Death Penalty

[Coldicote]

Nowadays one often hears people clamouring for restoration of the death penalty - hang 'em - for murder and other serious offences. Personally I could not carry out an execution and would not expect anyone else to do the dirty work for me. What do other ABers think about this - should the death penalty be restored, and what sort of person does an executuoner have to be?

[Pirate1]

I really don't believe in the death penalty. Imagine if you were the one innocent out of however many. If you'd been hanged there is no return, however if you've been in prison 20 years and then proved innocent at least you can come out to some sort of life. However, I DO believe that life should mean life and that the prison conditions should be basic and involve and lot of solitory confinement to give plenty of time for reflection. Prisoners have too many facilities and things to do to pass time. There should be no hobbies, no television, etc. etc. This would surely be more of a deterent.

[Shadow Man]

Without fail, if I was the Prime Minister, capital punishment would be the first thing I would restore.

I am not a sadist, but I would happily be an executioner and even a torturer.

[slimmyjimmy]

Over the years we have had several high-profile cases of murder where there is no question at all of the guilt. I just cannot see the sense in keeping these people alive as a constant reminder. Disregarding sentimentality, then the death penalty should be brough back as an economic measure and a move to stop giving these crimals the publicity.

I think that Bentley was hanged quite rightly, there was a murder and he went equipped.

If the two scum murderers of James Bulgar had been despatched I would happily have volunteered. However, knowing my luck I would have ended up lst in a mile-long queue.

[johnlambert]

I would certainly vote for any politcal party who brought back Capital Punishment, and I would happily be an excecutioner

[jno]

the two scum-murderers of James Bulger were 10-year-old boys. I'm not sure I'd be licking my lips over the execution of children. Not even China or Saudi Arabia do that.

[jake-the-peg]

Yeah it's amazing how many cases there are where there's no question of the guilt...until there is.

People are convinced beyond all reasonable doubt in the first place. So I dare say pretty much everybody thinks there's no question at the time.

Winston Silcot would doubtlessly have been executed for PC Keith Blakelock's muder in 1987. The prosecution of police officers for fabricating evidence in 1994 would have been too late.

Nice to hear shadow man's not a sadist but would happily torture people for us.

I'm a vegetarian but I eat a lot of meat

[New Judge]

This question is academic.

Even if the entire population, including all of the Members of the House of Commons and the Lords, wanted it, Capital Punishment cannot be restored in this country whilst it remains a member of the EU and is a signatory to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).

Conditions of membership of the EU and clauses in the ECHR prevent it.

A more relevent question would be "are you in favour of matters such as these (and lesser matters such as how many hours you are allowed to work, whether you can carry out DIY electical installations and window installations in your own home, who is allowed to enter and remain in this country, how much fish can be landed after being caught in international waters, etc. etc.) being determined by elected members of the British Parliament, or are you happy to allow such things to be decided by foreigners?"

[jno]

I understand some of the foreigners are actually elected British MEPs.

[happyjo]

My Mum In Law was Mr Pierpoints financial adviser... Albert Pierpoint was one of the last hangmen in England...

He was a trues gentleman who's trade was a craft, his ''clients'' were weighed and to calculate their deaths required complete precision.

Personally... child rapists, murderers and many other nasty sick people should be put to death. Ian Huntley is costing tax payers 500 per week... Jessica chapman and Holly wells's parents and us are footing his prison bill!!!!!

Jo x

[gardener2]

Thou shalt not kill. There is no codicil.

[Androcles]

What kind of answer is that, Gardener2? You may not have realised but some people don't appear to be taking the slightest notice of that. Ask Jessie James' Mum.

So how far do you take it? You are standing there when somebody comes along and says "I am going to kill this child" . What do you say "Go ahead, because if I take preventative action you might get killed and that is forbidden, so I won't do anything?

A great philosophical idea.....

[gardener2]

No, not a great philosophical idea but a commandment on which we will all be judged.But that leads us down the religion route so here endeth the lesson.

[Coldicote]

I despair for humanity - that people are so ready to kill and torture. It makes life cheap and disposable like a commodity. Killing in self-defence is forgivable; in hot blooded revenge perhaps understandable; but cold blooded clinical execution (maybe after years waiting for it on America's 'death row') is grusome beyond words and not worthy of decent human beings. Life imprisonment is the only humane answer.