Capital Punishment

[:Ace:]

I just read Gary Baldy's question and wondered what you all think about Capital Punishment.

[Drisgirl]

No offence as this is obviously a contentious issue.It is debated almost weekly (or seems like it).When you posted the Q was there not other Q's which had been asked which would have answered your Question?

I have posted twice on AB Suggestions that there should be a Debating Forum on AB which would allow people to have a healthy debate regarding items which are not necessarily topical but where people have strong opinions.An example would be Capital Punishment,Racism - get my drift.I am sure it would be more poular than News.Perhaps others,if they agree, would like to post a Suggestion as well and it might just happen.

[Lonnie]

I just read Gary's post also, I believe that for 100% proved murder, it should be the death penalty, regardless of race, religon or colour, and for all other crimes, whatever the sentence is, it should be carried to the full length.

[Lonnie]

Drisgirls post went up as I was writing mine, and I have to say, I agree fully with what she's said.

[Goodsoulette]

i see where you are coming from guys but what about people new to the board its not like they are gonna go back pages and pages looking for topics. You dont have to post on every topic that arrives. Why not see how people feel and if things happen in thier lives to make them change their mind. I know I became pro-capital punishment after having children.

[Goodsoulette]

I think that a debating forum would be a great idea and maybe a pm system too.

[rojash]

I think capital punishment would be a great idea, provided the executioner was capable of resuscitating his victims should it later transpire that they were innocent. Since capital punishment was abolished there have been numerous cases of innocent people being jailed, and sometimes serving many years in prison, only to be exconerated after years of campaigning. At least with the current system they can be released and compensated (to some extent).

[Drisgirl]

Thanks Lonnie.

Goodselette I have posted a Suggestion and actually included the fact that there are new people coming on all the time and are not aware this has been debated constantly in the last 6 months.

I mean no slight against ABers but that is what AB Suggestions is for and I actually think it would be a worthwhile forum.In fact others have suggested other things which would enhance it along with agreeing with me.Sorry:Ace but I didnt intend to hijack your Q but I think you would get a longer healthier more diverse debate than on News if there was an alternative.

[Drisgirl]

Goodsoulette - whats a pm system (showing my ignorance) but hey I have no shame:)

[Goodsoulette]

private message, so some form of messenger. I think it might help cause sometimes a thread gets a little overtaken by 2 people arguing the same point to each other which although it makes me laugh, might be nicer sometimes if it didnt happen quite so often, then they could take it off the board.

[Drisgirl]

Good idea Goodsoulette - I'm still learning:)

[Ward-Minter]

Ace you fire away. If a question is asked a lot it may be the case peoples views change.

For example I used to be for capital punishment, but now there is too much love in me to see another human being die.

Islam showed me the way. X

[Drisgirl]

WM- are you p!shed per chance or have you been hit by a bolt of lightning:)

[bernardo]

Lonnie wrote:

I just read Gary's post also, I believe that for 100% proved murder, it should be the death penalty, regardless of race, religon or colour, and for all other crimes, whatever the sentence is, it should be carried to the full length.

It never ceases to amaze me that so many supporters of capital punishment try to make a distinction between murder convictions which have been "100% proved" and those which contain an element of doubt. No jury can ever be absolutely 100% certain that the person is guilty; there are always elements of doubt, interpretation, balance of evidence, etc. The reliability of even DNA evidence (for example) depends on it being taken, collected, analysed and interpreted correctly, not being contaminated, and not being due to innocent explanation.

I am against capital punishment because (1) it is not a proper punishment (qv. Fred West and Harold Shipman, who took the easy way out and killed themselves) (2) it does not work as a deterrent (qv various states in the USA).

I believe that the existing system of life sentences (with a big element of flexibility in the actual time served before licensed release) is about right. Murders come in all sorts of circumstances, and it is right that the time served in prison should, in some cases, be less thn 10 years and sometimes more than 30 or 40 years.

I do not believe that it would be appropriate to impose a whole-life tarriff on murderers routinely. The prospect of eventual release is a strong incentive to good behaviour, and it would not serve any useful purpose to have some prisons turned into high-security old people's homes or geriatric hospitals.

[SteveD]

If you are in favour of capital punishment, would you pull the lever/press the button and watch the victim die? If not, why not?

[Goodsoulette]

wm.... thanks for that, have just p!ssed myself laughing

[Lonnie]

bernardo, thanks for re-printing my post, very kind of you, maybe you'd like to give this one a second airing also.

I've stated my view on a number of occasions, and to repeat what i've said before, a good example would be Ian Huntley, although there are others that could be used, I doubt there's anyone who doubts his guilt.

First, there was the cost of the investigation and final arrest,

Second, there was the cost of holding him until the trial.

Third, there was the cost of the trial, and all that it entailed, including the cost of paying the jurors, judge etc.

Fourth, there is the cost of holding him in prison, feeding him, paying for the warders and various activities.

Fifth, If he's ever let out, there's the danger of him re-committing.

Steve, if the post of executioner ever came up, I like to think, with the views I hold, that I would be able to do it, but the proof is in the pudding, and no-one knows what they are capable of, until the time.

[rojash]

Well Lonnie, it's good to know that you apparently believe that if we had a death penalty, we would no longer have the costs of investigations, remand and trials - presumably, as soon as someone became a suspect, you'd just knock 'em off.

And it's always encouraging to learn that someone hopes they'd be able to kill people.

Hopefully, you'll also be able to dig them up and apologize if you get it wrong.

[Lonnie]

rojash, I don't know where you got that from, maybe you just wanted to get your two pennywoth in. What I was saying, if you'd read it properly, was that if these vermin were executed, they wouldn't re-offend, as so many do, thereby saving the cost, among other things, of the things I posted above, for these people only, of course your going to get them for others, you'd be a nutter if you thought otherwise.

[rojash]

Sorry, Lonnie, you didn't make that clear in your post, perhaps because you were re-iterating a post that you had made earlier, and which I hadn't seen. No doubt in the earlier post you also expressed your willingness to dig up your victims and apologize to them if the were subsequently found not guilty, so I won't press that point either.

[Lonnie]

Okay Rojash, we'll leave it go, still friends?