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Connecticut becomes 17th state to abolish the death penalty
Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2012 8:04 pm
by _Panopticon
http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/25/justice/c ... ?hpt=hp_t1Few countries still have the death penalty. It is barbaric and has almost zero deterrent effect. It is also far more expensive than lifetime incarceration due to the many appeals that are necessary to reduce (not eliminate) the incidence of executing innocent people.
The death penalty is based on the retributive theory of punishment, which is strongly linked to the ethics of the Old Testament. Utah will probably be one of the last states to change due to the specific approval of the death penalty in the Book of Mormon.
The death penalty isn't (and cannot be) an effective deterrent because so few people receive it. The two primary factors in deterrence of crime are (1) the severity of punishment and (2) the surety of punishment. Capital punishment succeeds with (1) but completely fails with (2).
Re: Connecticut becomes 17th state to abolish the death pena
Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2012 8:11 pm
by _DarkHelmet
Panopticon wrote:http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/25/justice/connecticut-death-penalty-law-repealed/index.html?hpt=hp_t1
Few countries still have the death penalty. It is barbaric and has almost zero deterrent effect. It is also far more expensive than lifetime incarceration due to the many appeals that are necessary to reduce (not eliminate) the incidence of executing innocent people.
The death penalty is based on the retributive theory of punishment, which is strongly linked to the ethics of the Old Testament. Utah will probably be one of the last states to change due to the specific approval of the death penalty in the Book of Mormon.
The death penalty isn't (and cannot be) an effective deterrent because so few people receive it. The two primary factors in deterrence of crime are (1) the severity of punishment and (2) the surety of punishment. Capital punishment succeeds with (1) but completely fails with (2).
I've always been a fan of the death penalty. I love revenge. But I've started to adjust my views as I get older. Life in prison may be a better punishment. A lifetime of daily shower rapes, and beatings by sadistic guards is more of a punishment than sitting on death row for 20 years and then getting a humane death. Also, if future evidence exonerates the guy, he can be released, with an apology for the rapes of course.
Re: Connecticut becomes 17th state to abolish the death pena
Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2012 9:43 pm
by _Kishkumen
I am glad they have joined civilization.
Re: Connecticut becomes 17th state to abolish the death pena
Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2012 9:48 pm
by _Buffalo
I'd like to see child molesters executed, and I wouldn't shed a single tear. The problem is when they find the innocent guilty. You can't take back an execution.
Re: Connecticut becomes 17th state to abolish the death pena
Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2012 9:52 pm
by _asbestosman
I'd like to see executioners executed.
Re: Connecticut becomes 17th state to abolish the death pena
Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2012 9:58 pm
by _Buffalo
asbestosman wrote:I'd like to see executioners executed.
Them too.
Re: Connecticut becomes 17th state to abolish the death pena
Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2012 10:08 pm
by _Brackite
It is barbaric and has almost zero deterrent effect.
What about late term abortions???
Re: Connecticut becomes 17th state to abolish the death pena
Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2012 10:29 pm
by _asbestosman
Brackite wrote:It is barbaric and has almost zero deterrent effect.
What about late term abortions???
They also have almost zero deterrent effect.
Re: Connecticut becomes 17th state to abolish the death pena
Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2012 2:06 am
by _krose
Buffalo wrote:I'd like to see child molesters executed, and I wouldn't shed a single tear.
Where do you draw the line? How do you make the distinction as to who is a bad enough child molester to die?
One man confines and rapes a six-year-old girl multiple times over a year. Another guy, age 19, sneaks into his 15-year-old cousin's room one night and caresses her breast while she sleeps. Both are officially child molesters. Do they both deserve to die for their actions? Plus, there is a wide variety of "molesters" in between those two.
Re: Connecticut becomes 17th state to abolish the death pena
Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2012 2:09 am
by _just me
asbestosman wrote:Brackite wrote:What about late term abortions???
They also have almost zero deterrent effect.
I LOL'd.