Skepticologist

We've likely seen only only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the number of innocent people executed. The practice of DNA testing of evidence used to convict inmates on death row is still a relatively new development, and so far 200 innocent people who may have otherwise been executed have been exonerated.

The convictions overturned by DNA testing have pointed up some of the imperfections in the justive system, e.g. flawed eyewitness accounts, mistaken identity, racial and ethnic bias, all of which can still play out where there's no contravening DNA evidence.

I think any normal person will feel vengeful when hearing of some of the heinous crimes committed by the worst elements of society, particularly when they're perpetuated against those least able to defend themselves.

So, what number of innocent people being executed is acceptable in the interest of vengeance? In my book, the answer is zero.

From a practical standpoint, society is as safe from a murderer or rapist serving a life sentence with no possibility of parole as it is from a murderer or rapist in his grave.

I haven't seen any viable analyses comparing the cost of execution with incarceration for life, but even if incarceration costs twice as much as execution, I believe it's a justifiable expense. What dollar figure would you put on a human life in order to even perform such an analysis?

From my point of view, the death penalty does society no good unless vengeance is valued much more highly against a human life than I want to believe.

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"I am an agnostic; I do not pretend to know what many ignorant men are sure of."

Clarence Darrow

kjk437

http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/arti...cid=17&did=437

Good thing the death penalty is serving as a deterrent... /sarcasm

Geshtinnanna

Well I've stated this before. My friend is on death row for killing his parents. I have, when he was down here, visited him etc. He will be put to death some time. And I am ok with that. I feel if you murder, you serve no use on this planet and death is your consequence.

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Vinterland

I don't understand where the basis of the statements such as "most killers would prefer death than to life in prison." I doubt this is true at all.

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And on we walked. Suddenly we heard a voice crying, "This is the sea. This is the deep sea. This is the vast and mighty sea." And when we reached the voice it was a man whose back was turned to the sea, and at his ear he held a shell, listening to its murmur.
And my soul said, "Let us pass on. He is the realist, who turns his back on the whole he cannot grasp, and busies himself with a fragment."
—Gibran Khalil Gibran, “The Greater Sea.”

SirArthur

And as so I finally understand your signature...

WilliamBlue

I disagree this kind of stuff happens all the time;

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=3313471

http://www.hurricane2001.com/03/06/florida/d947500a.htm

Is it worth risking maybe your life, not to me.

Depends, I would ask you why human life is so special, really?

To me it is not vengeance, it just makes sense not to keep a faulty/dangerous animal around when it could hurt someone else.

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When you dance with an elephant it's up to you to not get stepped on.
How can we be so arrogant and egotistical to believe that the whole Universe was created just for us?

Geshtinnanna

Are you a Nin fan? Because it's from a song called Reptile.

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girlinterrupted364

i think what it comes down to, is, if you havent ever had a violent crime committed agaisnt you or someone you love, its harder to understand why, a victim of rape, or a murder victims family could simply say, take them out back and shoot them. without remorse. to be honest i feel more guilt about the fish my family catches and eats than a murderer or rapists getting the death penalty. they made their decision and if they live in the usa, they know the penalty and thats too damn bad. if you really feel like murdering someone or raping someone is what you need to do, then deal with the consequences. and stop sticking up for these people. they made their own decisions.

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Non ducor, DUCO

I wish on shooting stars

I am tired, Beloved,
of chafing my heart against
the want of you;
of squeezing it into little inkdrops,
And posting it.
~Amy Lowell, "The Letter"

kjk437

My family moved from south St. Louis when one of my parents' best friends was shot 6 times and killed outside of our front door. My father held his dead body as the ambulance arrived. They know exactly what it's like to want to have revenge, but they never asked for it, even though we knew exactly who had done it. He was put away in maximum security for life without opportunity for parole and we were satisfied with that. Don't assume those of us who don't advocate needless revenge have never experienced loss. That's insane.

Geshtinnanna

Well I would say that's their choice. And I wouldn't want someone making my choice for me.

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