Death penalty (852 hits)
Category: NoneRating: -0.76 on 44 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by jennaration (View user info) at 2008-07-04 06:43:15 EDT
I thought I'd offer a piece on the death penalty, it seems strangely appropriate for Juy 4th.
In an ideal world, all violence and cruelty would seize to exist. However, our society is far from ideal and to cope with acts of violence the government sets up laws. A major controversial issue currently is whether the death penalty should be legal or illegal. In order to keep criminals safely away from innocent citizens, the Death Penalty needs to be legal across the baord.
Capital punishment greatly discourages random acts of violent crimes. For example, as stated by Ernest van den Haag, "The existence of capital punishment is a disincentive, as threats of punishment always are" . Moreover, Thomas Eddlem explains, "...capital punishment sends a strong message that murder and other capital crimes will not be tolerated" (Eddlem). Capital punishment is needed to punish the criminals who deserve it most.
The Death penalty does not allow murderers to repent their crimes. Former state prison chaplain Gary Egeberg expresses his true feelings about capital punishment, "If you want to punish inmates for murder, raise their mortality, raise their consciousness, raise their humanity- don't kill them". If murderers do not receive fair consequences for their actions they will not learn.
Raising their mortality or consciousness will not help; they did not have morals or a conscious in the first place. Furthermore, Olga Polites refers back to the death of a loved one and firmly states, "Locking up the innocent is unacceptable; executing the innocent is unconscionable" (Polites). Polites does not recognize the fact that letting murderers live their life is unacceptable.
The life in prison is sometimes better than outside living situations; it is unfair to the victim and family to let the murderer live comfortably. The Death Penalty eradicates the opportunity for a murderer to enjoy their life.
The Death Penalty is a punishment needed for someone who kills an innocent civilian. For instance, as said by Ernest van den Haag, life imprisonment is not always true to its definition; "Life imprisonment is not necessarily lifelong; life imprisonment without parole still allows governors to pardon prisoners" (van den Haag).
The Death Penalty eliminates the chance of a murderer to be released. It ensures the safety of citizens and fairly punishes the murderers. In addition, Gary Egeberg explicates the unjust action shown by illegalizing the Death Penalty, "...it didn't seem fair or right that those who had intentionally taken another person's life should be able to enjoy things, much less live" ( Egeberg).
The cruelty of letting the murderer live while their victim's life was stolen from them is disheartening. They took it upon themselves to commit murder and must endure the appropriate consequences. Lastly, Robert Bidinotto refers to the deterrent effect of capital punishment in that, "...capital punishment incapacitates (or prevents) the killer from ever repeating his crime...and that the existence of a death penalty deters future murders..." (Bidinotto).
The Death Penalty provides the murderer an appropriate punishment. Their death is a fair warning to all other future murderers. The selfish trait that murderers possess is one of the many arguments that proves the death penalty needs to be legal in all states.
The communal concerns about the death penalty result in the debate about its true effect on humanity. Joseph Shapiro explains a public concern based on statistics proven about the mistaken convictions and possibly deaths, "For every 7 executions- 486 since 1976- 1 other prisoner on death row has been found innocent..." (Shapiro).
Society needs to focus on the innocent people that will not be worried about the murderer. There is a chance that an innocent person will be put to death, however that argument does not outweigh the fact that most persons put to death are guilty. An additional shared concern is racism towards minorities in the United States.
Thomas Eddlem proves otherwise, "The majority of those executed since 1976 have been white..." (Eddlem). This concern is based off appearance and does not truly look at the evidence. The Death Penalty does not favor minorities; it is used on whoever is accused of a crime and found guilty. Finally, the last main common concern is the lack of adequate legal counsel since, "... the No. 1 reason people are falsely convicted is poor legal representation" (Vermeule).
The lawyer has to be motivated to defend their client's life, if not the defendant does not stand a chance against the prosecution. Based on that fact the validity of the Death Penalty is not the issue, it is the lawyer's negligence. The societal concerns do not compensate the crucial statistics of guilty murderers that are justified in being executed.
There are many ways that some shared concerns can be resolved. One method is declared by Olga Polites, "... recent Supreme Court rulings barring the execution of the mentally retarded, the criminally insane and those who committed crimes when they were juveniles" (Polites).
