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Originally Posted by ronaldo
I used to be very outspoken on this debate FOR the death penalty. It's one of only a couple of issues I've ever changed my mind on because of a direct debate with another person.
David Milgaard, Guy Morin and how many other people are being let go who've been on death row for years. In my opinion, even ONE mistaken execution is too much. Why? Because it COULD be my son or daughter. What if it was YOUR son or daughter? Would you be willing to sacrifice their life for the "greater cause" KNOWING they were innocent? Would you attend your child's execution and watch the pain on their face as they look into your eyes, or would you simply not go and let them die alone? Noone should have to go through that.
However, in lieu of the death penalty, I believe the prison system should reinstitute the same idea as Alcatraz (only worse) for the most heinous crimes. You live in your 8 x 8 cell (or whatever it is) alone and receive your three square meals a day. That's it. No mail. No visitors other than your lawyers. No TV. No magazines. No yard time. NOTHING. Sit in your cell till the day you day you die.
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Yes for those that have been wrongly accused it would be awful. However I believe with the technology available today, such as DNA testing this error is not likely to occur. I also believe our system in the US should be change to a system of 3 judges and not our peers. It is unfortunate that a man who clearly murdered his wife is acquitted because a juror of his peers did not understand what DNA was.
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Originally Posted by Martin
I don't like the Government being able to kill people. I also think these people get off easy by getting put to sleep. They should be locked up for life. I think that's a much harsher punishment.
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Locking them up for life lets them live. This is not something they offered their victims. There is not punishment that better fits the crime. These people lack remorse and compassion. Sitting in a cell all day makes them bored and crazy. It does not put the pounding fear that rushes in your body; as your life flashes before your eyes and you beg for redemption. It is not about a life in a confinement, it is about the last painful minute.
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Originally Posted by PR_Tom
I'm against the PREMISE that death is the harshest penalty to give a person.
If someone is in pain and terminal, why do we call death a release?
Why do we say that dead people are in a better place?
How do people convince themselves that sending an evil person to the eternal bliss of the afterlife is a good idea?
You know that they say death penalty cases cost the public more money than life in prison with no chance of parole? I'm not sure how that all works math-wise, but I think there's an auto-assumption that death is cheaper, and harsher, when it's not so clear cut as that.
It's unfathomable to some people that victims and loved ones actually forgive perpetrators, but they do. Square that internally before you state what you "know" people would do. (not that anyone has, but usually someone comes along and declares that they know what people would do yadda yadda.. No you dont.)
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Yes sometimes we beg to death to ease our pain and free our souls, However these people do so with the faith that they are going to heaven or some sort of better after life. Murderers do not have this to look forward to only the fear of the unknown.