Capital punishment is our society’s recognition of the sanctity of human life. – Orrin Hatch
You’re currently reading “Orrin Hatch,” an entry on Capital Punishment Quotes
3.3.10 / 10pm
“Thou shall not kill!”
3.29.10 / 12pm
There are too many States who take innocent lives by killing innocent people after a mockery of a trial. Should those States and their Governors be exterminated.
Killing humans is wrong
4.7.10 / 5pm
Will you still say so if they kill your wife,daughter, son, mother or father
5.4.10 / 9pm
Yes killing a human is wroung. There are some people who has the killing Occupation. As the law cant change their Occupation. it can give only the punishment…
5.21.10 / 10pm
Will you still stick to your opinion if it was your son / husband / father / relative on death row?
7.30.10 / 9pm
The question is always reiterated over and over “would you say that if it were your mother, father, brother, etc who were murdered?”. I am the family member of a murder victim and YES I do oppose the death penalty. Not all family members are bloodthirsty vengeance seeking proponents of capital punishment. And not all murder victims are people who supported the death penalty. To seek the death penalty for their murderers is a further crime committed against the victim in that case.
9.30.10 / 11pm
what so killing animals is ok? capital punishment should be there, but not abused like it used to be, today our technology is so much more advanced, and lets face it, humans are greedy and when they have power they’re ignorant aswell. Capital punishment should be served to recidivist offenders, like California’s rule, 3 strikes and your out! that was introduced after Polly Klause was raped and murdered by a recidivist offender. Thats when capital punishment should be served.
4.26.10 / 6am
Thalt Shalt not kill the innocent.
When someone spills innocent blood they forfeit their protection under that Commandment.
I do not support the death penalty for 1st degree murder if the convicted was not actually seen doing the crime.
All a prosecutor has to prove is that the crime occurred and that you were seen there at the time the crime took place.
The guy in Utah that selected his execution by firing squad, I support his being executed, he killed someone in front of witnesses, there is no question to his guilt.
OJ Simpson, on the other hand, even though everyone is convinced he did it, no one actually saw him do it, so I would not support the death penalty for him if he had been convicted.
5.6.10 / 6pm
‘Thou shall not kill’ but what about the person or persons killed by a murderer? Or is better to spend the taxpayers money, where the victim’s friends and family too contribute. Today’s prisons are like hotels where human rights of prisoners are looked after more than that of the victim’s family. Yes, if it is rigourous imprisionment and the criminal is made part of a chain gang from morning to night, then – thou shall not kill
5.8.10 / 4pm
thou shall not kill translation thou shall not commit a homocide translation to purposely plan a murder or take someones life premeditate murder. murder for gain
thats what the comandment means. get it right
7.30.10 / 9pm
To say today’s prisons are like hotels shows that this is a view point based on tabloid media. I challenge you to visit Texas death row and tell us that is like a hotel. I know of no hotel that locks you in a cell the size of a bathroom for 23 hours a day, where your meals (if one can call them that) are served at hours of the day when all other human beings are asleep, where you are shackled and strip searched every time you leave your “hotel room” for your one hour of daylight, where your exercise consists of pacing an outdoor version of your indoor cage, where the guards – oh sorry hotel staff – demean and degrade not only you but your loved ones, where your only contact with loved ones is behind glass, before they strap you down and inject poison into you, only then when you are dead allowing your loved ones to touch you. I don’t say prison should be a hotel – but if you think it is then you clearly are visiting hotels worse than I have ever experienced. Maybe research the facts before you make such a blanket statement.
12.22.10 / 1am
I have been through 7 Texas Prisons as an Investigator with the Texas Attorney Generals’ Office. I can assure you it is a horrible and cruel place! It cost more to send a person to the death machine than it cost to keep them alive. I will not go into the details since you are not informed or you would not make the statements you made.
5.10.10 / 1am
“Thou shall not kill” is the commandment under christianity and judaism. Even they both did not follow this in abnormal and unusual situations, politics and wars situation they both killed. Christians crusaders killed thousands in their crusades. Jewish peoples killed in search for and to claim their promised land. The appropriate quotable quote in this context is “THOSE WHO LIVE BY SWORD, DIE BY IT !!”
12.22.10 / 3am
Thousands and thousands were killed in the name of Jesus. Wars where thousands anda thousands more are killed are in the name of Christianity and politics…does that tell you anything about the Bible and the Un-Justice System?
5.19.10 / 11am
Anyone who takes anothers life shall forefit theirs. Simple as that. If their is a mistrail then it’s the legal system that’s at fault and if “beyond reasonable doubt” it must be life and it should mean just that not 10 years and out on parole to murder again.
12.22.10 / 2am
I would like to know what part of the Bible (or any where else) you got that quote from.
5.19.10 / 11pm
The original Hebrew says, “You shall not commit murder”
8.2.10 / 3am
The reason I do not support the Death Penalty is that it costs more than Life Without Paroley because of the lentghty legal process which takes 10-20-30 years to go through the appeals process. If it were swift and less costly I would have no problem with it.
11.4.10 / 4pm
oto tour feminized criminal justice system is a shambles tthe spineless judgeshanks to our larcenous law schools baal goes to yale and look there should be public executions of child rapists foget about your stupid amber annnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnotnlert if these rodents were summarily executed you wyould not need 10 locks on your door and you could let your child go to a public park without fearing some sodomite would jump out from behind a bush and assult your kid by the way if this kind of atrocious crime happens
8.15.10 / 2pm
Hi
It’s bad enough that an individual decides to take another human life; it’s a 100 times worse when a society collectively decides to take a human life.
The difference being that an individual acts alone and has criminal intent or is insane.
An advanced democracy like ours should have no intent on taking a human life – we should take measures to incarcerate them for life if necessary, but advanced human societies should not be in the business of killing other human beings, war being the extreme exception.
If you’re religious, you’ll let God sort them out when they die. But don’t let the state play God on who lives and who dies.
The State exists to preserve life and protect its citizens. It should not play a role in executing humans, no matter what the nature of the crime.
The other argument is the inconsistency of the application of the death penalty. If it were universally accepted by all states and societies and applied, then it would be have an almost universal human consent. But the fact that there are so many doubters and opting out states and societies, means that it is not a universally accepted human reaction to crime, which in effect invalidates it. Not a single European state practices the death penalty.
Make no mistake, I believe that capital murder deserves life in prison with no chance of release, but I also believe that the State should not be involved in the same kind of act.
Thanks
9.23.10 / 5am
If we really had a death penalty ,There wouldn’t be so many sinceless murders. And child molesters kidnapping little girls and raping them and killing them and throwing them away like trash.. And gang drive by’s killing inocent bystanders.If you kill someone ,your no better than a crazed animal.You should pay the price. Those against the death penalty havn’t had one of there loved ones shot and dismember’ed and thrown away like yesterdays trash.I am registered to witness the execution of the animal who murdered my cousin ,and cut him up into peices and put him into trash bags and threw him into Burns cut solugh outside of Stockton ca.And when the day comes I will pop the cork on a bottle of champagne, and toast to end of that rotten no good wast of life sitting on Death Row in San Quintin for the last eighteen years. Danny Ray Horning. It can’t happen soon enough. If you lost someone in your family you would feal the same way. Yes to the death penalty.
9.23.10 / 8pm
The death penalty has been proved to be a non-deterrent…
12.22.10 / 2am
What do you mean “If we really had a death penalty”?
