The Death Penalty

[thepornguy]

Hello, I am writing a research paper which I intend to submit to major magazines for publication. The paper concerns the death penalty as it pertains to the psychology of belief, arguing the death penalty is irrational and explores why good people can be lead to do bad things.

Just to cover all my bases, I am interested in hearing PRO-death penalty arguments, because it seems to me the only principle argument advocates argue is revenge / retribution. What other fundamental arguments, in principle, are there? Thanks much!

 

[Legzman]

Population control! :thumbsup:

 

[YMIHERE]

Just to watch them die.

 

[Facetious]

See this - Premium Link Upgrade

It's a bit dated, but relevant.

 

[Member2019]

A big one is crime deterrent ...

The big one is deterrent. It varies from state-to-state, but some states you don't want to receive it more than others.

E.g., it's one of the reasons why Texas has limits on appeals. They don't let you use the legal system to prolong your life. If don't want the death penalty in Texas.

The method is less of a deterrent though. And some methods are clearly "cruel and unusual punishment." I would see myself ****** by ********* before the chair, and I'd find a way to do that in a state that uses the chair.

But that all aside, I'm against the death penalty because of the two-part issue ...

1) The cost of keeping someone alive in most states is less than ******* them in most states, in additional to the emotional roller-coaster on both sides. Only the lawyers benefit.

2) But the cost of accidentally ******* an innocent by limiting their appeals to combat #1 is too great. You don't protect costs by minimizing their appeals in a way that in irreversible (ending a life is).

It's better and cheaper to put them away for life, with no chance of parole. But you have to make it no chance of parole and back it up to be a real deterrent. Unfortunately, the US right to no ex-post-facto prevents you from doing that on existing immates -- so things don't take affect for 20+ years for most politicians.

That's why the statistics rarely favor or demonize anyone correctly. And politicians can say what they want.

 

[jk34]

Re: A big one is crime deterrent ...

2) But the cost of accidentally ******* an innocent by limiting their appeals to combat #1 is too great. You don't protect costs by minimizing their appeals in a way that in irreversible (ending a life is)
posted by prof

i agree,i heard that up to 10% of death sentences are judicial errors

 

[Member2019]

Re: A big one is crime deterrent ...

i agree,i heard that up to 10% of death sentences are judicial errors

Huh? Okay, sorry, wow! That really isn't reality. Don't know where you got that one.

 

[Dean Wormer]

Paraphrasing Ebeneezer Scrooge: To decrease the surplus population.

 

[marquis2]

The deterrence argument has generally failed throughout the world.Perhaps because like most criminals they don't expect to get caught anyway because the biggest deterrent is a high detection rate.

 

[vobra]

who can **** who has not created?

 

[spartan7]

I did a research paper on this and the ironic thing about it being a deterrent is that violent crime actually goes up.
But my reason for being pro-death penalty, among other things, is that they will never **** again. Many criminals who have been sentenced to life in prison have gone on to **** guards as well as other inmates. Not so when they are 6ft in the ground.

 

[Friday on my mind]

Here is a good thread where we debated the issue.
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[member006]

Here is my take on the issue.

1.There is no punishment in death, only peace/relief. Your sins are forgiven and you as they say 'go to a better place'.Why do you think suicides see it as a good out, no more pain and sorrow. There is more to that last statement, but that would be a thread in itself.

2. The person or persons flipping the switch, pushing the button or dropping the floor is then just as guilty of ****** as the criminal that he just ****** was. Nobody has the right to take another's life, not even the law.

3. It doesn't cost any more to house a lifer than it does to house the many, many criminals that don't even belong there. We must work on our judicial system and get it in shape. Its an embarrassment to all Americans and let us put the hard criminals away and the small time criminals to work. Open work camps/farms again, make them work the fields to pay off their debt. Feed the poor and homeless with the crops. Saving some money on the welfare programs grants. Maybe using that saved for education. Give a man a fish, he eats for a day. Teach a man to fish he eats for a lifetime. Or something like that. I could go on and on but I won't.

