It's time to bring the death penalty back!

[SirJosephPorter]

I think that is B.S.

There is nothing BS about it, many studies in USA have shwon that death penalty costs more than life without parole.

First of all it's not necessary to keep a prisoner in prison for very long before "deep sixing" them. It's only the lawyers that keep the operation in limbo for so long. Realistically speaking the guy could be sentenced to death two years to the day from being found guilty & then he and his lawyers know that that is what is going to transpire. (And don't tell me "it doesn't work that way", because where there is a will there is a way)

Quite so JLM, where there is a will, there is a way, for death penalty opponents, that is. There are many organizations dedicated to getting rid of death penalty (such as ACLU), they fight each and every death penalty case to the bitter end.

They have many smart lawyers. They find every loophole, launch appeal after appeal, claim that new evidence has been found etc. and delay the process by ten years or more. In the meantime, in addition to the cost of housing the prisoner, there is the cost of district attorneys, defense lawyers, judges, maintaining the court rooms, salary of ancillary staff etc. The expenses mount and it becomes more expensive that life without parole.

For life without parole, there is one appeal and that is it. ACLU or others don’t fight each life without parole case to the bitter end. When the appeal is granted (and criminal found guilty), that is the end of the process. Then there is only the cost of housing the prisoner for life.

That is why death penalty is much more expensive than life without parole. As to executing a criminal two years after being found guilty, the law needs to be changed for that. It should be evident to everybody how difficult it is to change the law in USA in the face of a determined majority or even a minority (as is becoming evident from the health care fiasco). I don’t see it ever happening. Under the current system, death penalty indeed is more expensive than life without parole.

 

[JLM]

It hurts to say this, But SJP is correct on this point.........

It shouldn't hurt Colpy, the man makes thousands of statements, he's bound to get one or two right. However I still stand by what I said, it would just require fast tracking all the red tape or amending the laws pertaining to executions.

 

[Northboy]

721 posts about whether the State has the right to take human life.

So many words about Death.

And no words about life.

Canada is all about life.

 

[JLM]

721 posts about whether the State has the right to take human life.

So many words about Death.

And no words about life.

Canada is all about life.

Absolutely true, and when we are talking about one, we are talking about the other. There are a few (and fortunately a very few) whose demise ensures continued life for many.

 

[Dixie Cup]

I don't agree with the death penalty. I wonder how many in the US on death row are really innocent?? I couldn't in good conscience send someone to the death chamber only to find out later, that he was innocent. (re: Milgard et al)

721 posts about whether the State has the right to take human life.

So many words about Death.

And no words about life.

Canada is all about life.

As for "life", it depends on perspective - "life" as in "living" or "life" as in behind bars! The latter certainly isn't what Canada is about at this time. That's what needs changing not bringing back the death penalty.

JMO

 

[JLM]

"I don't agree with the death penalty."- I don't either Dixie Cup, with the exception of very few cases, Olson, Bernardo, Pickton in Canada and Scott Peterson in the U.S. In all these cases guilt has been proved beyond any doubt and the crimes they committed were unspeakably heinous.

 

[Liberalman]

I don't agree with the death penalty. I wonder how many in the US on death row are really innocent?? I couldn't in good conscience send someone to the death chamber only to find out later, that he was innocent. (re: Milgard et al)



As for "life", it depends on perspective - "life" as in "living" or "life" as in behind bars! The latter certainly isn't what Canada is about at this time. That's what needs changing not bringing back the death penalty.

JMO

I don't like the Conservative party much but if they brought back the death penalty in Canada they would get the majority hand down.

All the repeat murderers should be released into death and let God deal with them.
God will do what's right.

Donate their bodies to science and thats a win win situation and a good start to the Canadian way of life.

Lower taxes and a safer community

 

[JLM]

I don't like the Conservative party much but if they brought back the death penalty in Canada they would get the majority hand down.

All the repeat murderers should be released into death and let God deal with them.
God will do what's right.

Donate their bodies to science and thats a win win situation and a good start to the Canadian way of life.

Lower taxes and a safer community

I wouldn't go quite that far, from what I can gather I would guess that only about 40% are in favour of the death penalty, I'm one of the other 60 except as I've said many times, for very special cases.

 

[Liberalman]

I wouldn't go quite that far, from what I can gather I would guess that only about 40% are in favour of the death penalty, I'm one of the other 60 except as I've said many times, for very special cases.

Considering that surveys are based on five thousand people or less your statistics are flawed.

They should include that question in the census and then the death sentence would be a reality

 

[Francis2004]

I am sure it will be reversed on appeal, Francis. It is just one judge taking a principled stand against death penalty.

As I stated I am sure this will go to appeal..

More then likely it will get reversed, but it will invigorate those against capital punishment to push forward.

If people think this is a Conservative / Liberal type of issue they really don't understand the whole scope of the system.. Having discussed this with many people, I truly see this has a wide range of opinion that is in no way limited by political belief as it was in the past..



I like this quote by an ex-convict that talks about death row..

If people were perfect, the death penalty would be a good thing. But if people were perfect, we wouldn't kill, so there would be no need for it.

Death Penalty Quotes - Exonerees

 

[Francis2004]

Keeping repeat murderers in prison is a waste of taxpayer money which means that you SirJosephPorter are in favour of paying higher taxes.

They can never be relased into the general population because they will kill again

There maybe a way to cut costs and get rid of scum in one breath but it would take a country and leader with balls and strength to stand up and not be afraid..

Give those criminals the option to stay in jail a lifetime or take the injection without the added cost of appeals and process.. Save the taxpayers the cost for those who truly know they are guilty and don't want to sit an rot in jail..

You think any politician has the balls..

 

[SirJosephPorter]

721 posts about whether the State has the right to take human life.

