Death Penalty

[Theland]

In my opinion, only hanging murderers will make us safe from knife wielding thugs.
Two dead and two injured in Milton Keynes and one dead in Scarborough yesterday.
Hardly a day goes by without another stabbing murder.
Hanging the culprits would deter these scum.
What do you think?

[Mozz71]

//executioners are agents of the courts doing the will of the people.//

Only it wouldn't be the will of the people. The reintroduction of the death penalty would never be gain a majority in favour from the general public.

[MallyJ]

I don't think that killing people as a punishment is at all acceptable...it is IMO state endorsed murder. Far better to attack the reasons why people are using weapons .... what is happening in society to cause people to behave this way? There are many reasons in my opinion and these are what needs to be addressed. Further thoughts...people have been killing each other from the beginning of time it is not a new phenomenon and hanging did not stop it and secondly I am concerned that someone who says that he is a Christian would suggest such punishment...I thought that violence was against Jesus teaching.

[Theland]

Ever had a knife pulled on you?
I have. Not nice.

[nailit]

Ive shared cells/landings/wings with 'murderers'. Most (if not all) had led blameless lives prior to their conviction. Their back stories were often sad. (not talking about the Sutcliffes or Brady's of this world)
There are many reasons why people take anothers life, mental illness etc.
We are all capable of killing in the heat of a moment without a thought about the consequences.

[davebro]

I think the official figures may be "massaged" to suggest that the murder rate now is not greatly increased from times past?

The only thing with many of these street killings is identifying the culprit. Used to be that anyone involved could be convicted & hanged whether or not they actually did the stabbing. Should that still apply?

I think the rope or firing squad are probably the least objectionable forms of execution. I enjoyed the Pierrepoint film with Tim Spall!

[Rockrose]

Death is instant

Not in all cases

[Theland]

Execute murderers. Then if we all know rhe rules, no excuse for breaking the rules.
The scum would leave the weapons at home.

[ummmm]

Mally - the 'bring back the birch crew' will probably answer that.

[Mamyalynne]

I did think you may have a handy caveat up your sleeve.

This is a topic I have long debated , most especially with my Grandfather who knew 2 hangmen and was very interested in criminology and detection.

I always as a youngster said I could never take a life, when I became a parent I shifted slightly - I could kill to save the immediate threat to the life of my child but as you originally outlined, then my life would end very soon after.

[vulcan42]

Mozz71, exactly, people like Theland use the bible like a sweet shop, they pick and use what suits them.

[ummmm]

//Ever had a knife pulled on you?//

Yes I have.

[davebro]

"The reintroduction of the death penalty would never be gain a majority in favour from the general public."

Au contraire - polls show the public in favour of the death penalty. Only MPs (& Lords?) are against it.

[nailit]

Theland, do you advocate the death penalty for all biblical transgressions or just the ones that you want?
The bible advocates the death sentence for working on the sabbath. Are you ok with that?

[Barsel]

Mozz //The last thing we need is a new influx of James Hanrattys//
Exactly. I followed that case very closely and I can't believe they hung him with such flimsy evidence.
Hopefully, if they did bring back the death penalty, they would have to prove 100% that the person is guilty. For Brady, Hindley and the Wests, there was absolutely no doubt and if they had put a gun in my hand, I would have shot them myself.

[douglas9401]

"The reintroduction of the death penalty would never be gain a majority in favour from the general public."

We'll never actually know until the question is asked though. Anything else is guesswork.

[davebro]

'bring back the birch crew'

Now THERE you would have a deterrent to low level crime IMV.

[Mozz71]

//Did James Hanratty get a pardon? I thought the guilty verdict remained.//

You're right although there is still doubt. I got my killers mixed up, it was Derek Bentley I was thinking of.

[ummmm]

Barsel - you also have to have 100% confidence in the police. What about the Birmingham 6 and Guildford 4? They'd all be dead now.

[TonyV]

ummmm lets just start with murderers convicted with DNA evidence, not hang but kill them probably bullet to the head would be least painful.

[vulcan42]

Back in the days when we had the death penalty we still had the scum, as Theland calls them, carrying out murders. it wasn't a deterrent then, why would it be now?