Are you sure your relative was not involved in a drug deal gone wrong, this sounds like a gang or Mofia job. How can you enjoy watching death and even drink to it… You seem to be no better than the assaliant to take such pleasure and be so blood thirsty. I suppose you call yourself a Christian also. I have visited 7 different Texas Prisons including the Death Roll – and seen the Machines of Death. I can assure you that living on Death Roll is “far worse” than the Death Machines. I would choose death long before I would spend a week on death roll, much less 18 to 30 years! For your information; it cost for “more” to execute an inmate than it does to keep one alive. If you do not believe that, check it out.
12.22.10 / 3am
The death penalty has never cured any one, nor does it prevent murder.
10.7.10 / 2pm
In the 1950s – 1960s I was a friend of both Albert Pierrepoint and Harry Allen, Britain’s two senior hangmen. Both nice guys. Both owned pubs. Both lived in Oldham, Lancashire, my home town. Albert was chatty, while . Harry was more reserved. jA second income was necessary as a hangman’s fee was only £15 sterling per hanging (under $45 in those days). . Pierrepoint reckoned to hang a condemned person in under 10 seconds from walking into the condemned cell, taking him to the scaffold (next door), placing him on the trap, pulling the lever and sending him into eternity. Most countries take a lot longer, just for show. Counting WW2 war criminals Albert hanged over 400 persoms, including women. Hanging was clean. No mess. No suffering if done properly. Waiting for years on Death Row in the US smells of corruption and revenge. No one should have to wait years while lawyers get mega rich from court fees. Allowing 50 States to decide on imprisonment or execution is a mockery of justice. On the other hand, jails mean work for thousands of people who look after lifers. Kill them off and thousands of prison officers become surplus. In the end, life or death of the condemned in America is all about the Almighty Dollar!
12.22.10 / 2am
There have been more than 300 wrongful executions just since they have started using DNA. I wonder how many of the more than 4,000 men and women that you brag about your friends murdering who were innocent? Sounds like they would have really enjoyed working in the Death Factories for the Jews and sound like you would get off on it too.
12.22.10 / 2am
You must be really old.
10.27.10 / 6pm
God himself commanded the Israelites to slay every single living thing inside a city, and He told them to do it multiple times, read the books of Exodus, Joshua, and Samuel I and II.
12.22.10 / 3am
How often did you hear God say that?
Millions have been murdered in the name of Jesus or religion. You can find a quote in the Bible to back of “Anything”! I watch my back with anyone who claims to be religious or christian. They use the Bible to back up what ever they want to do.
12.22.10 / 10am
It has been well known, with theological teachings, for thousands of years, that this commandment is a prohibition against illiicit killings such as murder, not licit killings such as self defense, just war or executions of wrongdoers.
The proper translation is thou shalt not murder or more properly thou shalt not commit illicit killings.
Pope Innocent I” “It must be remembered that power was granted by God [to the magistrates], and to avenge crime by the sword was permitted. He who carries out this vengeance is God’s minister (Romans 13:1-4). Why should we condemn a practice that all hold to be permitted by God? We uphold, therefore, what has been observed until now, in order not to alter the discipline and so that we may not appear to act contrary to God’s authority. Innocent 1, Epist. 6, C. 3. 8, ad Exsuperium, Episcopum Tolosanum, 20 February 405, PL 20,495
3.14.10 / 3pm
Thy shall not kill
An eye for an eye
People like Charles NG who have been found guilty deserve to die.
People who are anti Death Penalty should look at it as if the “boot was on the other foot” how would they feel if the victim was their Father / Mother / Sister / Brother / Daughter / Son or themselves – would they still be anti the death penalty.
The worst part is that NG feels he has been dealt an injustice – what about the poor victims and their families – was that a justice Charles NG???
10.8.10 / 2am
I can understand why people are against capital punishment, the amount of lives that didn’t deserve to be cut short is horrible, and I feel for the people who had the job of serving the death penalty, but in Australia our last case of capital punishment was in 1984, Australia didn’t start using DNA evidence against accused offenders until 1989, then it wasn’t until 1997 until the whole country started using DNA, so today there would be next to no chance of executing the wrong people. Lloyd Fletcher was on parole for 3 months after a conviction of 3 rapes and murders when he attempted another rape on a school girl, luckily a group of teens walked by and saved her, 2 months later a girl was raped and muredered and found by 2 boys under the age of 10,…can you count how many lives have been destroyed by him? if he had been served the death penalty, 4 girls would still be alive, 5 families wouldn’t of been destroyed, thats only 1 serial rapist. I think every state should adopt California’s 3 strikes and you’re out rule
10.18.10 / 1pm
but as every one is a person and you don’t think that some members of authority does not set certain people up for a fall, that is why it is un safe to bring it back. and you were right about the fact that if you killed the murderer then you could have prevented a killing same can be said when wee abolished the death penalty, wee prevented thousands of them by doing so… think!
10.18.10 / 1pm
so if you carry out the death penalty then you are saying the family’s of the person you killed should have there right to call upon the death penalty for you! as killing is killing, define murder, the taking of an other mans life, wich is the case for the executioner whom carry’s out the death penalty!
10.19.10 / 2am
yes, if i was a murderer, rapist or pedophile then yes i would expect to be killed, why should tax-payers pay for those killers to live after the lives theyve taken?…THINK…get over it, some people are actually sick in the head and crave to murder, rape or fiddle with kids, when they’re like that there is no cure, theyre sick, when a dog is sick or found to be blooded they get put down, but when a human is like a blooded dog we pay for them to live in a cell, where theyre fed, clothed and genuinely looked after…its a bit hypocritical! plus not having the death penalty is like saying its ok to kill animals, but not humans,…WAKE-UP CALL PRINCESS,..HUMANS ARE A TYPE OF ANIMAL!! dogs show more humanity and compassion then humans do, but unfortunatley so many animals suffer needlessly at the hands of humans. how can u justify 1 life being more valuable then another? i can justify the death penalty coz it was until 1997 when the entire western countries began making it manditory for the use of DNA in solving horrific cases. MURDERS, RAPISTS AND KIDDY FIDDLERS DESERVE TO BE DEAD NOT ALIVE
10.19.10 / 2am
YES, if i was a murderer, rapist or peodophile then yes i would expect and deserve the death penalty and the same for anyone of my friends or family. when a dog is found to be blooded they get put down because of how dangerous they are, murderers, rapists and kiddy fiddlers deserve the death penalty considering the lives they take and the families they destroy, why should tax-payers pay for these killers to be kept alive? THINK!!! obviously u have never been raped or had a loved one murdered, and these days, (special thanks to James Watson and Francis Crick) we can use DNA evidence to correctly convict these killers. to not have the death penalty is just hypocritical on humans behalf…THINK!!!
12.22.10 / 10am
“Killing equals Killing: The Amoral Confusion of Death Penalty Opponents”
12.22.10 / 3am
Mo, have you heard of “Turn the other cheek”?
12.22.10 / 11am
Turn the other cheek does not mean kick me and then kick me, again or rape my wife and while your at it, my daughter too.
Use some sense.
Please review:
http://provocativechristian.wordpress.com/2009/01/23/provocative-bible-verses-turn-the-other-cheek/
3.16.10 / 2am
The death penalty serves as the best detourant to the crime of murder. Any one who committed murder and was exicuted has never killed again. How many murderers have been released and killed agaiin? Too many to count!
