Should we (the U.S.) increase the number executions?

[SPC]

No, you should be executing 0 people a year.

[SPC]

No, unless the number of mass murderers and rapists rapidly increases.

Having the same punishment for murder and rape would only increase the amount of murders.

[SPC]

CJK, Office Park....good ownage! 

(And yes...I'd support dramatically increasing the use of the death penalty and making it a lot quicker.  Lethal injection is too expensive.  Wouldn't a simple bullet to the back of the head be cheaper and actually a lot quicker?)

And what happens if you accidentally get the wrong guy?

[SPC]

CJK, Office Park....good ownage! 

(And yes...I'd support dramatically increasing the use of the death penalty and making it a lot quicker.  Lethal injection is too expensive.  Wouldn't a simple bullet to the back of the head be cheaper and actually a lot quicker?)

And what happens if you accidentally get the wrong guy?

That's a red-herring in my view, spc, because you can get the wrong guy and stick him in jail for 50 years.  I have heard more stories of guys being locked up nearly forever in error than I ever have of innocent people being executed.  Does it happen, it's inevitable and horrible, sure.  The death penalty system is not as effective as it could be in the deterence area if it weren't for the layers and layers of appeals to make sure they don't execute an innocent person.

But to say we might get the wrong guy should not be a part of the argument, in my view.

I would personally prefer a restitution-based system over either life imprisonment or capital punishment. What good does it do to put what could be up to 50 years of labor to waste when it could be used to pay off the family of the victim? And if it is later demonstrated that the person is innocent, they can have their money returned to them.

[SPC]

CJK, Office Park....good ownage! 

(And yes...I'd support dramatically increasing the use of the death penalty and making it a lot quicker.  Lethal injection is too expensive.  Wouldn't a simple bullet to the back of the head be cheaper and actually a lot quicker?)

And what happens if you accidentally get the wrong guy?

That's a red-herring in my view, spc, because you can get the wrong guy and stick him in jail for 50 years.  I have heard more stories of guys being locked up nearly forever in error than I ever have of innocent people being executed.  Does it happen, it's inevitable and horrible, sure.  The death penalty system is not as effective as it could be in the deterence area if it weren't for the layers and layers of appeals to make sure they don't execute an innocent person.

But to say we might get the wrong guy should not be a part of the argument, in my view.

I would personally prefer a restitution-based system over either life imprisonment or capital punishment. What good does it do to put what could be up to 50 years of labor to waste when it could be used to pay off the family of the victim? And if it is later demonstrated that the person is innocent, they can have their money returned to them.

Most killers don't have fat bank accounts unfortunately. And if there are in fact OJ, well they get sued civilly.

I realize that. Thus, the murderer would have to find a legitimate profession to work in, and pay a majority of that to the kin of the victim.