Keeping the mentally ill and juvenile criminals from being killed can help solve the unnecessary deaths because they may not know what they have done. They need to be given the option to alter their behavior and excel in all aspects of their life. Additionally, Polites came up with another solution to help ease society's worries, "Perhaps a serious review in the way the death penalty is administered will bring about changes that are clearly necessary" (Polites).
Changing the process in which the Death Penalty is managed will change the minds of people who think the administration is inhumane. The criminals on death row should be given a non-harmful death despite the fact their murder may have caused the victim to suffer. These modifications will give reason for people to rethink their feelings on the Death Penalty.
Putting criminals, who commit heinous crimes to death, ensures innocent citizens a proper life. People globally worry whether they are safe from criminals who have murdered
someone. The death penalty alleviates concerns and reassures the safety of all citizens.
Ultimately, a criminal who committed murder must have the Death Penalty available and completely legal.
User Reviews
Submitted by tatersninja (user info) at 2008-07-09 22:14:07 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
I want to reinstitute slavery. Fuck the details, but they will be "prisoners" (see, they won't technically be in prison or incarcerated, but will still be punished.)
Maybe it will help to seize crime.
Submitted by The_Drake (user info) at 2008-07-07 15:12:42 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
I took a shit once. It read better than this.
Thanks for polluting the internet with "your opinion".
Submitted by Falafel (user info) at 2008-07-06 21:32:33 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
WTF is this, your grade 9 term paper? I hope you're not older than 16 or so. If you submitted that in any university, your prof would take a big steaming dump on your life and possibly bust out the F- stamp, just because it's 90% citations from other people.
Try again and use your own opinion. Remember: OTHER PEOPLES' OPINIONS ARE NOT PROOF OF ANYTHING, STATISTICS ARE.
Submitted by iambetteratit (user info) at 2008-07-06 17:04:15 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
It would seize to exist huh? cool
I have a better Idea.. instead of locking up people who murder others and paying 30-40K a year for them to live in prison, just take them to court. If found guilty of murder they are marched into a concrete building, chained to a wall with a hood over their head, and are shot untill they are dead.
As opposed to the thousands of dollars spent on keeping a murderer alive you spend 50 cents on bullets and a couple hundred on the pay for the guy who shoots 'em and the guy who sprays the blood into a storm drain.
Submitted by MyNameIsTim (user info) at 2008-07-06 10:18:54 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
did you get that from conservapedia?
Submitted by FilledwithHate (user info) at 2008-07-06 04:05:54 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
First response: wtf, I am not reading all that.
Then I did, as boring as it was; the main argument against the death penalty is that innocent may, and statistically are likely, to be occasionally, rarely, executed. You addressed this only very lightly, and with no remedy. This is usually due to poor representation, but your argument against the role of racism was completely unconvincing. Sure, more white people get executed, but there are 6x as many white people as black people.
Submitted by Zoidberg (user info) at 2008-07-05 22:54:33 EDT (#)
Ranking: -1
If you really want to help society, you'll have a doctor execute your ovaries.
Submitted by Maddog (user info) at 2008-07-05 09:17:06 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Submitted by JoeyG (user info) at 2008-07-05 05:17:58 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
I think murderers should be forced to read your posts. A punishment far worse than death.
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POW! right in the kisser!
Submitted by JoeyG (user info) at 2008-07-05 05:17:58 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
I think murderers should be forced to read your posts. A punishment far worse than death.
Submitted by pandora (user info) at 2008-07-04 16:52:16 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by orphelia (user info) at 2008-07-04 09:15:59 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Is no one bothered I have been evacuated from my home town due to a bomb scare?
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Happy July 4th!
Submitted by PepsiCoke (user info) at 2008-07-04 16:50:06 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
go fuck yourself
Submitted by apollo88 (user info) at 2008-07-04 15:14:59 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
ugh
Submitted by EmissionImpossible (user info) at 2008-07-04 14:10:51 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by orphelia (user info) at 2008-07-04 14:15:59 BST (#)
Ranking: -2
Is no one bothered I have been evacuated from my home town due to a bomb scare?
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Only if you blew up.
Submitted by Littlebint (user info) at 2008-07-04 11:46:37 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Is it the time of day or is the below review hard to get any sense out of? Must be time to head home and go out for a drink I think.
