General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: why i can't oppose the death penalty in all cases [View all]Kennah
(14,578 posts)I cannot say that I was ever really a DP supporter, but I did at one time see it as a necessary component of the justice system.
Ultimate punishment for ultimate crimes.
Punishment must be proportional. Whether it's murder or jaywalking, the punishment cannot always be a $50 fine. Also, whether it's murder or jaywalking, the punishment cannot always be public execution by being fed into a meat grinder.
One could perhaps argue that under UCMJ, because soldiers use force to kill in accordance with the rules that the DP is an appropriate ultimate punishment within the UCMJ. I am not sure.
Financially, it does not make sense in the civilian world. The cost of an execution far exceeds that of the cost of lifetime incarceration, the majority of the cost of execution comes from the expensive appeals process. I think an easy case can be made that capital cases need MORE judicial review, which would make executions even more costly.
Eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.