Hypothetical: The death penalty for Adolf Hitler

[tpfkaw]

Assuming he was captured instead of killing himself.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

If he can be securely imprisoned for life, why make an exception?

[Wake Me Up When The Hard Border Ends]

For (pro-death penalty)

[Hifly]

If he can be securely imprisoned for life, why make an exception?

Exactly.
I'm anti death penalty by principle, and that principle stays firm for the fate of every convict. It's highly hypocritical for those who describe themselves as anti-death penalty to pick and choose when they stay true to their values and it speaks volumes about their true principles.

[Lief 🗽]

I'm anti-death penalty, but not because I think that capital punishment for the most heinous crimes is inherently wrong, but because the system in the United States means that a lot of minority poors without adequate legal representation are wrongly convicted and killed. If there was some way to somehow 100% ascertain whether or not someone committed the crime, then I'd be okay with the death penalty. But the risk of putting to death innocent people is too great, IMO.

In cases like Hitler, though, we know he "did it." So I have no problem with the death penalty for him.

[afleitch]

His guilt was absolute. I personally do not support the death penalty and could not support it even for him. However I can understand the inherent difficulty that would cause. How can you truly defeat Nazism if you let them all live? How can you de-Nazify Germany if their leaders are imprisoned? I am not afraid to admit that it causes me some discomfort. Part of me almost wishes that in such circumstances some cyanide was left on each of their bedside tables...

[The Simpsons Cinematic Universe]

No.

Too many people overestimate the role of the individual in history. Killing one man may make some feel better, but won't stop fascism and genocide.

[DC Al Fine]

I don't really think it matters. If you keep him in prison for life, I don't think it would take that long for a guard or inmate to shank him.

[Goldwater]

For (pro-death penalty)

[Miles]

Against.

[windjammer]

Against.

[The Free North]

He secretly escaped to Argentina then went to the Nazi Base in Antarctica before using his nuclear weapons to go to the moon and live with aliens.


The aliens probably got him

[Supersonic]

Against.

[H. Ross Peron]

Since I support the death penalty only in causes of multiple murders (to ensure guilt) easily for.

[Dr. Cynic]

Against. I wouldn't want to make him a martyr.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Option1 (normal)

[Torie]

He and his deputies should have been executed - by sarin gas in a gas chamber.

[Middle-aged Europe]

Against the death penalty on principle.

Although dictators or people guilty of genocide are probably the only instances where I at least tend to be neutral. I wasn't even outraged over the fact that Gaddafi got no trial.

So, I don't really care. Kill him or lock him away, whatever suits you best.

[Boris]

[bedstuy]

What's so important to you people about being against the death penalty across the board?  There's no slippery slope from Hitler to a kid who stole a loaf of bread from the bodega. 

Someone like Hitler did things that were so unspeakable to so many people that he doesn't belong on the same planet as civilized people.  And keeping him alive would keep Nazism alive in a sense.  I would support the death penalty for Hitler and if you one of you wimps got your way and Hitler was living in some country club prison, I would go there and kill him myself. 

Really, does anyone want Hitler writing Mein Kampf 2: Electric Boogaloo?

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

Against the death penalty on principle and not willing to make an exception here, but with some of the complicating thoughts that afleitch and others have voiced.

For what it's worth, I highly doubt that had Hitler been captured alive and sentenced to life he would have been held in a 'country club prison'.

[Maxwell]

Against.

[Mopsus]

He secretly escaped to Argentina then went to the Nazi Base in Antarctica before using his nuclear weapons to go to the moon and live with aliens.


The aliens probably got him

Afterwards did he sell his nuclear weapons to the guys from Pawn Stars, Mr. History Channel: The Post?

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

What's so important to you people about being against the death penalty across the board?  There's no slippery slope from Hitler to a kid who stole a loaf of bread from the bodega. 

Someone like Hitler did things that were so unspeakable to so many people that he doesn't belong on the same planet as civilized people.  And keeping him alive would keep Nazism alive in a sense.  I would support the death penalty for Hitler and if you one of you wimps got your way and Hitler was living in some country club prison, I would go there and kill him myself. 

Really, does anyone want Hitler writing Mein Kampf 2: Electric Boogaloo?

I only support life in prison if they serve schnitzel at tea time. Otherwise death penalty for sure.

[Person Man]

He secretly escaped to Argentina then went to the Nazi Base in Antarctica before using his nuclear weapons to go to the moon and live with aliens.


The aliens probably got him

Afterwards did he sell his nuclear weapons to the guys from Pawn Stars, Mr. History Channel: The Post?

I thought he got life extension technology on the moon and will fight President Palin in 2018 over control of the Earth.