Quote:
Originally posted by 420palace
why would the fact that he is insane mean he shouldnt get the death penalty?
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There are a number of reasons one could have for giving the death penalty.
The first is scaring other criminals from doing things like that in the future. Now, that doesn't work well on crazy people, who do not make an analysis of risks and benefits, like for instance a bankrobber would.
Another reason would be punishing someone for his evil actions. However, if those actions are caused by a disease (insanity), you are punishing someone for having a disease over which that person obviously has no control.
Yet another reason would be saving the state the costs of life imprisonment. However, the death penalty costs more, so that one doesn't work either.
Besides that, one could argument that the death penalty is to prevent someone from ever doing something like that again. However, life imprisonment with no possibility to get out does that just as well.