The death penalty or capital punishment is the punishment by death for a crime. Currently 58 countries worldwide allow the death penalty (including the U.S.) while 97 countries have outlawed it. Since the 1970s executions in the U.S. have declined every year. In 2021 five states and the federal government carried out 11 executions. The decline is part of a decadeslong trend as the costs associated with seeking the death penalty, the lengthy appeals process often associated with capital punishment, concerns about executing the innocent and a long-term decline in crime rates have caused many prosecutors and legislators in the U.S. to pull back from capital punishment.
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@ISIDEWITH12yrs12Y
No
@NameIGuessLolSocialist 4mos4MO
All people deserve to exercise their right to live, no matter their crime. I also do not support the life sentence.
@GrumpyOilRepublican4mos4MO
What would you personally give up to be able to financially afford $75k/year per prisoner currently on death row?
@9CWZLF61yr1Y
"'the death penalty is inadmissible' and the Church is firmly committed to calling for its abolition worldwide." - The Holy Father Pope Francis
The Dalai Lama has been quoted as saying that under extreme circumstances, capital punishment may be the only deterrent for heinous crimes. Now, I'm not saying one viewpoint is superior to the other, rather, it's a clear example of how complex and nuanced this issue is. I'm curious, how would you respond to those who believe the death penalty serves as a necessary deterrent?
@9CJ6CB61yr1Y
It's not a deterrent, lowering crime rates with it would require it to be used far too liberally. It's not a solution, it's revenge. Closure from death isn't something that people really want, they think it's what they want but it never fulfills that void. The innocence rate is too high, the methods are inhumane, and let's be honest, what is it really for? Justice? That's served by them never seeing the light of day again, easily, prison is a better option.
@9FS9K3YRepublican1yr1Y
Some individuals will simply waste taxpayer money while spending time in prison for crimes that are unbearable to even consider.
@ISIDEWITH12yrs12Y
Yes
@9FFGW541yr1Y
1. The Death Penalty is more expensive than life in prison
2. You run the risk of killing an innocent person with the death penalty
@9YJS25T 1mo1MO
The death penalty costs HOW much? Firing squad, although grim, shouldn't need to cost that much. Hanging worked for a while too. Minus the "in public" part.
@ISIDEWITH12yrs12Y
Yes, but only for horrific crimes with undeniable evidence
@9FQG9QV1yr1Y
There's no such thing as "undeniable evidence," there is always a possibility of something being proved wrong. Forensics is never 100% and witnesses can always lie or misinterpret things. Also what can be considered as a "horrific crime" is completely subjective and can lead to people constantly fluctuating the standards for what qualifies as "Death Penalty Worthy."
@9HQXZQL12mos12MO
If someone kills 20 people, the easiest and arguably best thing to do would be to kill them. If a developing child with a severe mental disorder and a poor living condition killed 2 people, fixing their problems should be a higher concern than what their punishment should be.
@9GS33SQ1yr1Y
No one deserves to die. If we kill people what is the difference between killers and the government.
@9FQ26VW1yr1Y
No one has the authority to say whether someone should be allowed to live or die, except for medical circumstances where death is preferential to severe pain or lack of recovery.
@ISIDEWITH11yrs11Y
No, too many people are innocently convicted
@ISIDEWITH11yrs11Y
No, spending life in prison is a harsher sentence
@9HQXZQL12mos12MO
Sometimes it’s better to completely get rid of a really bad thing. If there is a venomous spider in your house, you wouldn’t keep it as a pet, you would kill it. Not only would this grant physical safety, but also would put your mind at ease.
@9GVRKPN1yr1Y
Death Penalty allows victims of the convicted person to feel relief of their death and that the actions of the actions of the Convicted person can determine how morally and lawfully wrong it is and if it isn't redeemable then the death penalty is the last resort.
@9HRJ3Z212mos12MO
Sometimes it’s better to completely get rid of a really bad thing. If there is a venomous spider in your house, you wouldn’t keep it as a pet, you would kill it. Not only would this grant physical safety, but also would put your mind at ease.
@ISIDEWITH11yrs11Y
Yes, but the victim’s family should decide the punishment
@9FNP24F1yr1Y
The death penalty is immoral and the victim's family should not be given that power since they have no right to do so.
