Capital Punishment.

[Theland]

If a referendum was held on whether or not to reintroduce the death penalty, how would you vote?
What moral basis would dictate your choice?

[Bigbad]

I used to think no, as there have been too many miscarriages of justice.
But with advancements in forensics, and so less doubt, I think I’m coming round to yes.

I agree that it should be lethal injection, and I also agree it’s not a deterrent, but if someone I love had been murdered, then I would want retribution.

I’m not sure it’s more expensive to kill a criminal than to keep them alive, but the way round that would be to execute them quickly, and if it were to go to appeal, there should be one only, with a (short) timescale introduced.

And while lifers may ‘suffer’ in the earlier part of their sentence. I’m sure that after a while, institutionalisation sets in, and they learn to live with their circumstances.
Unlike their victims and the victims families.

[woofgang]

while there is less doubt, there is still room for doubt...I am also thinking of mitigation and how society's views of mitigating circumstances change.

[sapelesam]

I'm always fascinated by people who would bring back the death penalty, but only when you are 100% certain of guilt. Does the murder have to be witnessed by 12 of his/her peers. Witnessed by an honest police officer or maybe a judge. Maybe HD CCTV and a confession.

[nailit]

Theland,
You have said before that you base your morals on the Bible. You have also said before that you believe in the death penalty.

Given the above, would you sanction the death penality for *all* the 'crimes' that the Bible proscribes the death sentence for?

[Bertrum]

Forensics fills you with so much confidence when scientists could have manipulated data in over 10,000 criminal cases at a Manchester forensics lab
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/lab-technicians-manchester-suspected-tampering-13933228

[scooping]

As a Christian I get a little fed up with the 'eye for an eye' argument. That's Old Testament. Christ said nothing of the kind. He added a 13th commandment "Love one another as I have Loved you".

[nailit]

//As a Christian I get a little fed up with the 'eye for an eye' argument. That's Old Testament.//

As an atheist I get a little fed up with Christians cherry picking verses to suit from their holy book while ignoring the barbarity of the rest of it.

[nailit]

//He added a 13th commandment //
What were commandments 11 and 12?

[naomi24]

Scooping, //As a Christian I get a little fed up with the 'eye for an eye' argument. //

As someone who lives in the real world I get a little fed up with the ‘love one another’ brigade because quite simply it’s no more than holier than thou virtue signalling. You love the monsters who abuse and kill little children if you think that much of them - but count me out.

[nailit]

If the Bible were law would you qualify for the death penalty?
http://articles.exchristian.net/2009/04/if-bible-were-law-would-you-qualify-for.html

[Mamyalynne]

At least twice over Nailit, at least twice.

[nailit]

lol Mamy, like to get my point across ;-)

[nailit]

Hang on, might have cross wires here ^
I'm going for a lie down.....

[Bigbad]

April Jones:
A forensic expert said fragments of human bone consistent with a young person had been found in the fireplace of Mark Bridger's cottage.
That leaves doubt.

But coupled with the fact that blood found in several parts of the cottage was matched to April's DNA, then that for me, doesn’t leave doubt.

Yes, of course, each case needs to be taken on it’s own merits, and there was the case of manipulated data, which is why I said “I’m coming round” not that "I’ve come round"!

[Bertrum]

Six times but I'm only bothered by the first I wont worry after that

[anneasquith]

In answer to the original post . No. Decent human beings are above killing people

[Bigbad]

Then maybe an alternative would be life with hard labour, like they used to do in the penal colonies

[nailit]

For the advocates of the death penalty, Ive told before on here about a con I was in prison with. He was sexually abused as a child by a pedo ring. When he grew up he found out where 2 of them were living and killed them in cold blood. As a result of his childhood abuse he developed several mental illnesses. Should HE have been executed? (or sentenced to hard labor?)