Death Penalty

[westmanguy]

This to me was sparked by the Pickton trial. It makes me ponder the issue.

This Pickton man who slaughtered 50 people, does he deserve to live?
I don't know, see this is a tough line to cross. Does gov. have the right to take life?

Quite frankly, my anger speaking about this man, I think he should be put to death. He is dispicable.

To me its the degree and frequency of the murder that makes me wonder if they deserve death or not.

Its not allowed in Canada now, but our neighbours south do it.

I don't know, to me:

Eye for an eye is wrong. It sounds ok to say: You murder, we murder you.

So does that logic apply to: You rape, we rape you. You steal, we steal from you. We are supposed to take the high road.

Religious people are sort of split on this too. The pope and other religious figures say death penalty is wrong. Other religious figures say its acceptable.

Now, to me I believe if someone can be locked up away from the public, in high security, for life, thats fine. But if they are high risk, and are part of a huge crime org. or have been responsible for thousands of death, my thoughts on it change.

I was happy Saddam was killed. But someone who murders once who is killed, I think its wrong...

What do you think. I'll try to make the poll correct. For now, I choose: In Certain rare circumstances, death penalty can be used.

 

[L Gilbert]

People that know it's wrong to murder and commit multiple murders anyway are hardly likely to rehabilitate. Turn their power and plumbing off. The rest should get prison work, but not lounging around playing billiards, watching tv, etc.

 

[westmanguy]

Wow, we are alike, I completely agree.

If they can be rehabilated, fine. But if they are locked up for most of their lives, or have a high repeat rate. Do not treat them like hotel guests.

Take all forms of media away. And have them do work during the day. Not being inhumane, but media is privilege, you lost that privilege when you did that crime. And since they are costing the gov. $$ so much per year to lock them up, they should reform prisons in to types of factories, where they can make furniture, or whatever, and pay back some of what the gov. pays to lock them up.

 

[Tonington]

The details of the crime definitely speak volumes about the convicted. Crime of passion, hey that can happen to any of us. The senseless violence of a person obviously lacking in rational thought on the other hand...well I think they gave up their rights to humane treatment and sympathy.

 

[Ariadne]

Unfortunately, the death penalty is an all or nothing deal. If Canada had the death penalty for rare cases, someone would have to decide when those rare cases occur. Over time, Canada would become like the US, deciding whether mentally ill people or bad children should be killed because they committed murder. It's a slippery slope. Civilized countries don't punish people with death. Iraq punishes with death. Europe doesn't.

I think Bernardo would be happier if he could die rather than spend the rest of his useless life in solitary confinement. In my opinion, he will suffer a lot longer; a worse suffering, by living very long. Do Canadians want to be like the Iraqis or Europeans when it comes to human rights?

 

[Sparrow]

I think the US have the right idea, I heard that in the south they have brought back the chain gang. I would reserve it for the worst criminals and murders. It would be a good way to improve our roads.

 

[hermanntrude]

I think a very good reason for not having the death penalty is the possibility of wrongful conviction. I'm pretty sure it's happened at least once.

 

[tamarin]

Civilized nations don't warehouse committed killers. I do not want my tax dollars supporting serial killers and, for that matter, incorrigible career criminals. I don't know how we got so touchy feely about the rights of those who refuse to respect them in others. I'm all for capital punishment and extending it. With safeguards, common sense and resolve.

 

[hermanntrude]

Civilized nations don't warehouse committed killers. I do not want my tax dollars supporting serial killers and, for that matter, incorrigible career criminals. I don't know how we got so touchy feely about the rights of those who refuse to respect them in others. I'm all for capital punishment and extending it. With safeguards, common sense and resolve.

and yet under your system, no matter how careful the system is, innocent people will die.

 

[hermanntrude]

i'd rather my taxes went to keeping killers alive but off the streets, than into killing people

 

[tamarin]

And warehousing won't lead to the murder of innocents? Allan Legere is but one of many outrageous examples.

 

[hermanntrude]

good point. But i sure as hell dont want the blood on MY hands

 

[tamarin]

Herman, you can step back. No problem. There are all sorts of individuals who will step in. Hey, don't leave me out!
I'm not a sadist. I'm a realist. I want the punishment to fit the crime and I want safe communities.

 

[hermanntrude]

but do you think teaching "an eye for an eye" is a good lesson? instead of love thine enemy? And if i pay taxes and my taxes are used for killing people dont i hold some of the responsibility for the deaths?

 

[Ariadne]

I think a very good reason for not having the death penalty is the possibility of wrongful conviction. I'm pretty sure it's happened at least once.

You're quite right. There are several cases in Canada of wrongful conviction. Guy Paul Morin is one that comes to mind. He was eventually cleared but others spent 23 years in jail for murder while being completely innocent - just wrong place, wrong time, a bit of hippy drug use and no reputation to speak of.

 

[Ariadne]

Herman, you can step back. No problem. There are all sorts of individuals who will step in. Hey, don't leave me out!
I'm not a sadist. I'm a realist. I want the punishment to fit the crime and I want safe communities.

How does it fit the crime to murder someone that murdered someone else?

 

[Ariadne]

Scott Peterson is on death row. He had an affair, lied and thought that he could get rid of his wife and get away with murder. It didn't work ... but to murder him too? That isn't how it works in Canada and it isn't how it should work. Guys like that are bad guys ... like the recent case in Edmonton ... but who wants that blood on their hands. I say let him rot in jail and think about the life he threw away ... forever and ever.

 

[tamarin]

You're playing fast and loose with the term 'murder' there. It is a state's obligation to ensure it meets its first and most important purpose: the safety and security of its citizens. And what's a citizen? Foremost, one who commits to a nation's laws.

 

[hermanntrude]

is a prisoner a citizen? i'm not sure but i'd guess at yes. And the citizens are just as safe if a criminal is locked up as if they're dead. the difference is no-one's been killed.

 

[Fingertrouble]

I'm all for capital punishment and extending it. With safeguards, common sense and resolve.

While I too would like to see certain sadistic individuals suffer the same fate as their victims, I too also am concerned about the possibility of putting an "innocent" to death. One innocent would be one too many.

I respect those individuals who believe in an eye for an eye, even if I may have reservations myself. But for those who say the death penalty acts as a deterrent to certain crimes, I would say it is time to use a different arguement as most states in the US have capital punishment and it certainly doesn't appear to deter violent crimes in their country..........