The consensus among developed countries (excluding USA of course), is that the state doesn't have that right.

 

[SirJosephPorter]

I don't agree with the death penalty. I wonder how many in the US on death row are really innocent?? I couldn't in good conscience send someone to the death chamber only to find out later, that he was innocent. (re: Milgard et al)



As for "life", it depends on perspective - "life" as in "living" or "life" as in behind bars! The latter certainly isn't what Canada is about at this time. That's what needs changing not bringing back the death penalty.

JMO

When I lived in UK, I read the debates they had when they abolished death penalty (they abolished it in 1965, they were much more advanced than us). There were a couple of big profile cases where the defendant was found guilty, sentenced to death. Then new evidence came to light and he was acquitted.

Those cases made a big impact and were instrumental in turning the opinion against death penalty. But somehow, that argument doesn’t hold water in USA. If somebody innocent is sentenced to death, the reaction is shrug of shoulders, and so what?

 

[Risus]

All the repeat murderers should be released into death and let God deal with them.
God will do what's right.

Donate their bodies to science and thats a win win situation and a good start to the Canadian way of life.

Lower taxes and a safer community

I have to agree with Liberalman on this.

 

[SirJosephPorter]

"I don't agree with the death penalty."- I don't either Dixie Cup, with the exception of very few cases, Olson, Bernardo, Pickton in Canada and Scott Peterson in the U.S. In all these cases guilt has been proved beyond any doubt and the crimes they committed were unspeakably heinous.

That is not 'not agreeing with death penalty', JLM. Either you agree with death penalty or you don't, and you seem to agree with it. State taking anybody's life is wrong.

 

[talloola]

It would be interesting to know, what the answer would be,
if all of the killers were given a choice, either their
entire life in prison, or a lethal injection, 'prisoners
choice.'
I'll bet that only a very very few would choose lethal
injection. Killers don't have much value for anothers
life, but very high value on their own, they are mostly
shallow thinking people, who don't have any respect for
their fellow man, or for the law of the land, or, for
fairness and kindness when interacting with others, I
know there would be exceptions, but in my opinion that
would be the majority.

 

[SirJosephPorter]

I don't like the Conservative party much but if they brought back the death penalty in Canada they would get the majority hand down.

All the repeat murderers should be released into death and let God deal with them.
God will do what's right.

Donate their bodies to science and thats a win win situation and a good start to the Canadian way of life.

Lower taxes and a safer community

Really? I would like to see them try. House of Commons will vote it down handily, even many Conservative MPs will vote against death penalty (this ain’t the USA, here even many Conservatives are opposed to death penalty).

However, if Harper tried that, he will get trounced in Ontario and Québec come next election. So yes, let him try and hold a vote in House of Commons.

Unfortunately, I don't see that happening. Whatever Harper is, he is not stupid.

 

[SirJosephPorter]

As I stated I am sure this will go to appeal..

More then likely it will get reversed, but it will invigorate those against capital punishment to push forward.

If people think this is a Conservative / Liberal type of issue they really don't understand the whole scope of the system.. Having discussed this with many people, I truly see this has a wide range of opinion that is in no way limited by political belief as it was in the past..

I don’t understand this reluctance to characterize anything as a liberal/conservative issue. This is very much a liberal/conservative issue. A majority of conservatives support death penalty (although many conservatives oppose it); a great majority of liberals oppose it (there are exceptions, obviously). As to NDP supporters, well there may be an odd one here and there who would support death penalty. I would say most NDP supporters would oppose death penalty.

The issue mirrors gay marriage issue as far as public opinion is concerned.

 

[SirJosephPorter]

There maybe a way to cut costs and get rid of scum in one breath but it would take a country and leader with balls and strength to stand up and not be afraid..

Give those criminals the option to stay in jail a lifetime or take the injection without the added cost of appeals and process.. Save the taxpayers the cost for those who truly know they are guilty and don't want to sit an rot in jail..

You think any politician has the balls..

It doesn’t work that way with death penalty opponents, Francis.

When I lived in Utah, there was a prominent death penalty case in Utah, Gary Gilmour. This was more than 30 years ago. It attracted national attention. Gilmour admitted his guilt, he refused to appeal the death sentence; he actually wanted to be put to death.

That didn’t make any difference to death penalty opponents, they kept filing appeal after appeal on his behalf. Of course, he refused to participate in any appeals but death penalty opponents were able to prolong the execution considerably without Gilmour’s help (they would have been able to prolong it even further with his cooperation of course).

Even if somebody wants to be put to death, there will still be delays due to appeals, although obviously not as much as if the criminal is a willing participant.

Plus, you are overlooking the court challenges. Death penalty even in the form you suggest (a voluntary death penalty) will probably be ruled unconstitutional by the courts.

 

[Francis2004]

It would be interesting to know, what the answer would be,
if all of the killers were given a choice, either their
entire life in prison, or a lethal injection, 'prisoners
choice.'
I'll bet that only a very very few would choose lethal
injection. Killers don't have much value for anothers
life, but very high value on their own, they are mostly
shallow thinking people, who don't have any respect for
their fellow man, or for the law of the land, or, for
fairness and kindness when interacting with others, I
know there would be exceptions, but in my opinion that
would be the majority.

talloola that is very true about criminlas not caring about anyone else life but their own.. That is why I believe the truly guilty ones would take the offer..

But knowing the option is rotting in jail with no chance of parole or taking the quick way out, this becomes a quality of life / value. Once a precedent is set a criminal knows he will die quickly if given the option..

Personally I think it's not justice but it would save taxpayers and the family of the victim grief.. But it is by far not making the criminal pay for his horrible crime.. He gets the easy way out while his victim probably suffered and that seems unfair..