3.18.10 / 3pm
“Capital punishment is our society’s recognition of the sanctity of human life. ”
Makes perfect sense. Let’s kill a human being to show how sacret human life is.
*sarcasm off*
5.19.10 / 11pm
Indeed.
A law requires sanctions, else it is no law at all.
Sanctions must reveal the importance of the precept.
A sanction for murder 1 that is less than the death penalty, is nothing but a clear message that we do not consider the crime to have broken a law of the utmost importance.
The only thing worth a human life is another human life.
Murder is a crime for which the only possible justice is the forfeit of the killers own life. Nothing else even comes close.
You steal 10 buck you pay back 10 buck plus damages and interest.
You steal a million bucks and the laws requires you to pay back only 10000? Would that be justice? Absolutely not.
Same applies to murder 1 cases.
If the sanction does not correspond to and publicly demonstrate the value of the precept, then either the law isn’t that important or the sanction is negatively unjust by its lack of equality. Justice means equality in measures.
People that think taking the life (death penalty) of one that has willfully and wrongfully taken another’s life, is wrong because the sanction ends up equal to the crime, are not thinking worth crap
Thus, refusing to enact a death penalty against murder one perpetrators is sending a clear message that the criminals life is worth more than the victims life, since we are not exacting a sanction equal to the crime. And that is the very definition of injustice!
9.29.10 / 2am
Your statement would in fact be correct if we had a Justice System that did not have “flaws”. Convictions are not solely based on evidence or the lack thereof, many factors come into play including the all mighty dollar. In order for the death penalty to be reinstated the Judicial System needs revision not spending almost a million dollars of tax payor funds to revise the death chamber.
12.22.10 / 11am
Ina:
A sanction is only a sanction when we take something away which is valued.
Chapter V:The Sanctity of Life, “Principles of Conduct: Aspects of Biblical Ethics” By John Murray, 1991 (first published 1957) by Wm. B. Eerdmans http://tiny.cc/4SFBY
3.21.10 / 6pm
There are more people in the world that believe it is ok to shoot a person, to pick a woman/little girl at random and rape and kill her, than there are people that pray.
Too many people die at the hands of monsters every day. Too many people die at the hands of monsters that have been released from prisons due to over crowding or because they’ve ‘done their time’.
Murderers and rapists, are NOT sorry for what they did…they’re only sorry that they got CAUGHT!
If you murder someone, you have committed the ultimate crime and should be dealt with just as you have lived. As you live so shall you die. Live by the sword, die by the sword.
And none of this wait 15 years on death row crap. You deserve immediate justice…you get 15 minutes to live and then get taken out back to meet your maker. So many repeat offenders would not have ‘repeated’ had this been the case.
12.22.10 / 3am
I cannot believe all the blood thirsty “Christians” on this web site who quote the Bible to back up what ever they want to think.
The system is broken and so is the Parole Board.
3.21.10 / 10pm
With the death penalty you obliterate all that has happened into the ether – with life behind bars you challenge, you demand ,you obtain retribution and possibly atonement right to the natural end.
4.30.10 / 9am
You, my friend, have never worked in prison… Its quite tolerable these days.
7.30.10 / 9pm
You my friend have clearly never served time in a Texas maximum security prison – or else you would know “tolerable” is a ridiculous word to use. Perhaps it is tolerable for those who work there certainly – after all you get to leave and you chose to do that job which you get paid to do. I am certainly no soft on crime lefty, but lets at least be real about it.
12.22.10 / 3am
You apparently are not a guard. I have visited and seen death roll many times as an Investigator for the Attorney General’s Office and you are so wrong. The guards enjoy torturing the inmates and threatening their families. They sell drugs and cell phones to the inmates. The only difference between a guard and an inmate is the uniform!
12.22.10 / 3am
You need to take a look at the deaths and how they happened. Many committed suscide or died of diseases. Many have gone insane and or being pumped up with drugs so they can be declared sane enough to be sent to the Texas Death Machine. I can assure you it is not tolerable place to be.
3.22.10 / 6pm
I am a mother. I live in a country where teenagers murder children in the full and certain knowledge that they are doing wrong. I live in a country where paedeophiles are freed after ridiculously short jail-terms and consistently re-offend. I live in a country where parents abuse and in some cases kill their own children. This country is the UK! There is NO deterrent and there should be. Don’t give me any Amnesty crap about human rights. If these people violate a child’s human rights they have given up their humanity and therefore should not have the right to life. There is NO argument that can deny this. If they brought back the death penalty in the UK I would gladly volunteer to put an end to the life of paedophiles and child murderers. The taxpayer should not have to pay for these people to live their lives in prison.
4.23.10 / 8pm
Right on Marien! The biggest problem on this planet is too many people,creating the stresses on society. As the world population increases the death penalty will be used increasingly and eventually for lesser crimes simply because there are too many people. It won’t happen for a while, but it will happen this century!
9.26.10 / 5am
Wow, Nick, are you actually suggesting that we should kill people for things like shoplifting? You’d fit in well in Al Qaeda.
5.10.10 / 3pm
I remember reading about the Moors Murderers – a fellow and his girlfriend who kidnapped, molested, tortured, photographed and eventually brutally killed countless children in England and refused to even help bring closure to tortured families; I know of a man, I am not sure if his sentence was commuted, who killed an old lady just for so. he and his family were so bad, that at his conviction, his brother and sister were also given custodial sentences for their behaviours in court. there is a young man I know who killed another over gambling money. Should these people have the right to exist and return to the society to prey on others?
5.13.10 / 4am
Serial killers, child killers , “people who lie in wait”, which, by the way, is the Biblical definition of a murderer, are sick! They need to be put down like a sick animal, because they are not fit to be in society, or to be with other people, and God demands it. We are to execute them, send them to God, and he deals with it. They get a perfectly fair judgement.
Once someone does heinous crimes that require the death penalty, they have given up their life in exchange for the one they took. That’s only fair!
It is not for revenge, or any other reason except for fairness. And why should we tend to and pay for all their needs until they die? That doesn’t even make sense!
3.23.10 / 7pm
The death penalty is a load of crap…it serves no purpose in habilitating the criminal and is in many ways hypocritical…okay lets kill a person who is in jail for killing someone else…really smart america!!! Some officials feel it helps to end a certain hold on the family and friends of those who were killed or violated but really I dont think it helps to serve this purpose at all….
4.9.10 / 3pm
No, you my friend are an idiot. The death penalty is needed by the whole country. If you kill some one, then your gonna get killed back. All of the states should be like Texas. Not only does Texas have the death penalty but they have an express line for it so that they can move death row inmates in and out. You a perfect exapmle of the stupid american. Grow up will you?.. Jack Meoff? What your ten years old?
5.6.10 / 10pm
No, actually you are the idiot. Read the book “Actual Innocence.” Look at all the people who have been released from Death Row in the past few years because DNA proved their innocence. Death penalty proponents always say, “What if it was your family member who was murdered?” Well, what if it was your family member who was wrongly put on Death Row. It’s better to spare a million killers than kill one innocent. And don’t argue that DNA evidence will fix everything. What if you’re the unlucky guy who is wrongly convicted and no DNA evidence is available?
12.22.10 / 3am
Nahan, you need to watch your language son.
Just since they have started using DNA it has been determined over 300 innocent inmates have been sent to the death machine. Please look this up – it cost more to the taxpayers to execute a inmate than it does to keep him on death roll. I have seen death roll in 7 different Texas prisons and I would much rather be put to death than live in there.
