Political Debates discussion

what are everyone’s thoughts on the death sentence? is it ethical? should it be allowed? in what specific scenarios should it be allowed? discuss!

"And we may imagine somebody asking how we can teach people not to inflict suffering by ourselves inflicting it? But to this I should answer – all of us would answer – that to deter by suffering from inflicting suffering is not only possible, but the very purpose of penal justice. Does fining a criminal show want of respect for property, or imprisoning him, for personal freedom? Just as unreasonable is it to think that to take the life of a man who has taken that of another is to show want of regard for human life. We show, on the contrary, most emphatically our regard for it, by the adoption of a rule that he who violates that right in another forfeits it for himself, and that while no other crime that he can commit deprives him of his right to live, this shall" -John Stuart Mill

I believe that the death penalty is only ethical if it meets these circumstances:
1. The criminal is beyond any doubt deemed guilty by a public trial
2. The crime is a crime against humanity, r*pe, murde, or torture.


I also believe that the death penalty should be used as rarely and swiftly and cheaply as possible.

I agree. there should be irrefutable evidence, such as multiple cameras having it filmed with no inconsistencies.

I am pro, but in very narrowly tailored and defined areas. I do not think it should be easy to obtain and it should take all the time it needs to go through the process. I do believe it should be as painless as possible. I am not nearly as concerned about the cost because cheap does not preclude pain. I am not into torturing the condemned. I want evidence besides just an eyewitness account or confession.

Unlike many, I do not think it is much of a deterrent, but I believe it is retribution. There are some crimes that warrant the death penalty. I just do not believe that there are many that warrant it.

I'm against the death penalty 99% of the time because it costs taxpayers less money to keep someone alive for the rest of their life.
The other 1% (or less) are cases where the person in question is super dangerous and possesses the ability to escape from prison.

Definitely anti-death penalty
There is no excuse for taking a persons life

Bee and Tsu, I agree.
I've studied law and the death penalty, and I don't think there is any justification for that. The current laws and judgement system makes it so easy for someone who is innocent or who shouldn't be executed by law to still be killed. What gives us the right to kill? Is this a thing because people deem death more merciful than life without parole? Then why do people exchange confessions for the death penalty to be swept off the table?
And don't even get me STARTED on all the injustice related to it. Actually, since I already started, I'll save you from my ranting and request you read Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson.
What puts us above these people we're killing? Because we're doing it to 'protect' the country? Wouldn't the same happen if we gave them life without parole? Why do we throw prisoner's mental health to the side like it's trash? Why do we believe that because someone has done this one thing, that is all they will ever be? To quote Bryan Stevenson, '[e]ach of us is more than the worst thing we've ever done.'

I personally think that there is no justification for killing somebody. Whether or not they have killed somebody else. Our prison system should focus on rehabilitation. Not killing. Along with that, if we kill somebody else and then kill the perpetrator, that means that 2 people would be left dead. Instead of1 dead and one rehabilitated.

Tsu ~Queen of the Seawings~ wrote: "I'm with you Bee.

No one should have their like taken. Max security prison sure, but not death"



I agree with you K.N.

Our prison system disproportionately incarcerates and kills POC at an alarming rate. There are so many loopholes in our system, it is saddening. Dividing our country and system even more. If we kill somebody now, we rid them of the opportunity to change and realize what they have done wrong.

As KN stated, "What puts us above the people we're killing?" Which I think is a beautifully interesting question to ask. We're killing, just like the people who killed. Life is so precious and I feel that we often forget it. Personally, I feel like the death-penalty is dehumanizing. It shows to the criminal that our system can toss away their life as easily as they tossed away the life of the person they killed or damaged the life of a person or group of people.