Do you support the Death Penalty

[Sam Spade]

Weakly support, and only in the case of premeditated homicide (or whatever the legal term is for cold-blooded murder).

In most sensible jurisdictions nowadays, the bump-up from first degree "intent to kill" murder to a death-penalty eligible murder occurs through the occurrence of aggravated circumstances in the crime as defined by statute - such as killing a police officer or being convicted of aggravated robbery, as well as murder in the same crime.

This occurred because of the difficulty of defining what "premeditated murder" is.  Does it occur in a split-second or does it take a period of time?  Courts are all over the place on this one.

I assumed there would be some confusion over how 'premeditated' is defined.

I don't quite agree with the idea that the question "who have you killed?" should play a part in determining whether a homicide is aggravated or not. But it is somewhat rational, so I suppose I support it.

Well, it's not necessarily who have you killed.  It can also be "what other crimes did you commit while murdering someone", for example. 

Go look at the Texas capital murder statute (you can find it on the web quite easily) or the New York Penal Law for common examples of aggravated circumstances statutes.

[War on Want]

No. Everyone deserves a chance to repent and become Christians, even if they are terrorist nutjobs.

[Person Man]

I do not support the death penalty except for high-prolife terrorists and war criminals.

[Tender Branson]

72 countries push for UN moratorium on death penalty

New York, 2 Nov. (AKI) - The UN General Assembly has received a draft resolution signed by 72 countries calling for a global moratorium on the death penalty - one of the most controversial issues dividing the world body.

Italian prime minister Romano Prodi began a push for a UN resolution to ban capital punishment worldwide in January, after the execution of toppled former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

The planned resolution has faced resistance from Asian and Middle Eastern countries which along with the United States carry out the highest number of executions annually.

The resolution was circulated late on Thursday in the UN's human rights committee. It has been co-authored by 36 countries including the 27 EU member states, and has the support of 72 countries.

The draft is due to be voted on by the committee in mid-November.

If the resolution passes in the committee, the 192 nation UN General Assembly will vote on it in mid-December, where it requires the backing of 97 countries to pass.

Italy hopes to use its influence when it next month becomes rotating president of the UN Security Council to convince a further 25 countries to support the resolution.

The resolution, if passed in the assembly is non-binding, but will carry moral and political weight.

http://www.adnkronos.com/AKI/English/Politics/?id=1.0.1504751114

[Ebowed]

There is simply no reason to have the death penalty, even for "high profile" cases.  I mean, really, what's the point?

[Friz]

There is simply no reason to have the death penalty, even for "high profile" cases.  I mean, really, what's the point?

While I agree, I also advocate leniency for any of the victim's family member killing the murderer in blind revenge.

[Joe Biden 2020]

To me, if you take someone's life, you forfeit your own life.

[Ebowed]

To me, if you take someone's life, you forfeit your own life.

If a rapist is convicted, does he forfeit the right not to be raped?

[Earth]

I do not support the death penalty except for high-prolife terrorists and war criminals.

"Prolife Terrorists"?

I strongly oppose the death penalty.

[NDN]

Oh, and I support the death penalty (even for some members of this forum, likely).  Repeated child rape, murder with aggravated circumstances, probably not much more than that.

Agreed, we should use it more often for those crimes. It's really a shame the Supreme Court ruled it couldn't be applied to child rapists. That said they should require that DNA evidence be included too along with limits on appeals.

[Franzl]

To me, if you take someone's life, you forfeit your own life.

you're some Christian.

_________________________

no, I oppose the death penalty in all cases.

[minionofmidas]

To me, if you take someone's life, you forfeit your own life.

Absolutely.
And that person's previous crimes have nothing to do with it. And the legal situation has nothing to do with it. And abetting murders - say, financing your state's department of corrections despite its exercise of the death penalty - is the same as committing them.
And noone but you has the right to enforce your own sentence.

[Associate Justice PiT]

     I don't like the death penalty, though I believe that a sovereign nation must reserve the right to exercise such punishment against those elements that are the greatest threat to society, namely the most dangerous of murderers & traitors.

[DownWithTheLeft]

No for common criminals, yes in cases of national security (treason, spies, etc.)

[ChrisFromNJ]

No, I see no evidence that the death penalty is a deterrent.

[JSojourner]

Oppose.

[Хahar 🤔]

I do find it kind of interesting just from a sociological examination standpoint, however, how the United States is the only country in the First World in which the death penalty is still in use.

Japan and South Korea are hardly developing countries.

Okay, western First World, sue me.

Old stuff, and Gabu's gone now, but most things that make America different from the rest of the West can be traced back to the frontier mentality.

[dead0man]

First time I've read this thread.  I love how the lefties tried to bash libertarianism and got their ass kicked.  Great job (as always) Dibble.

[Хahar 🤔]

First time I've read this thread.  I love how the lefties tried to bash libertarianism and got their ass kicked.  Great job (as always) Dibble.

"The lefties"?

Your blanket terms are always amusing.

[dead0man]

What is/was the political ideology of the kids that did it?  If I was wrong, please feel free to correct.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Gully Foyle a leftist? LOL.

[WalterMitty]

i strongly oppose the death penalty.

[Torie]

Support, but it should only be applies where one is absolutely sure one is offing the right killer.

[Jake]

i strongly oppose the death penalty.

[specific_name]

Yes I do.