4.14.10 / 12pm
It helps me to know that the bastard that murdered my aunt is in jail, but I’m not happy that he’ll be let out in about 13 years. I feel he should be sentenced to death. Not just for my aunt, but because she wasn’t his only victim. It’s ridiculous that we would let a man like that out to kill another person. Plus it’s a complete waste of tax dollars to keep him alive and sitting in a cell for the rest of his miserable life.
5.10.10 / 3pm
Agreed. We have become conscienceless wimps, giving in to conscienceless bullies.
5.10.10 / 1am
Capital punishment does have a purpose. The prime purpose of death penalty is to deter criminals, sociopaths, murderers from taking innocent life. The other purpose of death penalty is to protect society from anarchy and mayhem. The murderers do not deserve to live to kill again. But, if the law did not act to remove the criminal, the frustrated innocent public will take revenge and kill the killer anyway. Killing in revenge may be wrong, but an independent judiciary does not kill a criminal in revenge. That way it saves law abiding society frustration and killing ouf of revenge.
3.25.10 / 1pm
The Death Penalty is needed to some aspect. I condone the Death Penalty, to the extent that the “Offender” is FOUND guilty without reasonable cause. What happened if the Offender was INNOCENT? and wrongly executed? I believe that if a person is found guilty, and proven 100% without doubt or reason with the horrendous crime that has been committed. The Death Penalty fits the crime. First it MUST be proven that the offence is committed.
3.27.10 / 3am
Can we always be sure that there hasn’t been an error of judgment? Of course not. The alternative to killing those found guilty of a heinous offence is to lock them away until they die, and not in luxury. If it transpires that the individual is indeed innocent, there are ways of making up to him/her. Killing does not allow effective corrections to happen.
3.29.10 / 11am
It’s hard for me to say that I’m in favor of the death penalty any more than i am in favor of unemployment, poverty, disability, abortion or other harsh realities of life.
However, for some crimes such as mass murder, child murder or other sadistic crimes involving torture and death, perhaps the death penalty could be considered a humane method of ending a life so wicked and remorseless.
It’s a big question but for me and with regret, it’s a qualified Yes
3.30.10 / 2am
I don’t say every one who kills should be put to death. In depends on each case. However to abolish the death penalty in it’s entirety, is not a particularly intelligent thing to do. Some complaints by Amnesty International are very good, but others are out and out idiotic, and even very annoying, and result in me having developed some contempt for that organization.
3.30.10 / 10am
the death penalty is a farce we kill people to show that killing is wrong, how ironic, we also have drivers who drink themselves into oblivion then kill somebody with a weapon as lethal as a gun but we do not execute them they probably get a fine, disqualified from driving and maybe a short jail term. why do we “select” people for execution in this way surely the death of any person by violence is a terribly sad thing but killing the killer solves nothing. There is then the problem of innocent people that have been executed, who speaks for them after the event.
3.30.10 / 10pm
I agree with MH Gallager. Some human being are in fact wild animals, so, better eliminate them for the common safety.
I rather worry about those who do the job!
4.23.10 / 9pm
Don’t compare humans to wild animals. Animals are better behaved than humans. They don’t molest their young or kill their own kind for the hell of it. Humans are the scumbuckets of this planet. We have indiscriminate breeding which creates the lowlifes who are most of the problem!
5.22.10 / 2am
Nature has no concept of rights, these are man made concepts. Therefore man can(and has) also make up responsibilities that are required from all citizens in order for societies to function in relative peace and harmony. Rights and responsiblities should roughly equate, so if one goes out with a weapon with the idea that they might take a life, from that point, they should lose their own rights to the same extent. Whether that knowledge discourages them from further action is THEIR CHOICE! Time people started talking about responsiblities more (like Kennedy did). Maybe if Amnesty International did, more people would take notice of them. There are murders where there is no doubt about the perpetrator, in those cases capital punishment is an appropriate result for that person’s taking away anothers right to life. The victim certainly lost their right to life!
12.22.10 / 3am
I have heard those who do the job say just that “it is just a job” and most of them say they have no feelings about it one way or another and one even said he enjoyed doing it.
3.31.10 / 2pm
ask this question from relatives of victim and u will find the right answer.
Death penalty is a great deterrance and need not be abbolished.But keep it for rare of rarest cases.
4.5.10 / 9pm
I’m in favor of the death penalty,
but only but public crucification,
with the jury present to witness.
4.6.10 / 5am
We must believe, no one should take nobody’s life for any reason.
And that “no one” includes the most powerful entity is the legal system itself. If global warming is a problem for us, than capital
punishment should be the next.
4.11.10 / 1pm
Arguments against the death penality:
1.Buddha: refrain to kill, because already the intention to kill, kills your mind and heart, blocks your wisdom for ethics..
2. Jurisprudence: an unknown punishment (death) cannot be part of a human law system.
3. Criminology: the death penalty doesn’t deter from killing but opens the door for killing. (the State kills, why not me?)
1. My personal conviction. (Buddhist)
2. and 3. are proven f a c t s.
4.12.10 / 5pm
I think capital punishment is the only way you can be sure a person will not commit the same crime twice. too many ppl die bcuz of this,so yes im all for it.
4.13.10 / 2pm
The argument “what if it was your daughter, mother etc that got killed” is not really valid. I would probably kill someone I found in my house stealing my posessions but that doesn’t make it right to bring in the death penalty for burglary. Objectivity over subjectivity every time.
4.18.10 / 1pm
Jesus says: Look to the beam in your own eye before attending the motes in others’. In this case it means: expunge racism from your heart. Once you are free from it, you may perhaps be allowed to think about the death penalty. Else what you say is but ugly nonsense.
7.26.10 / 11pm
I don’t get the logic of your argument B.B. Quoting Jesus in favour of the death penalty must be a first? Jesus prevented the death penalty of Moses law being carried out on a woman taken to him because of Adultery
4.20.10 / 11am
The death penalty isn’t fair primarily because the justice system isn’t eaual to all and fair.
12.22.10 / 4am
“Thee Un-Justice System” is broken as well as the Parole System.
4.23.10 / 9pm
Everyone that is against the death penalty should be required to pay for that inmates upkeep.
$3.00 for a bullet and maybe $2000.00 for a casket versus $50K a year for every year they are kept in prison. Doesn’t make a lot of sense to keep convicted murderers around to me.
5.3.10 / 8pm
it isnt that simple, there are years of trials and processes.
there is no simple cut and dried “bullet to the head and it is over,” it isnt that simple
12.22.10 / 4am
Inmates that are removed from the Death Machine are buried in card board boxes – silly. The marker is their prison number and no name.
4.24.10 / 2am
If the Death Penalty was used the way it was first set up, they would not be on Death Roll for 13 to 20 years.
We now have D.N.A. if it shows they did it the time should be 30 days, not years and years.
And if anyone thinks they have been cured, let that Killer go live with their wives, and their children for a year.
4.26.10 / 6am
DNA only shows that you were at some time in contact with the victim. It does not guarantee that you killed the victim. It only serves as circumstantial evidence unless there was rape involved.
Or that there is blood platter on your clothes or you from the victim. Even then, unless you were actually seen killing the person, then I would not support going for the death penalty with you. However if you were seen doing it then I would support the death penalty.
4.24.10 / 5am
Capital punishment should be applied to all crimes greater than parking offences. Crime statistics would drop to zero overnight.and the rest of humanity could throw all the locks away.