4. **** up those in charge of these things. Locally and countrywide. Write letters, get involved locally. Election Years are the best to do these things too. They listen at least a little at that time. Looking for those feathers for their caps.

Sorry to go on and on, but you asked. *la sigh*

LL

 

[Jagger69]

Since you asked only for pro-death arguments, you most certainly don't want to hear what I have to say about this issue (which has been debated here ad nauseum). However, I will make one comment: the "deterrent" argument is has no validity whatsoever.

In 2007, the United States ranked 8th in per capita ******* with firearms (trailing only South Africa, Colombia, Thailand, Zimbabwe, Mexico, Belarus and Costa Rica). Through 2006, individual U.S. states where there is no death penalty, on average, had lower ****** rates than states where the death penalty is in effect.

Death-penalty proponents can use the "deterrent" argument all they want but the facts clearly demonstrate that there can be no conclusion that the death penalty serves in any fashion as a deterrent to ******. On the contrary, the facts would seem to support the argument that the imposition of the death penalty is more likely to lead to an increase in the ****** rate.

The facts are here:

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[wigster]

Here is my take on the issue.

1.There is no punishment in death, only peace/relief. Your sins are forgiven and you as they say 'go to a better place'.Why do you think suicides see it as a good out, no more pain and sorrow. There is more to that last statement, but that would be a thread in itself.

2. The person or persons flipping the switch, pushing the button or dropping the floor is then just as guilty of ****** as the criminal that he just ****** was. Nobody has the right to take another's life, not even the law.

3. It doesn't cost any more to house a lifer than it does to house the many, many criminals that don't even belong there. We must work on our judicial system and get it in shape. Its an embarrassment to all Americans and let us put the hard criminals away and the small time criminals to work. Open work camps/farms again, make them work the fields to pay off their debt. Feed the poor and homeless with the crops. Saving some money on the welfare programs grants. Maybe using that saved for education. Give a man a fish, he eats for a day. Teach a man to fish he eats for a lifetime. Or something like that. I could go on and on but I won't.

4. **** up those in charge of these things. Locally and countrywide. Write letters, get involved locally. Election Years are the best to do these things too. They listen at least a little at that time. Looking for those feathers for their caps.

Sorry to go on and on, but you asked. *la sigh*

LL

Agreed

 

[Member2019]

However, I will make one comment: the "deterrent" argument is has no validity whatsoever.

I never said it had "validity," just what many people claim does.

Death-penalty proponents can use the "deterrent" argument all they want but the facts clearly demonstrate that there can be no conclusion that the death penalty serves in any fashion as a deterrent to ******. On the contrary, the facts would seem to support the argument that the imposition of the death penalty is more likely to lead to an increase in the ****** rate.

I never disagreed with this either. Just pointing out a consideration that others make.

Texas is interesting though. It has claimed its rates have fallen in-state with the implementation of new procedures. That's all I was pointing out. I definitely do not agree with them.

 

[Jagger69]

I never said it had "validity," just what many people claim does.

I never disagreed with this either. Just pointing out a consideration that others make.

Texas is interesting though. It has claimed its rates have fallen in-state with the implementation of new procedures. That's all I was pointing out. I definitely do not agree with them.

You flatter yourself, Prof. :1orglaugh

I never once referred to you....I was referring to the subject in generalities and not about your post in particular.

 

[member006]

My bad, I didn't comprehend the Pro part of your request. The issue flips a switch in me. Sorry. :o

LL

 

[georges]

death penalty is useful for serial shooters, pedophiles, sex offenders, ***** molesters, gang members, serial killers, **** dealers, terrorists and psychopatic killers.

 

[negator]

death penalty is useful for serial shooters, pedophiles, sex offenders, ***** molesters, gang members, serial killers, **** dealers, terrorists and psychopatic killers.

it does offer some small comfort for the victims of the most egregious crimes. while i am opposed to the death penalty on principle, i can empathize with the survivors. but what really moves me is when i hear a victim survivor calling for a stay of execution. usually the "wheels of justice" continue to grind inexorably on.