@cryingleftist4yrs4Y
The offender should have a choice between life in prison and the death penalty.
@8CGS9HSLibertarian4yrs4Y
No. The government does not have the authority to kill a citizen for any reason.
@5BPWZYZ4yrs4Y
Those who are for the death penalty are hypocritical. You are killing someone because they killed someone... you are punishing them for a crime that you are committing by killing them. And if you kill that person they don't have to live with the wrongs they have done. Spending life in prison is way more harsh then killing them.
@JonBSimConstitution2yrs2Y
That assumes the victim shares the same status as the perpetrator.
Murder is the unlawful/immoral execution of a person.
The death penalty is the lawful/moral execution of a person who has performed a heinous act.
@9CJ6CB611mos11MO
Death of sentient beings is an inherently immoral act, regardless of how it’s done and for what reason. In a court of law, the prisoner is already unable to cause more harm, at that point, killing is unnecessary, because the purpose of punishment is to make sure they don’t commit that act again, meaning that life in prison will do the job.
@NameIGuessLolSocialist 4mos4MO
Yes... BUT, a life sentence, in my eyes, is very closely related to a death sentence, as the prisoner is forever banished from the outside world made for the majority of society. It should not be given to any prisoner, for everyone has the potential to redeem themselves.
@Patriot-#1776Constitution4mos4MO
Phenomenal idea! Let's stop imprisoning murderous scumbags, rapists, and Fentanyl dealers and let them run hog wild in our communities. I'd like these reactionary conservatives, who have the temerity to suggest that those who butcher innocent people should be kept away from hapless people, to tell me what could possibly go wrong with your brilliant plan. I bet you none of them could name one thing – it's that ingenious.
@HushedKingdomConstitution4mos4MO
Let's see what the stats say about that plan. Let's compare recidivism rates between countries that are similar economically and culturally but have stark differences in their policy on crime:
Singapore
• Zero-tolerance on crime
• Death penalty for drug trafficking
• Public caning for vandalism
• Public shaming and fines for littering
• 5yrs prison for rioting
• Recidivism Rate: 20%
Japan
• Has a "second chance" policy on crime
• Suspended sentences and rehabilitation for drug offenders
• Suspended sentences for vandalism
• Confidential records for juvenile criminals
• Recidivism Rate: 60%
@Patriot-#1776Constitution4mos4MO
Both of those nations also happen to be incredibly rich and have well-managed, functioning cities, much unlike the dystopian hellscapes of Seattle, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Chicago, Portland, and others. Coincidence? I think not.
@9W5ZKWL2mos2MO
Instead of the death penalty, why don't we just have them sentenced to life with parole. People are capable of coming back from bad things.
@BobaFett215Democrat12mos12MO
Except we aren't killing innocent people, they are.
@NameIGuessLolSocialist 4mos4MO
A murderer does not necessarily have to kill an innocent person in order to be a murderer. Likewise, an executioner, even if he kills only guilty people, still murders; only legally.
@Patriot-#1776Constitution4mos4MO
You don't understand the distinction between murder and other forms of killing. Murder is the unprovoked killing of an innocent person. You can, however, kill people out of self-defence, or, as an executioner, to exact justice on someone who has killed innocent people, and will kill more if released.
@NameIGuessLolSocialist 4mos4MO
“and will kill more if released.”
Even if I shared your morals, this is a fallacious argument.
Linked below is a spreadsheet of the intentional homicide rates of various countries. The data cited here will be taken from the year 2022.
Norway has made both capital punishment and life without parole illegal. However, the intentional homicide rate was about 0.55 per 100,000 people in the country in 2022.
By comparison, in the same year, the United States, one of the only advanced democracies to carry out capital punishment, shows an intentional homicide rate of 6.38 per 100,000 people in the country.
The reason for such low homicide rates in Norway is due to their extensive rehabilitative care and welfare programs for criminals, which the US lacks in both quality and quantity.
dp-intentional-homicide-victims | dataUNODChttps://dataunodc.un.org/dp-intentional-homicide-victims
@8KJ4PD9Human Rights4mos4MO
Death Penalty Information Center
The Death Penalty Information Center (DPI) is a national non-profit organization whose mission is to serve the media, policymakers, and the general public with data and analysis on issues concerning capital punishment and the people it affects. DPI does not take a position on the death penalty itself but is critical of problems in its application.The Center also produces groundbreaking reports on various issues related to the death penalty such as arbitrariness, costs, innocence, and race.