7.26.10 / 11pm
“The rest of humanity” would number zero by then
4.30.10 / 12pm
Judges corrupt, Lawyers Corrupt. Police Corrupt, Press Corrupt. Jury wants to go home/back to work. You can not prove guilt 100% every time, there for you can not kill. Legal justice is neither blind nor is she free from financial gain, there for you can not kill.We are not civilized and we will be judged by our actions weather they fall into the majority or not.
5.4.10 / 2pm
i don’t agree to death sentence.killing is not the part of human law system
5.4.10 / 10pm
Killing is not the part of human law system. And the death punishment is imposed only on repeated murderer. Its meaningless to expecting the Human nature from them. So Death punishment would be the solution to stop them and their followers…
5.10.10 / 2pm
You mean, you will give him the chance to do it twice, to see if he means it? So you can throw away the life of one victim? We should all ask ourselves: What if the victim was my mother/father/wife/child? Would you be so objective? To be objective in this matter is to be on the side of the criminal.
5.5.10 / 7pm
to me its like this who ever kills have to be punish.if the system are 100% sure without doubts that the person are guilty for the crime they should deal with the consequences,i think if you kill then you should be kill,i saw somone wrote if it was your family,to tell the honest truth i think that person shoud think about the other person for a while and who kill that person.do you all really want people like that in the world for me i don’t
this is a serious matter…
5.6.10 / 8am
I support capital punishment but wat I feel should be given to those accused of commiting “rarest of rare cases “of crimes,this so as to instill in everyones mind the fate they desrve,in commiting such heinous act
7.26.10 / 11pm
I think execution is a heinous act too. Would you be willing to carry out the execution?
5.6.10 / 12pm
The capital punishment is essential some times for the existance of humanbeings. By killing an innocent person the right of living of the killer ends at that time. If the rule implement the rate of crime will be reduced.
5.7.10 / 10am
A terrorist after killing ur family members and dare to say sorry couldnot kill ur relatives still u will not be in favour of capital punishment…………….Man Be practical
5.8.10 / 4am
Life is sacred for all ….I would pray that I could use the power of compassion no matter what the circumstances were, no matter how provocative…”hatred never overcomes hatred, only love” says The Buddha
6.1.10 / 4pm
i agree…but do those that kill do so out of hate? if loves overcomes hate, then what overcomes the love to kill?
7.26.10 / 11pm
Probably love
5.8.10 / 8pm
I fully support the Death Penalty for Murderers, Kidnappers and anyone conected with Armed Robbery
If a criminal shots at you – You should be able to shoot back with Lethal force
Here in South Africa Murder, Rape, Killing Assulting, Child Molestation and Abuse and also Woman Abuse is EXTREMLY High
The Criminals just laugh at the legal system in this counrty
They go in to jail and 10 minutes later they are released
All of teh above Criminals have no fear and continue their escapades without fear of the police
A guy who killed soemone was realeased on 50.00 rand bail while my wife was fined 300 rand for driving without a number plate
We have our priorities mixed up here in South Africa
The poice have now been given instructions to kill if they are shot at
Unfortunately it also has resulted in innocent people been killed as well in the crossfire
Very tragic – but it shows that things are getting very bad here
While I do suport the Death Penalty I also advise Caution
The Death Penalty is final and extreme caution should be taken to avoid executing innocent people which can happen and does happen
If a person is caught coming out of a Shop, House Building, Bank with a gun of any type in their hands or on their persons then they should be shot – ON SITE with no mercy shown to the vermin
The same goes for Child & Woman Molesters, Abusers and Rapests
In fact I would eve go as far as advocating that anyone caught Raping a Woman or Child be Castrated – not chemically but physically have their sex organs removed permanently and still jailed for at least 30 years with Hard Labour
The other alternative is tie them up spread out – bring a 20 pound hammer on their private parts and leave them for dead
Drastic – I Know but do it enough times and the message will get through
Oh and just to make sure the message gets through have it done publicly and on TV
As for the people who protest cry ” Its Inhumane” – to them i say – and what about the victims these people leave behind with mental and physical scars for the rest of their lives
If they complain then they should join those animals (Actually that is an insult to the animals – sorry) in the punishment meeted out to these vermin
If the Death Penalty is not adminsted then these vermin should be sentenced to LIFE & HARD LABOUR
They should not be given medical treatment or helped in anyway
Here in South Africa criminals are treated like royalty
A robber breaking into a bank and shooting someone and the gets shot gets VP treatment while his victim is treated like dirt – The criminal gets free medical treatment while the victim has to pay for all his medical expenses
I know Im been harsh but when you have seen and experenced this first hand you someone feel very bitter as to the way these people are treated
The way things go here a rapest comes into your house – Rapes your wife while you watching – Yu manage to get free and shoot the person
You get charged with murder or attempeted murder and are sent to jail while that vermin gets off scott free
Likewise when you catch someone robbing your house or business
You not allowed to shoot the person to protect your property
You just have to stand there and watch
Pathetic
In South Africa if they had to have a Referendum on teh Death Penalty 70 to 80% if not more of the people here would say YES to Bringing it Back
Been there
Got the T Shirt
DEATH TO ALL RAPESTS, KIDNAPPERS, ABUSERS, MOLESTERS, MURDERERS and THIEVES
8.2.10 / 5am
Well written and to the point. Yes, they are treated better than their victims. Time for this to stop. Many act like rock stars, smile for the TV crews. Wonder if they would do the same in front of the firing squad? Their victims carry scars for the rest of their lives, the kind that never heal. Many never have a peaceful nights sleep. Once convicted and all appeals exhausted they should be sent on to their final judgment as quickly as possible. No sense in feeding an animal who knows what is right but only does wrong. I would rather feed and educate the children than keep these individuals alive. Better to invest your money on those that need it than to waste it on those who only see the rest of the world as victims.
5.9.10 / 5pm
capital punishment and the crime for which it is the verdict go hand in hand. they are two sides of the same coin. just one aspect should never be discussed or put to vote. rephrase your question capital punishment for a particular crime.
5.10.10 / 1am
In reference to kasab’s case of 26/11, without a doubt, the death sentence is appropriate. He acted as a soldier of enimy, waging war on India. So just like a soldier may die in war, it should be perfectly justifiable to kill kasab, and his like. Why, 9 others of his team died, why should he be kept alive. Besides, what would you do, just release him back to pakistan, so JeM, and Let, and all other jehadi hoodlums hire him again to attack another part of India? If not, are you going to keep him in jail for rest of his life, and feed him free food? At tax payers’ expense. Is that fair to the tax payers, and the victims of kasab and his like? Definitely not! So, he deserves to die. Those who live by the sword, die by it.
5.10.10 / 2pm
If we are a sovereign nation and have made laws in the interest of a just and law-abiding society, how can we allow foreigners, some from countries presently exercising the death penalty in some form, to tell us we are wrong? Is the life of the victim of no value? Should the taxpayers money be thrown away on someone who has nothing to offer but death to its law-abiding citizens? We have criminals on death row, much too long, petitioning other people to save their own lives when they have willfully taken the lives of others. One man, now quite old, killed an old woman so brutally, it was unthinkable and if the truth be told, it was the first time he got caught as he was feared; others have killed without conscience and then we namby-pamby them. Their should be no appeal to the privy council; we are independent; we need no rubberstamp from empire. In a country this size, one dead murderer can never murder again. Hang them or kill them by another means – but do it.