Submitted by tatersninja (user info) at 2008-07-04 11:42:47 EDT (#)
Ranking: -1
First of all, people who are retarded and underage (who may not have known what they were doing) I think are the biggest threats. There is no salvation or hope of restructuring or injecting "morals" into them. There is no "rehabilitation" or reduced threat of future violence or acts due to any form of deterrence of incarceration. Tards just won't get it, they never become less retarded. I guess only a tard would not realize that.
The death penalty does not effectively deter murder. They used to quarter (?) people; tie them up with pulley/ horse system and that was hardly ever enough to do the job; so they would literally have to hack apart their bodies in the town square. The guillotine I think would be an effective deterrent. I'm a proponent of bringing back public hangings and punishments. Cut off thieves' hands, cut out the tongues of the slanderers with rusty spoons! Make a REAL example, damnit
The threat must be imminent and real; if the legal system is flawed, loopholes, or a grandiose level of thought which prohibits rational behaviour is present in the offense; then any of these said threats will be null and void anyway. Making the "reason" for deterrent futile, especially via this route.
Deterrence by threat of punishment is ONE of SEVERAL ways to influence criminal behavior. A basic law or soc class will lay out the pretty yellow cubes and purple triangles for you.
I think we should all just beat the shit out of our kids (times I wish I had a kid) and make them learn to fucking obey and not be retarded pieces of shit. (blah blah blah, but tato, YOU'RE a retarded piece of shit! hehehe)
^-------------FYI
BTW. You spelled "cease" as sieze which just really fucking pissed me off. I know this is really long but you have a very publicized force fed way of viewing our society and the reasons, nuances, and relationships of the 'police' and the 'public'.
CEASE CEASE CEASE CEASE CEASE LOOK IT UP
Submitted by orphelia (user info) at 2008-07-04 11:34:16 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
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Submitted by orph (user info) at 2008-07-04 14:37:40 BST (#)
Ranking: 0
Can someone please write something epic and enthralling and post it before 5.00pm?
Where's bickerstaff when you need him.
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This is clearly not going to happen.
Where is uberdirectory? Come on scourge, sweety.
Submitted by skrapmetal (user info) at 2008-07-04 11:01:47 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
The imposition of the death penalty should not be considered a deterrent but as insurance against a continuance of demonstrated behavior.
I still feel this way about it: http://www.ubersite.com/m/76272
Submitted by Bubba2341 (user info) at 2008-07-04 10:56:29 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
It isn't what happens to you in life that is important, but how you react to it. Yer momma didn't make you a murderer, you made yourself one through your reactions.
Submitted by Berty (user info) at 2008-07-04 10:51:44 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
If there is a dude who is born whos daddy throws him across the room when he cries and does badly at school and fights all the other kids because fighting is just The Done Thing and then he gets older and he cannot get a job because he is all about fighting and punching girls who have grown up with Trauma and he feels nothing but anger and all that is good in life only comes when he is punching other people with a knife to watch them die before taking their money and he gets arrested then well...
... the death penalty works pretty well untill we can build that radioactive mine on Phobos.
Submitted by Bubba2341 (user info) at 2008-07-04 10:38:49 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Submitted by i_can_get_you_a_toe (user info) at 2008-07-04 08:02:50 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Oh please, based on the US model, the states that approve the death penalty, have the highest murder rates.
The death penalty - while may seem like a good idea to get rid of someone, serves no greater purpose. at all.
"Why do we kill people who kill people, to teach that killing people is wrong"
Also, do have such ABSOLUTE faith in the police force? that you couldn't be wrongfully tried? people are getting aquitted all the time due to DNA testing that wasn't availble when they were first imprisoned.
And the same old pro death penalty excuse gets brought out -'what if it were your mother that was murdered'
What if it were your mother that was wrongfully put to death by the state that you pay taxes to? Some 400 odd people have been wrongfully put to death in the united states. Are thier innocent lives worth it?
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Amen. When twelve people gather in a room and decide whom they will kill, when/how they will kill him, that is murder. The death penalty is NOT a deterrent, nor has it ever been. Just like a little kid, "I didn't think they'd catch me."
Submitted by myshit (user info) at 2008-07-04 10:34:56 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I never have understood the whole... 'Judge orders man to serve 375 years in jail' Headlines.
Life.
End Of.
Submitted by Littlebint (user info) at 2008-07-04 10:19:08 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,375601,00.html
Damn! you 'mericuns know how to give out a sentence, I love it.
