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Death Penalty Revisited

Death Penalty Revisited

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Originally posted by Pawnokeyhole
In addition, the death penality is unlikely to be an effective deterrent, mainly because, at the time of committing a crime, criminals are not thinking about it.
This is true, although this also means that punishment is rarely a deterrent in general.

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Originally posted by royalchicken
This is true, although this also means that punishment is rarely a deterrent in general.
Hence, overcrowded prisons. Is it all just a big joke?

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Originally posted by Bosse de Nage
Hence, overcrowded prisons. Is it all just a big joke?
I don't think the failure of punishment as a deterrent is the cause of prison overcrowding, at least not in the States--the pointless criminalisation of drugs is.

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Originally posted by Bosse de Nage
Hence, overcrowded prisons. Is it all just a big joke?
Do you think the death penalty would be somewhat of a deterrant here in South Africa, where senseless murders are at the order of the day?

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Originally posted by Crowley
Do you think the death penalty would be somewhat of a deterrant here in South Africa, where senseless murders are at the order of the day?
I don't think so. People are simply out of their heads.

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What's wrong with executing criminals?

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Originally posted by General Putzer
What's wrong with executing criminals?
Exactly, they should have the death penalty if they take another life or damage it by rape,multiple assault and stalking.
Maybe a little harsh but I dont think so.

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Originally posted by General Putzer
What's wrong with executing criminals?
It's murder, pure and simple. Actually worse than that, it's state sponsored murder.

Which we get all up in arms about when it's some authoritarian dictatorship ...

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Originally posted by Bosse de Nage
Hence, overcrowded prisons. Is it all just a big joke?
Pretty much, BdN. One generations crimes are another generations recreation.

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Originally posted by amannion
It's murder, pure and simple. Actually worse than that, it's state sponsored murder.
By your definition, being arrested by the police would be state sponsored kidnapping.

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Originally posted by amannion
It's murder, pure and simple. Actually worse than that, it's state sponsored murder.

Which we get all up in arms about when it's some authoritarian dictatorship ...
What's wrong with state sponsored murder, then? If a recidivist maniac is only going to continue hurting innocent people, why not put him to sleep so he can't hurt anyone else, ever?
It's not murder, by the way. Murder is the UNLAWFUL killing of another human being, executing criminals is lawful, so it ain't murder.

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Originally posted by General Putzer
What's wrong with state sponsored murder, then? If a recidivist maniac is only going to continue hurting innocent people, why not put him to sleep so he can't hurt anyone else, ever?
It's not murder, by the way. Murder is the UNLAWFUL killing of another human being, executing criminals is lawful, so it ain't murder.
I guess I have the view that we should punish but also rehabilitate.
For someone who is truly homicidal and sociopathic then locking them away seems to me to be perfectly reasonable.

But for murderers who's motivation is emotional or economic, why not try to rehabilitate. Let's have a go at actually getting something back from these people - that is, let's help them to contribute something to society.

Executing criminals is lawful in some places. Here's a selection:

Afghanistan
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belarus
Botswana
Burundi
Cameroon
Chad
China (People's Republic)
Congo (Democratic Republic)
Cuba
Egypt
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Gabon
Ghana
Guatemala
Iran
Iraq
Kazakhstan
Korea, North
Korea, South
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Malawi
Nigeria
Oman
Palestinian Authority
Philippines
Qatar
Rwanda
Saudi Arabia
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Somalia
Sudan
Syria
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Uganda
United Arab Emirates
United States
Uzbekistan
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe

Nice group to be associated with.

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Originally posted by amannion
I guess I have the view that we should punish but also rehabilitate.
For someone who is truly homicidal and sociopathic then locking them away seems to me to be perfectly reasonable.

But for murderers who's motivation is emotional or economic, why not try to rehabilitate. Let's have a go at actually getting something back from these people - that is, le ...[text shortened]... States
Uzbekistan
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe

Nice group to be associated with.
Rehabilitating murderers is a luxury some countries just cannot afford.

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Rehabilitation?? Nobody has figured out a way of doing that, ever. When that day comes, cry for the poor lost souls, but for now just stick a needle in their arm and be done with it.

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Originally posted by General Putzer
Rehabilitation?? Nobody has figured out a way of doing that, ever. When that day comes, cry for the poor lost souls, but for now just stick a needle in their arm and be done with it.
That's idiotic.
Many prisoners become rehabilitated after their period of incarceration is over. Admittedly it could be done better, but how when there are so many like you who'd rather just lock them up and throw away the keys?