5.21.10 / 10pm
Is the life of the offender of no value?
Telling other nations that they are wrong is something a certain nation is doing all the time – without any respect to national customs or history or…
Offenders would have so much more to offer but death if you only let them.
7.19.10 / 7am
i totoly agree with you
5.13.10 / 3pm
I find it interesting that not one family member whose relative was murdered is against the death penalty
A conservative is a liberal who has just been mugged!
9.24.10 / 5am
I am afraid you do not keep up with the news There have been many family members that have forgiven the one that have murdered a loved one. If I had time I would research for you but you probably wouldnt believe me so I will leave the research up to you. By the way Jesus went to the cross so we could be forgiven for our sins. Remember what he said Forgive them They know not what they do. Punishment yes Killing no.
Are we bett er than Jesus when we put our self up as Gods and choose revenge. Yes it is revenge. .
9.24.10 / 12pm
I think you’ll find this is not true at all. The organization ‘Murder Victims’ Families for Human Rights’ is an international, non-governmental organization of family members of murder victims and family members of the executed, all of whom oppose the death penalty in all cases.
5.19.10 / 10am
Hatch is right, in that the biblical origin of the death penalty is based upon shedding the blood of the murderer who has shed sacred blood.
” . . .from man in regard to his fellow man I will demand an accounting for human life. If anyone sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; For in the image of God has man been made.” Genesis 9:5-6
God: ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and ‘Whoever curses father or mother must certainly be put to death.’ Matthew 15:4
Jesus: “So Pilate said to (Jesus), “Do you not speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you and I have power to crucify you?” Jesus answered (him), “You would have no power over me if it had not been given to you from above.” John 19:10-11
Jesus: Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us.” The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, “Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation? And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” (Jesus) replied to him, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” Luke 23: 39-43
Jesus: “You have heard the ancients were told, ˜YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER” and “Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court”. But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever shall say to his brother, “Raca”, shall be guilty before the supreme court and whoever shall say, “You fool”, shall be guilty enough to go into fiery hell.” Matthew 5:17-22.
The Holy Spirit: God, through the power and justice of the Holy Spirit, executed both Ananias and his wife, Saphira. Their crime? Lying to the Holy Spirit – to God – through Peter. Acts 5:1-11.
The Word of God: Numbers 35:16-21. Note the words “shall” and “surely”. What do you think they mean?
‘But if he struck him down with an iron object, so that he died, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death. ‘If he struck him down with a stone in the hand, by which he will die, and as a result he died, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death. ‘Or if he struck him with a wooden object in the hand, by which he might die, and as a result he died, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death. ‘The blood avenger himself shall put the murderer to death; he shall put him to death when he meets him. ‘If he pushed him of hatred, or threw something at him lying in wait and as a result he died, or if he struck him down with his hand in enmity, and as a result he died, the one who struck him shall surely be put to death, he is a murderer; the blood avenger shall put the murderer to death when he meets him.
Here is the full context http://nasb.scripturetext.com/numbers/35.htm
———————————————-
Some lesser New Testament scholars
Saint Paul, in his hearing before Festus, states: “if then I am a wrong doer, and have committed anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die.” Acts 25:11.
St. Augustine: “The same divine law which forbids the killing of a human being allows certain exceptions. Since the agent of authority is but a sword in the hand, and is not responsible for the killing, it is in no way contrary to the commandment “Thou shalt not kill”, for the representative of the State’s authority to put criminals to death, according to the Law or the rule of rational justice.” The City of God, Book 1, Chapter 21
St. Thomas Aquinas finds all biblical interpretations against executions “frivolous”, citing Exodus 22:18, “wrongdoers thou shalt not suffer to live”. Unequivocally, he states,” The civil rulers execute, justly and sinlessly, pestiferous men in order to protect the peace of the state.” (Summa Contra Gentiles, III, 146
St. Thomas Aquinas: “The fact that the evil, as long as they live, can be corrected from their errors does not prohibit the fact that they may be justly executed, for the danger which threatens from their way of life is greater and more certain than the good which may be expected from their improvement. They also have at that critical point of death the opportunity to be converted to God through repentance. And if they are so stubborn that even at the point of death their heart does not draw back from evil, it is possible to make a highly probable judgement that they would never come away from evil to the right use of their powers.” Summa Contra Gentiles, Book III, 146.
Saints Thomas Aquinas and Augustine. In addition to the required punishment for murder and the deterrence standards, both Saints find that executing murderers is also an act of charity and mercy. Saint Augustine confirms that ” . . . inflicting capital punishment . . . protects those who are undergoing capital punishment from the harm they may suffer . . . through increased sinning which might continue if their life went on.” (On the Lord’s Sermon, 1.20.63-64.)
—————-
Saint Thomas Aquinas finds that ” . . . the death inflicted by the judge profits the sinner, if he be converted, unto the expiation of his crime; and, if he be not converted, it profits so as to put an end to the sin, because the sinner is thus deprived of the power to sin anymore.” (Summa Theologica, II-II, 25, 6 ad 2.)
St. Thomas Aquinas: “If a man is a danger to the community, threatening it with disintegration by some wrongdoing of his, then his execution for the healing and preservation of the common good is to be commended. Only the public authority, not private persons, may licitly execute malefactors by public judgement. Men shall be sentenced to death for crimes of irreparable harm or which are particularly perverted.” Summa Theologica, 11; 65-2; 66-6.
“St. Thomas Aquinas quotes a gloss of St. Jerome on Matthew 27: “As Christ became accursed of the cross for us, for our salvation He was crucified as a guilty one among the guilty.” As Prof. Michael Pakaluk writes: “If no crime deserves the death penalty, then it is hard to see why it was fitting that Christ be put to death for our sins and crucified among thieves.” ” That Christ be put to death as a guilty person, presupposes that death is a fitting punishment for those who are guilty.” The Death Penalty: An Opposing Viewpoints Series Book, Greenhaven Press, (hereafter TDP:OVS), 1991
Saint (& Pope) Pius V, “The just use of (executions), far from involving the crime of murder, is an act of paramount obedience to this (Fifth) Commandment which prohibits murder.” “The Roman Catechism of the Council of Trent” (1566).
Pope Pius XII: “When it is a question of the execution of a man condemned to death it is then reserved to the public power to deprive the condemned of the benefit of life, in expiation of his fault, when already, by his fault, he has dispossessed himself of the right to live.” 9/14/52.
Christians who speak out against capital punishment in deserving cases ” . . . tend to subordinate the justice of God to the love of God. . . . Peter, by cutting off Malchu’s ear,. . . was most likely trying to kill the soldier (John 18:10)”, prompting ” . . . Christ’s statement that those who kill by the sword are subject to die by the sword (Matthew 26:51-52).” This ” implicitly recognizes the government’s right to exercise the death penalty.” Dr. Carl F.H.Henry, “A Matter of Life and Death”, p 52 Christianity Today, 8/4/95.