Submitted by F.J.Bell (user info) at 2008-07-04 09:41:56 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
must be something happening in the states or something
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Damn you Bint, you made me laugh.
Submitted by Littlebint (user info) at 2008-07-04 09:40:06 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by orph (user info) at 2008-07-04 09:37:40 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Can someone please write something epic and enthralling and post it before 5.00pm?
Where's bickerstaff when you need him.
--
*Looks at people currently reviewing posts. Shakes head.*
Other than You and Flash I dont see much of the 'Talent' around today, must be something happening in the states or something
Submitted by orph (user info) at 2008-07-04 09:37:40 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Can someone please write something epic and enthralling and post it before 5.00pm?
Where's bickerstaff when you need him.
Submitted by orphelia (user info) at 2008-07-04 09:27:42 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Yes, it is all clear now. I was more worried for my toddler who has playgroup in town but he is home now.
The most exciting thing for him was apparently he took his nappy off in the wendy house and did a crap in the turtle sand box.
Submitted by F.J.Bell (user info) at 2008-07-04 09:24:25 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Ohh...
The only story I can find about it on the net is from something called 'chad.co.uk'
Says it has been detonated...hope you are alright!
Submitted by orphelia (user info) at 2008-07-04 09:22:14 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
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Submitted by F.J.Bell (user info) at 2008-07-04 14:18:57 BST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by orphelia (user info) at 2008-07-04 14:15:59 BST (#)
Ranking: -2
Is no one bothered I have been evacuated from my home town due to a bomb scare?
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What? Seriously?
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yeah, uh huh. the shopping bit, anyway. We were evacuated. Suddenly I realise that it doesn't matter that you are heavily pregnant and have a toddler in tow - when it comes to the crunch, it is every man or woman for themselves.
What is this shit, anyway?
Submitted by orph (user info) at 2008-07-04 09:22:02 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Who'd threaten to blow up Wisla?
Submitted by myshit (user info) at 2008-07-04 09:20:53 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by orphelia (user info) at 2008-07-04 09:15:59 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Is no one bothered I have been evacuated from my home town due to a bomb scare?
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Well, of course my Queen.
But the fact of the matter is, there is fuck all any of us can do about it.
(forgotten what post this is, have madly optimistic +2)
Submitted by jennaration (user info) at 2008-07-04 09:19:31 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by orph (user info) at 2008-07-04 09:10:23 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Don't take it personally Jen, I hate everyone.
I think the death penalty should be replace by a system of amputation.
It would work similar to the 3 strikes rule I hear operates in some more backwards parts of the u.s.
first offence - lose a pinky
second offence - arm off at the elbow
3rd offence - castration - full cock and sack ripped off.
I haven't thought so much about the 3rd strike for female offenders.
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Oh not at all, I wasn't taking it personally.
I just got the impression that your were hating everyone because they mostly seemed to want capital punishment.
But you agreed with it to some extent.
Submitted by F.J.Bell (user info) at 2008-07-04 09:18:57 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by orphelia (user info) at 2008-07-04 14:15:59 BST (#)
Ranking: -2
Is no one bothered I have been evacuated from my home town due to a bomb scare?
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What? Seriously?
Submitted by orphelia (user info) at 2008-07-04 09:15:59 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Is no one bothered I have been evacuated from my home town due to a bomb scare?
Submitted by F.J.Bell (user info) at 2008-07-04 09:13:49 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I haven't thought so much about the 3rd strike for female offenders.
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Surely some sort of stapling, or sewing shut, of the minge?
Submitted by orph (user info) at 2008-07-04 09:10:23 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Don't take it personally Jen, I hate everyone.
I think the death penalty should be replace by a system of amputation.
It would work similar to the 3 strikes rule I hear operates in some more backwards parts of the u.s.
first offence - lose a pinky
second offence - arm off at the elbow
3rd offence - castration - full cock and sack ripped off.
I haven't thought so much about the 3rd strike for female offenders.
Submitted by jennaration (user info) at 2008-07-04 09:05:22 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by orph (user info) at 2008-07-04 08:59:52 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
God I hate you all so much.
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Why?
Submitted by orph (user info) at 2008-07-04 08:59:52 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
God I hate you all so much.
