General Discussion

Donald Ian Rankin

(13,598 posts)

41. Oppose, but might well support if it could be applied infallibly, or if there were no prisons.

Mon Feb 17, 2014, 01:16 PM

Feb 2014

I am not convinced that there are not people who have done things to evil that it is both just and utilitarian to kill them.

The reason I am completely opposed to the death penalty is that it is not possible for fallible mortals to identify such people totally reliably; if you ever execute anyone you will sometimes execute the wrong people.

And that's not a price worth paying to be able to execute even the worst monsters, when the alternative is imprisonment for life.

I would unhesitatingly support the death penalty in a society with no other forms of punishment available - frontier town with no jail, say. I would consider supporting it (although I'm not sure which side I'd come down on) if it could be adjudicated and applied by infallible angelic messengers of God. But no society can justify taking the risk of executing the wrong person when it has the alternative of imprisoning them for life.

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Death Penalty temperature gauge - Do You Support the Death Penalty? [View all] el_bryanto Feb 2014 OP

Do not support the death penalty at all. hrmjustin Feb 2014 #1

Completely oppose rock Feb 2014 #2

+1. people focus too much on what the criminal "deserves". it's what the *government* deserves! unblock Feb 2014 #12

100% correct rock Feb 2014 #39

Humans are fallable, self-serving Kelvin Mace Feb 2014 #3

Oppose at state level. Boom Sound 416 Feb 2014 #4

Makes no sense, but ok! nt Logical Feb 2014 #7

To articulate Boom Sound 416 Feb 2014 #10

The Feds can make mistakes also. Nt Logical Feb 2014 #19

Agreed. Boom Sound 416 Feb 2014 #28

I was completely opposed until Timothy McVey - TBF Feb 2014 #47

I fear you're devolving on the issue. Hammurabi ruled a long time ago. Ed Suspicious Feb 2014 #77

I said nothing of the sort - TBF Feb 2014 #79

Oppose..... but.... Adrahil Feb 2014 #5

Me, too. closeupready Feb 2014 #20

Nice to know the people who support it, tells me a lot about them! nt Logical Feb 2014 #6

What does it tell you about them? nt el_bryanto Feb 2014 #9

They love revenge and don't realize most countries like us.... Logical Feb 2014 #21

Data? Boom Sound 416 Feb 2014 #32

Data for what? Simple for you....google countries who banned death penalty! Nt Logical Feb 2014 #57

So I should prove your points for you Boom Sound 416 Feb 2014 #58

Lol, No, keep the blinders on! nt Logical Feb 2014 #61

Try googling "capital punishment in the US" and check the number Skidmore Feb 2014 #59

I prefer not to be in the company of the countries who still use it.... Logical Feb 2014 #62

I did not say I support the DP. Just pointing out Skidmore Feb 2014 #63

You are lucky. I live in Kansas. Quickly becoming the hell hole of the Tea Baggers. n-t Logical Feb 2014 #64

Judging someone else pipi_k Feb 2014 #42

Great Post Politicalboi Feb 2014 #52

Look at the other countries that have banned it! Logical Feb 2014 #54

You want revenge, not justice. You would of loved lynch mobs too! nt Logical Feb 2014 #55

Those people should never be in charge of a death penalty decision. I can empathize with your Ed Suspicious Feb 2014 #78

I think it should be used sparingly - only for 'Exhibition Killing' wercal Feb 2014 #8

LOL, Classic. Look at list of countries who still use it vs. who eliminated it. nt Logical Feb 2014 #22

Huh? wercal Feb 2014 #35

Completely oppose. TheMathieu Feb 2014 #11

i completely understand and empathize with the emotional desire for vengeance unblock Feb 2014 #15

i completely oppose the cold-blooded killing off defenseless human beings. unblock Feb 2014 #13

There are plenty of murderers, rapists, child molesters, and timeshare salespersons who deserve it OmahaBlueDog Feb 2014 #14

I agree with you on all your points left is right Feb 2014 #16

Thank you for pipi_k Feb 2014 #46

Completely 100% oppose. It's the one issue I see in complete right vs. wrong framing. Tommy_Carcetti Feb 2014 #17

Completely oppose. Chorophyll Feb 2014 #18

No self-defense laws? aikoaiko Feb 2014 #27

I don't know about castle laws - but stand your ground is being used as a tool of aggression el_bryanto Feb 2014 #34

No Castle Doctrine laws? sked14 Feb 2014 #30

Oh, I've brought out the gunners. Chorophyll Feb 2014 #37

I don't. sked14 Feb 2014 #38

Odds are very high that the person entering your home wants to take your stuff, not harm your family Hippo_Tron Feb 2014 #74

If someone comes into my home with myself and my family there, sked14 Feb 2014 #75

Support under one circumstance Prophet 451 Feb 2014 #23

I like having it as an option for some cases. aikoaiko Feb 2014 #24

Oppose. Tuesday Afternoon Feb 2014 #25

Completely oppose MsLeopard Feb 2014 #26

I oppose it. Lizzie Poppet Feb 2014 #29

I was having a discussion with someone recently, and they suggested hughee99 Feb 2014 #31

That points to the real problem with those who advocate it for cases of "obvious guilt" markpkessinger Feb 2014 #60

I agree. hughee99 Feb 2014 #70

I don't see it having a place in a civilian justice system (nt) Recursion Feb 2014 #33

I don't support the DP *at all*. BlueCaliDem Feb 2014 #36

One of those completely pipi_k Feb 2014 #40

Oppose, but might well support if it could be applied infallibly, or if there were no prisons. Donald Ian Rankin Feb 2014 #41

I will continue to oppose the death penalty rustydog Feb 2014 #43

I support it, provided the defendant has competent representation. MicaelS Feb 2014 #44

Yeah, I got pissed... bobclark86 Feb 2014 #45

Assuming Bin Laden was lined up against a wall and shot (and he probably was) I agree... Hippo_Tron Feb 2014 #71

I support it with my taxes, but I'm 100% against it. Iggo Feb 2014 #48

I dont want blood on my hands DiverDave Feb 2014 #49

I have a hard time with it. Butterbean Feb 2014 #50

I 100% oppose the death penalty. Vashta Nerada Feb 2014 #51

Absolute opposition in all cases, without exception. morningfog Feb 2014 #53

I'm completely opposed under any circumstances. nt LittleBlue Feb 2014 #56

Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. Tierra_y_Libertad Feb 2014 #65

I oppose it Broken_Hero Feb 2014 #66

Against the death penalty Harmony Blue Feb 2014 #67

No. Nothing good will come as a result of such a hideous act and our penal system is a train wreck. Jefferson23 Feb 2014 #68

I support it. linuxman Feb 2014 #69

You can't have a different standard of evidence for the death penalty vs life in prison Hippo_Tron Feb 2014 #72

As long as I'm talking pie in the sky... linuxman Feb 2014 #76

Oppose, as always. Solly Mack Feb 2014 #73