“Death Penalty Support: Modern Christian Scholars”
http://prodpinnc.blogspot.com/2009/07/death-penalty-support-modern-catholic.html
Christianity and the death penalty
http://www.prodeathpenalty.com/DP.html#F.Christianity
5.19.10 / 12pm
Who are we to decide on life or death ? Is killing by the State a good example to our children to show that killing was wrong in the first place ? I am fortunate to come from a country where death penalty has been abolished long ago. As in all democratic countries around too.I would never want my country to kill in my name. We all know there are other ways to protect society and punish criminals than to kill them legally and think violence problems will be solved. What about innocents being executed ? Recently I attended a World Congress Against DP, I met a group of the most admirable people I never saw :Murders’ Victims Families for Reconciliation, they oppose DP and work to change the criminal justice system. For having talked to them I know that their powerful and remarkable action is their only way of getting “closure”, as you say. Not the killing of another human being. There were children at the Congress too, one of their parents was either on death row or had been murdered. Their pain was the same, they had the courage to speak against DP, no more violence. These kids were innocent and yet… what suffering they were enduring ! Groups like these are the ones I want to support because they show us the way. Legal revenge leads to an infernal cycle of violence.
5.21.10 / 10pm
Two wrongs don’t make a right.
Capital punishment does not belong in the 21st century. There is no reason why a nation should execute its own healthy people when they can still contribute their part to society – and if it is by prison labour only.
Furthermore, if you take a closer look society has failed on rather many of the offenders on death row at an early age – in a lot of cases, execution is as if society just eliminates the evidence of its failure.
5.21.10 / 10pm
Lexa:
Their life has great value. A sanction is only a sanction if you take away that which is valued.
5.22.10 / 8am
garbage of society doesnt deserve to be part of society anymore. if the garbage is not destroyed then it will spread its germs too other things. you take a life you give a life. its that simple. they may be physically healthy but their minds are twisted with evil. you cant help someone like this.
6.24.10 / 11pm
I disagree utterly with Dudley Sharpe. The Bible is a dangerous volume of writings and it deserves no more deference than any other such body of prose or verse.
The same goes for the opinions of people like Augustine, Thomas Aquinas or Pius XII
Crime has many causes, some of which may lie in the formation of the brain. The remedy for the crime of murder must surely involve a study of the causes.
I can sympathise with those who have suffered the loss of loved ones but I believe that forgiveness, if they can manage it, will heal forever while revenge will give satisfaction that lasts only for a while.
6.25.10 / 2am
Justin:
No biblical support is needed. The death penalty is a just and appropriate sanction.
The death penalty is justice, not revenge.
“The Death Penalty: Neither Hatred nor Revenge”
http://homicidesurvivors.com/2009/07/20/the-death-penalty-neither-hatred-nor-revenge.aspx
7.26.10 / 11pm
But in your previous extended comment, Dudley, you rely almost entirely on biblical references to justify the killing of prisoners deemed guilty of murder by human judges.
Also I can find nothing in your a.rticle “The Death Penalty – Neither Hatred nor Revenge” to justify such killing
7.16.10 / 8pm
God ordained the sanctity of human life,and wanton murder contests that sanctity.Capital Punishment implements Divine Law aswritten in The Almighty’s Books’and He Knows best.
7.26.10 / 11pm
I disagree on many counts, Omar
7.19.10 / 7am
just because some one kills dosent mean we shoud kill him
trust me there is no worst punishment then life in prison
if that person is exacuted were is the punishment hill be dead and wont suffer what he did
7.27.10 / 3am
Justin:
Just because biblical text supports the death penalty, doesn’t mean that it is necessary for the support of capital punsihment.
The essay “Neither Hatred nor Revenge” was never intneded to justify capital punishment, but to correct the error that the death penalty was either hatred or revenge. I thought that was very clear.
7.27.10 / 3am
russell:
No need to trust you on this.
Some death penalty opponents argue against death penalty deterrence, stating that it’s a harsher penalty to be locked up without any possibility of getting out.
Reality paints a very different picture.
What percentage of capital murderers seek a plea bargain to a death sentence? Zero or close to it. They prefer long term imprisonment.
What percentage of convicted capital murderers argue for execution in the penalty phase of their capital trial? Zero or close to it. They prefer long term imprisonment.
What percentage of death row inmates waive their appeals and speed up the execution process? Nearly zero. They prefer long term imprisonment.
This is not, even remotely, in dispute.
What of that more rational group, the potential murderers who choose not to murder, is it likely that they, like most of us, fear death more than life?
Life is preferred over death. Death is feared more than life.
8.5.10 / 5pm
Capital punishment should not be seen as taking life or killing. It is a punishment which ‘unfortunately’ causes death, not pain or deprivation of freedom. It is not revenge or ‘eye for an eye’ because it is the State that carries out the death penalty. Without this, people will take the law into their own hands. People fear death the most, and it is a very effective deterrent to serious violent crimes. Many faiths and their followers may advocate forgiveness for the violaters. But they forgot the victims. Forgiveness cannot be granted by anyone except the victim. But the victim is dead! The life of a victim is no lesser the life of the offender sentenced to death. In fact, victims don’t deserve to die, so why should the offenders deserve to live? Most religions except maybe Buddhism are not against the death sentence. Christianity and Islam prescribed death for sinners.
8.5.10 / 7pm
“Death Penalty Cost Studies: Saving Costs over LWOP”
http://homicidesurvivors.com/2010/03/21/death-penalty-cost-studies-saving-costs-over-lwop.aspx
“Duke (North Carolina) Death Penalty Cost Study: Let’s be honest”
http://prodpinnc.blogspot.com/2009/06/duke-north-carolina-death-penalty-cost.html
(NOTE: There is a newer study out, by one of these authors, that finds NC MIGHT save $11 million by ending the death penalty, or 1 penny every three days/person. I have not read it, yet.)
Cost Savings: The Death Penalty
http://homicidesurvivors.com/2009/05/07/cost-savings-the-death-penalty.aspx
8.8.10 / 11pm
Those of you who say the death penatly is wrong IF you ever had or caused someone to have an abortion forced the death penalty on a very innocent human being.
9.19.10 / 5am
i would rather not have my taxes go towards warehousing criminals. get rid of them. they made there choices and should have to pay for it. i can think of a lot of mouths that would appreciate having the food that feeds these killers and such. they no longer will ever contribute to the betterment of man kind so why waste our hard earned resources on them. and yes, i do agree killing isn’t right, but i do feel we have an obligation to prevent any further injustices. when somebody comes up with a way to house criminals without costing taxpayers i will change my opinion. plus, lack of punishment is one of the big things wrong with America. if these criminals grew up knowing that the punishment for stealing or drug use was to have their hand cut off i doubt we would have jails full of thieves and drug addicts.
9.22.10 / 5am
Believe it or not, the way the death penalty is handled in this country with endless automatic appeals and special considerations, it’s much more expensive to sentence someone to death than life in prison.
As far as deterrent is concerned, that simply isn’t a factor. Studies of the times when the death penalty has been active vs. when it has been on hiatus, show zero correlation to the amount of egregious crimes committed.
9.20.10 / 10am
Paedophiles,murderers gangsters and the like who care two hoots about the well-being of others must be treated as sick people and deemed unfit to live in a decent society. Putting them in prison or killing is the easiest solution round the corner but cannot be said to be the best of solutions.
A decent society must look ways and means of treating their sickness. Since billions are already being spent in medical sciences to heal the sick a policy change in prisons to treat these sick people is all that is required to pave the way for a long term solution.
tjjohn
9.21.10 / 7pm
Yes I believe in the death penalty under certain circumstances. But in this case she should have got life without parole. the two men that did the crime got that and if anyone should have got the death penalty it should have been them. Give them all the same life without parole.
9.23.10 / 7pm
Sorry, is it 1610 or 2010 in the USA?