Submitted by Littlebint (user info) at 2008-07-04 08:50:49 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Multiple Killings confirmed with DNA- Kill the Bastards
Rape confirmed by DNA- Kill the Bastards
Paedophiles confirmed by DNA - Cut their bastard tongues out, put them in cages in towns and leave them to die slowly with big signs saying "This is what happens to kiddy fiddlers" then parents can take their children along and point at them and say "See this is what happens if you step outside the bounds of the Law that we have.
I would also kill anyone who thought the Chipmunks films was ever going to be a good idea, so I may be slightly out of whack.
Submitted by I_R_Suspect (user info) at 2008-07-04 08:11:24 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Angry man/woman
Submitted by i_can_get_you_a_toe (user info) at 2008-07-04 08:02:50 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Oh please, based on the US model, the states that approve the death penalty, have the highest murder rates.
The death penalty - while may seem like a good idea to get rid of someone, serves no greater purpose. at all.
"Why do we kill people who kill people, to teach that killing people is wrong"
Also, do have such ABSOLUTE faith in the police force? that you couldn't be wrongfully tried? people are getting aquitted all the time due to DNA testing that wasn't availble when they were first imprisoned.
And the same old pro death penalty excuse gets brought out -'what if it were your mother that was murdered'
What if it were your mother that was wrongfully put to death by the state that you pay taxes to? Some 400 odd people have been wrongfully put to death in the united states. Are thier innocent lives worth it?
Submitted by myshit (user info) at 2008-07-04 07:20:35 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Sorry FJ. After you took all that time to explain it too.
Submitted by F.J.Bell (user info) at 2008-07-04 07:16:53 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Or are we all inherently savages and we just want revenge and fuck the moral complications it brings?
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No dude, its not revenge, its retribution.
Submitted by myshit (user info) at 2008-07-04 07:13:50 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
"The death penalty is a warning, just like a lighthouse throwing its beams out to sea. We hear about shipwrecks, but we do not hear about the ships the lighthouse guides safely on their way. We do not have proof of the number of ships it saves, but we do not tear the lighthouse down".
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Do we use the 'it serves as a deterent' excuse to nullify our feelings of inhumanity that we carry due to having such a punishment?
for 'we' I mean 'society'.
Or are we all inherently savages and we just want revenge and fuck the moral complications it brings?
Or should I stop labelling society as one giant thing and accept that we can each want different things?
Submitted by F.J.Bell (user info) at 2008-07-04 07:06:30 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Jesus Christ this was boring. I am nevertheless, always up for a bit of capital punishment banter:
One of the the first objections to capital punishment is the 'revenge' argument. An authority as high as the former Prime Minister Edward Heath noted: "I do not believe in revenge. If I were to become a victim of terrorists, I would not wish them to be hanged or killed in any other way for revenge. All that would do is deepen the bitterness...in society."
F.J.Bell insists that he is a retributivist, and that offenders should receive punishment in accordance with the gravity of their crime. Bell replies to Edward Heath's moral objection by seeking the difference between the words 'revenge' and 'retribution'. Revenge, he believes, is a personal response to an injustice; revenge can often outweigh the original crime. Retribution, on the other hand, is an indifferent reaction to an offence; Bell refers to the biblical idea of 'les talionis', i.e. an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, and so on. Using this maxim, a murderer should be dealt with in equal gravity to their crime, and this is, therefore not revenge, but retribution.
The Retributivist Argument centres on the les talionis idea mentioned before, and the age-old adage 'whatever a man soweth, that shall he reap'. Bell explains "The virtuous deserve to flourish to the degree of their virtue and the vicious deserve to suffer to the degree of their vice".
A retributivist holds the fairly common-place belief that everyone has the right to life. Therefore, if someone is murdered, that right has been taken from them, and the murderer immediately forfeits their own right to life. A key point of the retributivist argument is that it not only says that execution is permissible for a murderer, but that they in fact deserve it.
Common sense tells us that the death penalty must deter some potential killers. Surely no-one could argue the opposite: that it encourages people to commit capital crimes? The fact is, we never hear of those who were deterred; there are no stories in Hello about the man who would have murdered had it not been for the ominous threat of execution. Bell refers to a statement by Hyman Barshay to strengthen this argument:
"The death penalty is a warning, just like a lighthouse throwing its beams out to sea. We hear about shipwrecks, but we do not hear about the ships the lighthouse guides safely on their way. We do not have proof of the number of ships it saves, but we do not tear the lighthouse down".