What are your views on the death penalty?

[iemanja]

How do you feel about the death penalty?

33 votes, 0 passes | Time left: Unlimited
	I oppose the death penalty in all cases
	23 (70%)
	I oppose the death penalty except in exceptional circumstances (explain below)
	3 (9%)
	I support the death penalty when necessary
	6 (18%)
	America's use and frequency of the death penalty is justified
	0 (0%)
	If more criminals were executed, violent crime would be lower
	1 (3%)
	Other (explain below)
	0 (0%)
	0 DU members did not wish to select any of the options provided.
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[temporary311]

1. I'm against it in nearly all cases,

except cases like Jan 6, the Civil War, the Business Plot, etc. I think the people who lead/masterminded those events should've been hanged.

[unblock]

2. No government should be allowed to kill its subjects

To plan and carry out the killing of someone who has already been removed from society and can easily be kept slide is the epitome of cold-blooded murder.

[USALiberal]

14. +1000

[Skittles]

3. I understand why people think it is right in some cases

but really it is always wrong

[haele]

4. Other than a Corporate Death penalty for malfeasance or criminal actions, no.

As a taxpayer, I don't approve of revenge murder in my name, even if it is "State Sanctioned" or the person is truly an irredeemable scumbag.

Self protection is one thing. Vengeance is another.

Haele

[iemanja]

9. By a corporate death penalty

Do you mean the dissolution of corporations? Or do you mean the literal execution of officers of a company?

[haele]

20. Dissolution of the corporation, and loss of licences for the officers.

That's a corporate Death penalty I can get behind.

Haele

[hlthe2b]

5. I was assigned this topic as a junior high student for an essay that we were given

the entire term to research, consider and write/present prior to the end of the school year. I took it very seriously and portions of my piece were excerpted for the then-local newspaper that published both sides of the debate. Mine presented the anti-DP POV, focusing largely on two issues: 1) whether the government--any government had the right to kill its citizens-- the risks of such authority being extended beyond any possible rationale under a non-democratic change in government; and 2) the inability to prevent wrongly accused from being executed, no matter the precautions.

I've never wavered. Since then both issues that formed my argument against the DP have not only come to pass but have become clear beyond what I could have imagined at the time. In a word, TEXAS!

So many like to conflate opposition to the DP with believing all are able to be rehabilitated OR conversely that there are not some who are truly deserving of it. Neither is true for me. My reasons now are as they were highlighted in my treatise then. The act is singularly permanent and mistakes that arise can never be made right. But even more frightening is the thought of what we those in power can unleash who seek its terrorizing impacts to control more than those presumed guilty of murder.

[dchill]

6. Killing people should not be within the purview...

...of our legal system.

[bucolic_frolic]

7. It's for evil people caught red-handed with multiple pieces of corroborating evidence

I mean, there are criminals who made bad choices, and have had bad lives.

There is also premeditation, cold-blooded, planned, crime where at multiple points the culprit should have reconsidered his or her motives, morality, hatred, passion.

I don't like to think there are evil people. But there are. I don't think capital punishment should rely on evidence, or the testimony of one witness. It is hard for people to forgive hateful actions. Thus we have hate crime laws and classifications.

[Demsrule86]

21. I am against the death penalty in all cases. It is state murder. Both my husband and I have

told our loved ones should we be murdered...no death penalty. We don't want that period.

[IcyPeas]

8. oppose

[Xolodno]

16. The fact that Russia is in the "Abolished in practice" category and..

...we are in the "Maintain" is mind baffling.

I'm against the death penalty in every circumstance. Economic wise, it costs more to put someone to death than just incarcerate them for life. And the idea of the state executing in the name of its citizens is horrible. Worse, innocent people have been executed and some who were guilty changed their lives and from their prison cell, enacted change so others would not follow the same path.

Sure some are irredeemable, but we should probably study them and their brains. Can't do that if they are six feet under.

[PufPuf23]

10. Oppose in all cases.

However, I do not think our current legal system works as in too many mistakes, unequal legal representation, and unfair between jurisdictions and in general.

Do not have an answer but do have an idea.

Go old school and give those convicted of capital crimes one-way tickets to a secured island. Let those convicted of capital crimes build their own society and provide for themselves by farming and raising animals without technology. Abolish all "modern" technology including communication with outside World. Multiple "chip" the convicts. Insert spies to monitor. Monitor from outside with vigilance.

