Death Penalty

[Firkinvald]

In the US, the death penalty is legal in 32 states and illegal in 18 states and the District of Columbia.

There are 11 states that permit the use of the death penalty for crimes other than murder. These categories are:

Treason - 9
Espionage - 1
Aircraft Piracy - 1
Hijacking an Aircraft - 1
Drug Trafficking - 1

Do you condone the use of the death penalty? Why?

If you are not in the US, is the death penalty used in your country and for what offenses?

[scozy]

Canada hasn't executed anyone since 1962 and has officially removed the death penalty 40 years ago. It is also unlawful to extradite someone from Canada to a country where they might face the death penalty, and it has long been the policy of the government (except for a few years under the previous conservative government) to demand clemancy for all Canadians condemned to it abroad.

From 1859 until 1967, capital punishment was possible for murder, rape, and treason. Over this period it became increasingly rare and by the end was mostly handed for the murder of law enforcement officers as far as I know. Between 1914 and 1967, there were many (failed) votes in parliament to abolish the death penalty. Executions used to be by hanging under the British regime, and by decapitation under the French regime.

Personally I'm against capital punishment, but that's only because I have never heard any valid argument in its favour.

[icey9184]

what about other means of death they still have beheading firing squad and probably a few others

[mojo882]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derek_Bentley_case

[Firkinvald]

I also meant to mention the use of execution vans in China

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Execution_van

[Hasc]

I believe that nobody has the right to take someone else's life, no matter what said person has done. Is it a danger to the rest of the community? Put it in a high security jail.

Everybody has the right to life, so taking it from someone is just something so definitive and with incredible consequences, that I honestly can't understand how people think we should continue to do it. In fact, I believe that as today we look back on slavery and have trouble finding how people back then allowed it to happen and considered it "normal", in the future, people will look back at us and will have trouble understanding the way we treat our prisoners, in particularly, that we execute some of them.

I can't say I like my country very much, but at least I can take pride in saying that I live in a country that was one of the first in the world to abolish it in 1867.

[Mister Mister]

I couldnt disagree with you more.

The moment you take another's person rights for granted and rob or rape or murder them,that is the time you have forefeit your right to exist on this planet..

[Firkinvald]

Originally Posted by Hasc

I believe that nobody has the right to take someone else's life, no matter what said person has done. Is it a danger to the rest of the community? Put it in a high security jail.

Who pays for the high security jail? If someone murders your family, would you be willing to put 10% of your income towards keeping them alive and well in a high security jail where they would be properly nourished and all of their medical needs attended to? And make these payments for the next 50 years?

[Lord Emperor Clot]

I used to think that the death penalty had some value as a deterrent to murderers, but as I grow older and have more of a holistic pro-life set of ethics, it contradicts with my other values. I know that those who commit capital crimes are often sociopathic and have no regard for the law to begin with. That said, there is still a place for the death penalty- maybe- for treason, but that is more of a governmental or military issue than a civilian one. At least that is where I am at the moment. Terrorism may also fall in more of a governmental place where a military execution of the terrorist is acceptable. But a crime of passion over a jilted love affair is hardly the same thing, if you get my meaning.

[Firkinvald]

Originally Posted by Mister Mister

I couldnt disagree with you more.

The moment you take another's person rights for granted and rob or rape or murder them,that is the time you have forefeit your right to exist on this planet..

I would not support robbery as a reason for the death penalty.