHina for that matter).

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Apologies, then. I absolutely did not mean to come across that way. I was talking about a country like North Korea (oppressive, Orwellian) versus a freer country such as one of the European nations.
Ringo

What should be done to prevent those in prison for life from killing someone in prison? The answer is very expensive supermax facilities.

Whyayeman said:

I think America should repeal the death sentence for all crimes.

Discuss.

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The death penalty is just the most obvious of the inhumanity of our criminal justice system. And, yes, again, I am comparing the US with the EU countries, the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

mark46 said:

The death penalty is just the most obvious of the inhumanity of our criminal justice system. And, yes, again, I am comparing the US with the EU countries, the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

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There are two very separate issues.

1) What is illegal and what are the penalties for those crimes.

2) How are folks treated in prison? What is the function of these facilities? Is the person more or less able to be a valuable member of society after bein in prison for more than a year (felonies)?

For me, the most obvious crimes that ruin folks lives, perhaps for many decades (before and after imprisonment) is joyriding (treated as grand theft auto in many states) and the possession of personal amounts of marijuana (and other drugs for matter).