@4WVPX4L4yrs4Y
No. Some people deserve to die. In fact, let's expand it to include child molesters, corrupt politicians, and the jerk who steals my parking space.
@9CJ6CB61yr1Y
Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement.
J.R.R Tolkien
@9GN5KWP1yr1Y
Yes, but only for the most horrific crimes with absolutely undeniable evidence and if they’re deemed too dangerous to themselves and others or likely to escape a life sentence in prison
@4Z3Q5XR4yrs4Y
Yes and all death row prisoners should give up all rights and we should use body parts of all death row convicts as needed to save the lives of law abiding citizens
@5B47QPP4yrs4Y
It is morally justifiable to execute a guilty person. It is not morally justifiable to kill innocent babies in the womb.
That baby is not guilty but the person is.
@9MFGY5D3mos3MO
First of all...
Flag on the play: statements irrelevant to the matter at hand
"It is morally justifiable..."
We are not discussing morality. We are discussing laws and legality.
"It is not morally justifiable to kill innocent babies in the womb."
We are not debating pro-life vs pro-choice. We discussing whether or not the death penalty should be a part of our legal system.
The legality of the death penalty is a matter of law, and discussions on the matter should recognize what their qualities and function. Laws must be clear, and objective — morality is none of the above. Laws must be enforceableRead more
@9FCKM4B1yr1Y
Yes this is protected by the fifth amendment as the right to life, liberty, and property without due process
@5F2HBVH4yrs4Y
For fascists and pedophiles, but it should be done on a community-based protocol, not through the federal government.
@JonBSimConstitution2yrs2Y
Sounds an awful lot like a lynch mob.
No, but anyone should be able to request their own euthanasia.
@9MJT5RT7mos7MO
I like the death penalty its funny yay,
@4T3P39Z4yrs4Y
Yes, bring back public hangings and executions for more serious crimes. There needs to be more deterrents because our jails are like hotels.
@4T3L8DK4yrs4Y
The Victim's family should decide the punishment after it is ruled the criminal did the crime 100% true
@5BHLNC24yrs4Y
I think you should get 3 chances and if you do it for the 3rd time then you should do life in prison.
Having done multiple very serious crimes is beyond enough for a death penalty and letting someone do this three times is absurd.
@9CJ6CB61yr1Y
When you commit murder, there’s a chance of rehabilitation depending on the motives and case. They could spend the rest of their lives committed to helping that family if they legitimately want to help. That, or they spend a life in prison. Death is off the table, no matter the circumstances.
@5F7MWHK4yrs4Y
Its hard, but terrorists, child molesters, people who commit crimes against humanity can suffer the death penalty. The death penalty can take these dangerous people out of the world, if they are not willing to change or if they are very dangerous. If we kill bad people in war, is hypocritical to say is wrong to kill bad people outside of war. Obviously you have to follow the laws and procedures.
@5BDTFCC4yrs4Y
I would rather support the elongated torture of prisoners over the death penalty, or life in prison. The fear of being thrown into prison would send shivers down the spines of those locked in urban conflict, as well as lead toward everlasting peace within the United States.
Yet the risk of them committing another is not worth it.
@9CJ6CB61yr1Y
So the elongated torture didn’t ring ANY red flags for you?
@Ohioan77 2yrs2Y
Yes, because history has shown that some people really deserve the death penalty.
Yes. If you don’t, then look up The Toolbox Killers.
@AnxiousV3to4mos4MO
Lawrence Bittaker And Roy Norris
Lawrence Sigmund Bittaker and Roy Lewis Norris, also known as the Tool Box Killers, were two American serial killers and rapists who kidnapped, raped, tortured and killed five teenage girls in Southern California over a period of five months in 1979.
@957QQY72yrs2Y
Yes, but only for child rape,human trafficking and international banking.
@4T456P54yrs4Y
there should be labor camps where people who deserve severe punishments for their actions would have to do hard labor in different fields of their choosing!
@5B96R3L4yrs4Y
no make them work the rest of their life and be a use to society death is the easy way out make them regret their decision, but not just relax in a prison keep them working
@5F5VMJWRepublican4yrs4Y
Yes, but only for horrific crimes with undeniable evidence and the victim’s family should decide the punishment
@96HXWM92yrs2Y
Yes, but only for child rape and human trafficking.
