Hot Topic (4/30): The Death Penalty

[Cafe GroupAdmin]

 Since 1977, over 1,000 criminals have been executed in the United States.

Do you believe in the death penalty for certain crimes?  Or would you prefer that the death penalty be abolished?

[Eilish]

I have mixed emotions on this issue ... i understand and sympathize with both sides of the arugement.

[Malapertinent]

I am aboslutely not mixed on this subject at all.  I support the Death Penalty 100%.

[MRS.LEVY]

I believe if you kill or hurt someone on purpose,you should get the death penalty.No wasting the tax payers money.housing you in jail.100% death penalty

[Mergath]

No one should be given the power to take a life, which is why murder is such a heinous crime. I do think we need to find a better form of punishment than long-term incarceration, but execution is not it. Responding to violence with state-sanctioned violence is not going to benefit anyone.

[hsteele]

I think that the death penalty is state sanctioned murder. If murder is so wrong, how can we then turn around and commit murder. No doubt this argument will fall on deaf ears since there are those who think the government can do what it wants while condemning other countries for doing the same. It obviously doesn't deter murder or other crimes punishable by death. Somewhat who commits murder doesn't expect to get caught, why would they worry about the penalty.

[Malapertinent]

This is why I believe there needs to be a death penalty. 

We have to have societal rules, limits & boundaries, to maintain social order and not stray into an anarchy.

Main Entry:

¹so·ci·e·ty

Pronunciation:

\sə-ˈsī-ə-tē\

Function:

noun

Inflected Form(s):

plural so·ci·e·ties

Etymology:

Middle French societé, from Latin societat-, societas, from socius companion — more at social

Date:

1531

1: companionship or association with one's fellows : friendly or intimate intercourse : company

2: a voluntary association of individuals for common ends ; especially : an organized group working together or periodically meeting because of common interests, beliefs, or profession

3 a: an enduring and cooperating social group whose members have developed organized patterns of relationships through interaction with one another b: a community, nation, or broad grouping of people having common traditions, institutions, and collective activities and interests

4 a: a part of a community that is a unit distinguishable by particular aims or standards of living or conduct 

[hsteele]

What does the death penalty have to do with societal rules? And again, how can we set rules if our government breaks them...i.e killing is wrong, except when the government does it.

[Godgaveme4]

Personally I believe that if a person commits muder or rape or both they should be given the death penalty.  They should be allowed to have 1 chance to appeal within a month or 2.  When the appeal is over and if they are found to be guilty then the sentence should be carried out with in a month.

People are not afraid of the death penalty because they know thay can spend the rest of their lives appealing and strtching out the time.  Give them something to be afraid of.  Let them know that if you commit the crime you are going to pay.  And the price is your life.

While on the subject, I believe we have re-offender of crimes because they are not afraid of the consequences.  Oh darn i havce to go to jail and watch TV, maybe get an eduaction, etc.  Where is the punishment.  Come on lets make the punishment something that will make them think twice about commiting the crime.

[Mommy_of_Riley]

One of my favorite quotes.....

"Why do we kill people who kill people to teach our children that killing people is wrong?"

[athenax3]

I do not believe all human life is inherently valuable- I distincly and honestly beleive some individuals SHOULD be executed for the good of society. And historically this isn't new, even tribes in far away places decades or even centuries past would execute or banish (another form of execution essentially) those who brought harm or insecurity to the group as a whole. Not to mention if we could effectively and quickly eliminate those who lurk in society praying on our weakest members (primarily children) we stand a reasonable chance of curbing the future child molesters and murderers, as the behaviour is often cyclical in nature- an abused becomes and abuser- if we stop abusers from claiming MULTIPLE victims we have effectively (theoretically at least) cut the number of future potential abusers down-

I do not feel a child molester is capable of reform, ever, therefor they are forever a threat to society and not worth feeding and housing, kill them and be done with it, there is something inherently and fundementally "unfixable" about them, imo.

I fully support the death penalty system, I only wish they would kill them immediately as opposed to allowing them years to languish in a private cell while consulting with thier state funded attorney. Right now for each death penalty case we spend upwards of a million dollars per inmate on housing, feeding, HEALTH CARE (ain't that a bitch!) and attorney fees for endless appeals (they can appeal until they die, on the states dime)- these individuals aren't worth a penny, shoot them (what's a bullet cost? I'll pull the trigger personally free of charge) and give that money to the victims for therapy and counseling.