Capital Punishment - Page 16

Miss Vicky · #**226** 02-24-2005, 12:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuzeQuze

If you don't know how "they" could come up with data on this, then why not check out the research for yourself instead of coming up with how it might be done out of thin air?

http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/arti...cid=12&did=167

I wasn't "coming up with how it might be done out of thin air." I was asking if anyone knew how it was done. My comment about "surveying everyone" was a bit of sarcasm. I will check out your link when I have more time.

SuzeQuze · #**227** 02-24-2005, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miss Vicky

I wasn't "coming up with how it might be done out of thin air." I was asking if anyone knew how it was done. My comment about "surveying everyone" was a bit of sarcasm. I will check out your link when I have more time.

Sorry, sometimes it is hard to pick up on sarcasm, even for me, without a winkie guy.

If you only read one thing from that site then read the testimony of Columbia Law School Professor Jeffrey Fagan, if you have the time. One fact he relayed was that no studies that point out the death penalty as a deterrant compared it with life without parole as a deterrent which the professor thought was a huge oversight bordering on incompetence. This link puts the report right at the top of your browser.

http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/arti...id=167#STUDIES

The Tower · #**228** 02-24-2005, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miss Vicky

Something just occured to me -

A lot of anti-death penalty people have made the argument that "studies have shown that the death penalty is not a deterrent." I wonder how those studies were conducted? How can they claim accuracy on such a study?

People have stated that those who commit or attempt to commit murder did not take the death penalty into consideration and therefore were not deterred by it. WELL NO SH*T! Obviously if they killed or tried to kill someone they were not deterred by it. On the other hand, how do we have any way of knowing how many people were deterred by it? If they were deterred by it then they did not kill or attempt to kill anybody and therefore did not draw attention to themselves for it. Are we to take a survey of everyone in America and ask "Have you ever killed or considered killing anyone? Did the existence of the death penalty in any way sway your decision?"

I'm not really trying to make an argument here, I'm merely posing the question of how these studies were conducted and how can we assure that they are accurate?

It just doesn't make sense to me.

I don't think any of this is even relevant to the death penalty discussion. Who the hell cares whether it is or is not a deterrant to crime? The death penalty is just retribution based on conclusions that are not guaranteed to be true.

Miss Vicky · #**229** 02-24-2005, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuzeQuze

Hmm, if you had an innocent friend on death row you might think differently.

I personally believe it is the easy way out for murderers.

If I had an innocent friend on death row, I might think differently. I don't deny that.

On the other hand, if someone was on death row for the murder of a close friend of family member, you might think differently as well.

However, until either situation arises we'll never know, so it's kind of a moot point.

The Tower · #**230** 02-24-2005, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miss Vicky

If I had an innocent friend on death row, I might think differently. I don't deny that.

On the other hand, if someone was on death row for the murder of a close friend of family member, you might think differently as well.

However, until either situation arises we'll never know, so it's kind of a moot point.

Just proves the point that the death penalty is all about revenge...

estranged4life · #**231** 02-24-2005, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Tower

Just proves the point that the death penalty is all about revenge...

a description of the Bible

heyjupiter678 · #**232** 02-24-2005, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Tower

Just proves the point that the death penalty is all about revenge...

Exactly. It's state-sanctioned revenge.

Miss Vicky · #**233** 02-24-2005, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Tower

Just proves the point that the death penalty is all about revenge...

I never said or implied that it was about revenge. The death penalty, like any other sentence, is about punishment - thus the use of the word "penalty."

I was merely pointing out that until a situation actually occurs, none of us know for sure just how we would react.

dissention · #**234** 02-24-2005, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miss Vicky

I never said or implied that it was about revenge. The death penalty, like any other sentence, is about punishment - thus the use of the word "penalty."

I was merely pointing out that until a situation actually occurs, none of us know for sure just how we would react.

And it's a brutal form of punishment. The government is condemning the very thing that they are doing when they end someone's life. Simple as that. It's barbaric.

amber · #**235** 02-24-2005, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dissention

And it's a brutal form of punishment. The government is condemning the very thing that they are doing when they end someone's life. Simple as that. It's barbaric.

In addition, I think it lends itself to a society feeding on thinking it's okay to kill people, which is not ideally what a society should move towards, if it wants it's people to be enlightened and successful. I mean, violence begets violence, as far as i'm concerned.

Miss Vicky · #**236** 02-24-2005, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dissention

And it's a brutal form of punishment. The government is condemning the very thing that they are doing when they end someone's life. Simple as that. It's barbaric.

You're entitled to your opinion, as am I.

I don't think it's brutal or barbaric. You do. We'll agree to disagree.

But I don't think its right to call it an act of revenge and was just stating that opinion.

SuzeQuze · #**237** 02-24-2005, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Tower

I don't think any of this is even relevant to the death penalty discussion. Who the hell cares whether it is or is not a deterrant to crime? The death penalty is just retribution based on conclusions that are not guaranteed to be true.

I agree. However, there's a bunch of junk science out there claiming it is a deterent, which is used as an argument for the death penalty. I'm just shooting holes through that argument because it just doesn't hold up to the facts.