@9DKQYTKRepublican1yr1Y
Yes, but only for treason with undeniable evidence
@8M43H3N4yrs4Y
Yes but it must be for a person who has murdered others or took someones life
@5F7PCXC4yrs4Y
No, and the prison system should be reformed from punishment oriented to rehabilitation oriented
@5DSTL3M4yrs4Y
Yes, but only for an offender who murders a law enforcement officer, a correctional office, or another inmate while incarcerated.
@533XMVZ4yrs4Y
Yes, I'm abnormal I think the death penalty is more merciful than forcing someone into solitude forever against their will
@9ZFLX4V 1mo1MO
not unless they cant be in jail/prision without harming themselves or others and have life sentences without possiblity of parole
@9NBNRNN 7mos7MO
No, we should never give up on rehabilitation, they should be used to deepen our understanding of the systems that caused their crime.
@9SV9J3J4mos4MO
It feels immoral and like a last resort, like if they can't reform and are far too aggressive towards innocents.
@9NDYNRT7mos7MO
No. It over empowers prosecutors who use it as a threat. Some innocent people plead guilty to avoid the death penalty.
@9LG6CJT9mos9MO
The US is the only western democracy with the death penalty. All other western democracies abolished the death penalty. I want the US to be just as pro-western and pro-democratic as its allies by abolishing it all together at the state and federal level. Plus there are still innocent people in death row, and also life in prison is already a way worse and harsher sentence than just simply condemning someone to die. Therefore I oppose the death penalty
@95DFSVN2yrs2Y
Yes, but only in cases of child rape,human trafficking and international banking.
@9D54CRFLibertarian1yr1Y
No, the cost of life imprisonment is actually cheaper than the cost to execute. Plus, once they are dead there is no going back. If later their innocence is provable, the lifer can be released.
In California, it costs around $81,000 per year to house an inmate. This figure multiplied over a lifetime can greatly exceed the cost of a single execution.
As for the risk of executing an innocent person, the use of advanced forensic technology has significantly reduced this risk. Take for instance the use of DNA evidence, which has helped exonerate numerous innocent individuals.
@9CJ6CB61yr1Y
That cost is less of an issue in total if we stopped criminalizing victimless crimes like drug usage. DNA evidence doesn’t make it 100% accurate. Even with that, it doesn’t make a high enough rate to be sure they’re guilty. Regardless if they are, our methods are horrible, and let’s be honest, are we really killing them because of justice or revenge?
While it's true that DNA testing isn't 100% accurate, it has significantly improved the reliability of convictions. In fact, the Innocence Project has used DNA evidence for years to help free those wrongly convicted. You bring up a very interesting point about the motive behind executions - whether it's for justice or revenge.
Consider this perspective though: For some, the death penalty isn't about revenge, but rather about protecting the rest of society from those who have committed heinous crimes. For instance, serial killers who have shown no remorse or capability for rehabilitation.
What are your thoughts on this perspective? Could there be situations where the death penalty serves as a safeguard for society rather than a tool for revenge?
@9CJ6CB61yr1Y
I think that if they're beyond rehab, keep them in prison, and make sure they can't hurt others again, but taking life is inexcusable. The death penalty doesn't stand as a safeguard, it stands as a tool to kill those that have killed before, something that is purely for the sake of ease and (what I'd say is) misguided justice.
@9FB6CC2Constitution1yr1Y
Deport and take citzenship away
@9CJ6CB61yr1Y
Outsourcing criminals is one of the worst ideas we could possibly have.
@9F6M8541yr1Y
Forced labour is better.
@9CJ6CB61yr1Y
Just call it slavery…
While it's understandable to equate forced labour with slavery, it's important to note that the two are not the same. Slavery, as we know it historically, was not a consequence of a person's actions, but rather a systemic oppression based on race and ethnicity. In contrast, forced labour as a punishment for criminal activity is a consequence of the criminal's actions.
However, it's definitely a complex issue, and your point highlights the importance of ensuring that any form of punishment is just and humane. If not forced labour, what alternative methods of punishment do you suggest for serious crimes?
@9DPLTJY1yr1Y
Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth. Old Testament.
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