Living facilities would be built, farms developed and stocked, and adjustments / additions made to maintain viability. Many questions like what about the infirm and how are woman and other minorities not brutalized. Not easy problems. Spit balling here.

[gab13by13]

11. I oppose because innocent people are killed.

I don't know the % but ...

[Quixote1818]

22. Exactly and just one innocent person killed is horrible and not worth a billion murderers dying. nt

[gibraltar72]

12. I am a peaceful man

that being said leading insurrection and or treason should be punished by death sentence. I say that because it could be only way to save our democracy.

[USALiberal]

13. It's never necessary, I can't believe anybody on this board is pro death penalty

[Chainfire]

15. There are some people who do such horrendous things that they should forfeit their lives.

They are few and far between. If I were on a jury, it would have to be an extremely viscous crime that would make me select capital punishment, but there are cases that I could do it.

[JCMach1]

17. I am against the death penalty, but as long as the majority support it in a democracy

I am ok with it. In fact, I would go one step further and have it broadcast.

People should see and understand the consequences of their choices.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

19. "People should see and understand the consequences of their choices."

I would posit that the ones facing the death penalty are some of those who are incapable of or have barriers to grasping the consequences of their actions, which is part of the problem in the first place.

[JCMach1]

23. Referring to voters... But more of a modest proposal, but one I believe in

Executions should be broadcast.

Currently, executions are hidden and medicalized when it's actually state sanctioned murder.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

24. Ah, I see. Strongly disagree, though.

[JCMach1]

29. Idiosyncratic thing... I just think if you support killing in the name of the people,

It should be in a public space

[iemanja]

31. I think too many people would get off on it

I see the MAGAts eating popcorn and nachos during an execution. I don't think televising them is a good idea.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

18. Abolish it.

Cops and prisons, too.

[Tetrachloride]

25. A great many people in favor of the death penalty are a-holes. I don't want to be in their boat.

I am aware of several people who deserve significant incarceration.

I am past friends with several people employed at maximum security prisons. The top of death penalty has never arisen with those people.

So far, in the past 4 years, I am not aware of any event that has affected my family to warrant long term incarceration or worse. Over 6 years ago, yes. But I wasn't aware of the events until 3-10 years ago, depending on the event, nor I am any of the lead people in the event. So, I haven't been called upon to make a judgment of prosecution.

As Voldemort knew, and wanted to be, a portion of one's soul may be lost.

[Disaffected]

26. The death penalty serves no redeeming purpose except perhaps

for giving short-lived satisfaction to the survivors of a murder victim or a few members of the public.

It has been convincingly shown that the death penalty is not a deterrent.

Too many wrongly convicted have been executed (perhaps the strongest reason for abolishment).

It is more costly to keep someone on death row for years than keep him/her in prison for life.

An individual sentenced to life who turns out to be innocent gets another chance for justice that the death penalty would not provide.

Vengeance is not a rational choice (and there is no point in killing someone to "teach them a lesson&quot .

[Just_Vote_Dem]

27. Oppose, except for genocide and mass murder n/t

[Zeitghost]

28. I'm okay with it in theory

But have problems with it in practice.

That is to say, I have no ethical issue with killing some people for heinous crimes, I just do not trust our justice system to get it 100% right and would rather 1000 guilty people who may deserve it live than have a single innocent person die.

[LeftInTX]

33. Yeah, that's where I am.

I feel it should only be for cases where life w/o parole would still endanger society or when the perp is just so awful that just the thought of him alive is upsetting (Timothy McVeigh for example).
However, I feel it doesn't work in practice and too many poor people without adequate legal representation end up on death row.

[LeftInTX]

30. Some criminals just aren't suited for life w/o parole

They continue to commit crimes, break out of prison etc.
I felt Timothy McVeigh deserved the death penalty.

However, I'm against it in many cases that are currently out there.

I feel that it is warranted when society as whole needs a specific person to be completely gone. (For example Osama Bin Laden) I don't think it should be used to "send a message" or should be based on an "emotional reaction to a crime"...There are just some people who plain old dangerous no matter where they are...

Other than that, life w/o parole

[sky_masterson]

32. In ultra rare occasions I'm okay with it

In general I oppose it 98% of the time. I think in most cases life in prison is a far worse punishment than going to sleep forever.
I always thought it should be called Death Punishment instead of Death Penalty.

[Solly Mack]

34. It should be abolished.

[iemanja]

35. I think criminal punishment reflects who we are as a society

And the fact we execute so many people signals that we are a brutal people.