Not such a benign opinion

[SuuPRlim]

If you kill another human being your life is taken from you instantly.

If on benefits and offered a job which you refuse every benefit it taken from you, again instantly.

From the other thread.

Thoughts?

[TightEnd]

Death penalty. What about miscarriages of justice? New evidence comes to light, convictions are overturned. Not much use if you've killed the "guilty" man

[RED-DOG]

If you kill another human being your life is taken from you instantly.

If on benefits and offered a job which you refuse every benefit it taken from you, again instantly.

From the other thread.

Thoughts?

What does "your life is taken from you instantly" mean? Instantly when you're suspected? Instantly when you're convicted right there in the dock?

[teddybloat]

maybe the judge could just bring the gavel down directly to the defendants head.

but then he'd have to hammer himself instantly too.

[SuuPRlim]

who decides who gets the death penalty?

Jury, Judge?

Jury...

Spose a black guy is on trial for murder, and its pretty marginal, lots of circumstantial evidence but nothing that solid. 2 of the Jury are really racist and automatically prejudiced against the guy cos he's black, even if they keep their opinions completely quiet and dont attempt to influence any other jurors that's a pretty massive disadvantage as now only 4/9 unbiased people have to think he did it for him to be killed.

Judge...

Can we really allow one person solely to decide if another lives or dies? Can that really be a thing?? Sounds like the worst thing ever.

Those would be my primary concerns about a judicial death penalty, given the margin for error is exactly 0.

[DaveShoelace]

who decides who gets the death penalty?

Jury, Judge?

Jury...

Spose a black guy is on trial for murder, and its pretty marginal, lots of circumstantial evidence but nothing that solid. 2 of the Jury are really racist and automatically prejudiced against the guy cos he's black, even if they keep their opinions completely quiet and dont attempt to influence any other jurors that's a pretty massive disadvantage as now only 4/9 unbiased people have to think he did it for him to be killed.

Judge...

Can we really allow one person solely to decide if another lives or dies? Can that really be a thing?? Sounds like the worst thing ever.

Those would be my primary concerns about a judicial death penalty, given the margin for error is exactly 0.

Plus you have the phenomena of people who admit to crime they didnt commit (surprisingly common) and also obviously justifiable self defence.

I think there are plenty of people who deserve to die and the world would be better off without them, but these cases where the wrong person gets executed are such a big injustice its not worth it.

[EvilPie]

If you kill another human being your life is taken from you instantly.

If on benefits and offered a job which you refuse every benefit it taken from you, again instantly.

From the other thread.

Thoughts?

What does "your life is taken from you instantly" mean? Instantly when you're suspected? Instantly when you're convicted right there in the dock?

In an ideal world as soon as someone deliberately killed another person they'd just instantly drop dead themselves without anyone having to worry about it. If it could be arranged that they are also cremated at the same time and disappear in to a could of ash that would be quite handy.

In fact let's just get them to drop dead slightly prior to deliberately killing anyone, that would be much better.

[SuuPRlim]

You could also argue, it's a little hypocritical to say

"KILLING PEOPLE IS WRONG"

"WHAT DID THIS GUY DO?"

"HE KILLED SOMEONE"

"WHAT! THAT'S THE MOST DESPICABLE ACTION A HUMAN CAN MAKE"

"ABSOLUTELY. RIGHT, LET'S KILL HIM THEN"

Obviously murder is different to capital punishment, but...it is still killing someone at the end of the day.

[redsimon]

Surprised no one criticising second opinion

[DaveShoelace]

Surprised no one criticising second opinion

Think most people probably hold a more tepid version of that, whereby if you have only just gone on benefits you shouldn't accept the first job offered, but once a certain amount of time has passed, beggers cant be choosers, as it were.

[DaveShoelace]

Surprised no one criticising second opinion

Think most people probably hold a more tepid version of that, whereby if you have only just gone on benefits you shouldn't accept the first job offered, but once a certain amount of time has passed, beggers cant be choosers, as it were.

Obviously assuming said person is able to work etc

[The Camel]

You could also argue, it's a little hypocritical to say

"KILLING PEOPLE IS WRONG"

"WHAT DID THIS GUY DO?"

"HE KILLED SOMEONE"

"WHAT! THAT'S THE MOST DESPICABLE ACTION A HUMAN CAN MAKE"

"ABSOLUTELY. RIGHT, LET'S KILL HIM THEN"

Obviously murder is different to capital punishment, but...it is still killing someone at the end of the day.

The easiest argument against capital punishment is that if one innocent man is put to death that makes the state murderers too.

It is the one I usually use, because I cannot see how anyone can refute it.

But the argument David makes here is what I actually believe. If the state is putting people to death, I feel we are falling to their level.

Lock them up and throw away the key sure, but I don't understand why any single person should legally have the power to kill another.

[Mohican]

Whilst I think there's some pretty horrible people out there that this planet would be better off not having inhabit it, the thought of one innocent person being put to death is my reason for opposing it. Just check out the Anthony Poter/ Alstory Simin case featured in the 'Murder in the park' documentary.

[StuartHopkin]

Pretty sure OP meant a utopian situation where if you murder someone you just die on the spot with zero chance of mistakes?

Would probably put a few people off!

[BigAdz]

I think if it is clear someone has taken another's life,  ie, video evidence, multiple witnesses, like in some of the recent terrorist attacks, I have no issue with the Death Penalty. Where there is room for doubt, then fair enough.

It angers me to think that such people can have a life in prison, probably better than those poor homeless people on the streets, and invariably, even some that have homes.

I suspect if some of you had a relative or friend murdered, your stance may also change somewhat.