The Death of the Death Penalty? (Trees And Things)

skeptic: Re: Mark Me Down For Abolition.

Wed, 19 Dec 2007 10:29:44 EST

I agree that the state should not be in the business of seeking vengeance, it should merely be in the business of protecting the public. In theory, if a criminal is going to be imprisoned for the rest of his or her life, then the public is protected

zyxwvutsr: Re: Hitler's Gurney

Tue, 18 Dec 2007 16:39:56 EST

thefadd: it even rhymes with Journey

Tue, 18 Dec 2007 16:38:38 EST

Gurney's a great word isn't it? I propose an inverse Godwin's law whereby the first person to reasonably fit the word gurney into their argument automatically wins.

thefadd: Re: moral hazard and the death penalty

Tue, 18 Dec 2007 16:34:26 EST

And that's exactly the problem with addressing the issue from a statistical standpoint.

zyxwvutsr: Re: Mark Me Down For Gurney Abolition.

Tue, 18 Dec 2007 16:05:01 EST

then my doubts will extend to those who are seated in the chair or led to the gallows

Pfft. There's no pleasing some people.

MayorBob: Re: Mark Me Down For Gurney Abolition.

Tue, 18 Dec 2007 14:38:21 EST

Depending on how the Supreme Court rules early next year, they might have to and then my doubts will extend to those who are seated in the chair or led to the gallows, you silly person you.

zyxwvutsr: Re: Mark Me Down For Gurney Abolition.

Tue, 18 Dec 2007 14:32:46 EST

...there is no known way to insure that an innocent person isn't going to end up on the death chamber gurney

If that's what's bothering you, insist that the state brings back the electric chair. Or gallows.

MayorBob: Mark Me Down For Abolition.

Tue, 18 Dec 2007 13:52:59 EST

As always. I can't get my head past the fact that the death penalty is morally wrong (we ought not be about the business of purposefully putting anyone to death) and there is no known way to insure that an innocent person isn't going to end up on the

wetkarma: Re: moral hazard and the death penalty

Tue, 18 Dec 2007 08:30:02 EST

There is a huge difference - if you're falsely imprisoned, there's always a chance you can prove your innocence. If you're dead, that point is largely moot. Put it another way - if you were falsely convicted of murder, would you rather receive a de

port1080: Re: moral hazard and the death penalty

Tue, 18 Dec 2007 08:15:33 EST
Looking at things logically its hard for me to see the qualitative difference between sentencing someone to death (kill them in 7 years after sentencing) and sentencing them to life without parole (kill them in 50-60 years).
There is a huge di

wetkarma: moral hazard and the death penalty

Tue, 18 Dec 2007 08:09:15 EST
I agree with p0157 that the death penalty is not applied equally to everyone, and moreover I believe it is highly probably that the state has executed innocent people.
While I believe that keeping the death penalty for cases such as mass murder might b

port1080: Sentence Disparities

Tue, 18 Dec 2007 07:31:05 EST
I used to support the death penalty, but I don't anymore, because it's clear that it is unequally applied. When a mob hitm