Seems to me that the 10 Commandments DIRECTLY forbid this disgusting & barbaric practice. The USA is alone amongst Eglish speaking nations, as they were on slavery.
God is certaily ashamed of all US citizens who will not speak out against this barbarism & His judgement will not be kindly.
9.23.10 / 8pm
Capital punishment is our society’s recognition of the sanctity of human life. – Orrin Hatch
That’s an oxymoron if ever I’ve heard one…
9.24.10 / 8am
The US lives for death and is responsible for the killings of more human beings during the past 50 years than any other nation on earth – the vast majority being innocent people, including women and children. These range from “war” adventures, capital punishment offenses, torture and killings in extrajudicial rendition camps ad nausea. At last count 131 (ish) convicted people were subsequently found innocent, thanks to the efforts of the Innocence Project. Currently that organization are clearing yet another victim of “US justice” – unfortunately he was executed in 2004. It was not that long ago that children were sentenced to death in the US (in three particular instances for killing one or both parents), but detained in custody until they were of legal age before execution time. Before that there were no trials prior to lynching blacks – just string them up on a tree and have a picnic.
Try visiting the Polunsky Unit (used to be Ellis Unit) at Huntsville before talking about the death penalty. There are obviously incurable people in that death row unit. There are also pathetic specimens of the society they were raised in. Most have one thing in common – they were almost all abused, either by their deviant parents or others and continued that cycle of abuse. My husband (LE) spent two years in Huntsville getting to know these people personally as part of a research project and came away with thoughts like, “If my parents treated me like many of their parents abused them, I’d probably feel justified in killing my parents”. The other side was that in a small number of cases, the stench of pure evil started before he entered the room.
There is nothing admirable about a redneck ‘group think’ cultureless society with a lynch mob mentality. Thank God all other western countries are more sane and don’t practice state executions.
Meanwhile, we can debate over the cost/benefit analysis of custodial sentences, quote extracts from the bible, use emotive justification about how we would like to treat pedophiles, rapists and other obnoxious offenders – and don’t forget to hit on banal US politics and mob rule mentality. All of these aspects are the easy parts and can be expressed from an armchair.
9.24.10 / 2pm
Is the death penalty pro life?
Deb:
Hatch’s quote is not an oxymoron.
It is fully true within the context whch he used it, which is Genesis 9:5-6, as well as other considerations.
Please review.
First, the “pro life” term was, originally, identified with the anti abortion movement, which still seems the most appropriate context.
Secondly, in the context of the facts, yes, of course you can be pro life and pro death penalty. There is no contradicition.
All sanctions are given because we value what is being taken away.
Whether is be fines, freedom or lives, in every case we take things away, as legal sanction, it is because we value that which is taken away.
How can it be a sanction, if we do not value that which is taken away? It can’t.
In addition, more innocent lives are saved when we use the death penalty, thereby a pro life benefit.
Deterrence
All prospects of a negative outcome deter some. It is a truism. The death penalty, the most severe of criminal sanctions, is the least likely of all criminal sanctions to violate that truism.
“The Death Penalty: More Protection for Innocents”
http://homicidesurvivors.com/2009/07/05/the-death-penalty-more-protection-for-innocents.aspx
25 recent studies finding for deterrence, Criminal Justice Legal Foundation,
http://www.cjlf.org/deathpenalty/DPDeterrence.htm
“Deterrence and the Death Penalty: A Reply to Radelet and Lacock”
http://homicidesurvivors.com/2009/07/02/deterrence-and-the-death-penalty-a-reply-to-radelet-and-lacock.aspx
“Death Penalty, Deterrence & Murder Rates: Let’s be clear”
http://prodpinnc.blogspot.com/2009/03/death-penalty-deterrence-murder-rates.html
We have great care for innocents
In at least three ways, innocents are more protected with the death penalty, than with lesser sanctions. Another pro life consideration.
contd
9.24.10 / 2pm
contd
“The Death Penalty: More Protection for Innocents”
http://homicidesurvivors.com/2009/07/05/the-death-penalty-more-protection-for-innocents.aspx
The false innocence claims by anti death penalty activists are legendary. Some examples:
“The Innocent Executed: Deception & Death Penalty Opponents”
http://homicidesurvivors.com/2009/10/08/the-innocent-executed-deception–death-penalty-opponents–draft.aspx
The 130 (now 139) death row “innocents” scam
http://homicidesurvivors.com/2009/03/04/fact-checking-issues-on-innocence-and-the-death-penalty.aspx
“A Death Penalty Red Herring: The Inanity and Hypocrisy of Perfection”, Lester Jackson Ph.D.,
http://www.tcsdaily.com/article.aspx?id=102909A
The moral and religious arguments, in support of the death penalty, all have a foundation in respecting innocent life, therefore, when it is wrongly taken away, the highest form of sanction is provided.
As in:
Genesis 9:5-6: “For your lifeblood I will surely require a reckoning…. Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for God made man in his own image.”
Chapter V:The Sanctity of Life, “Principles of Conduct: Aspects of Biblical Ethics” By John Murray, 1991 (first published 1957) by Wm. B. Eerdmans http://tiny.cc/4SFBY
contd
9.24.10 / 2pm
contd
“Death Penalty Support: Religious and Secular Scholars”
http://prodpinnc.blogspot.com/2009/07/death-penalty-support-modern-catholic.html
“Pope John Paul II: Prudential Judgement and the death penalty”
http://homicidesurvivors.com/2007/07/23/pope-john-paul-ii-his-death-penalty-errors.aspx
Other issues:
“The Death Penalty: Neither Hatred nor Revenge”
http://homicidesurvivors.com/2009/07/20/the-death-penalty-neither-hatred-nor-revenge.aspx
“Killing equals Killing: The Amoral Confusion of Death Penalty Opponents”
http://homicidesurvivors.com/2009/02/01/murder-and-execution–very-distinct-moral-differences–new-mexico.aspx
“The Death Penalty: Not a Human Rights Violation”
http://homicidesurvivors.com/2006/03/20/the-death-penalty-not-a-human-rights-violation.aspx
“Physicians & The State Execution of Murderers: No Ethical/Medical Dilemma”
http://prodpinnc.blogspot.com/2009/10/physicians-state-execution-of-murderers.html
9.24.10 / 2pm
MaryB writes:
“Thank God all other western countries are more sane and don’t practice state executions.”
It has nothing to do with sanity, but with a lack of just consideration.
In favor of executing Saddam Hussein (French daily Le Monde, 12/2006{1}),
Great Britain: 69%
France: 58%
Germany: 53%
Spain: 51%
Italy: 46%
We are led to believe there isn’t death penalty support in England or Europe. European governments won’t allow executions when their populations support it: they’re anti democratic. (2)
(1) The recent results of a poll conducted by Novatris/Harris for the French daily Le Monde on the death penalty shocked the editors and writers at Germany’s left-leaning SPIEGEL ONLINE (Dec. 22, 2006). When asked whether they favored the death penalty for Saddam Hussein, a majority of respondents in Germany, France and Spain responded in the affirmative.
(2)An excellent article, “Death in Venice: Europe’s Death-penalty Elitism”, details this anti democratic position (The New Republic, by Joshua Micah Marshall, 7/31/2000). Another situation reflects this same mentality. “(Pres. Mandela says ‘no’ to reinstating the death penalty in South Africa – Nelson Mandela against death penalty though 93% of public favors it, according to poll. “(JET, 10/14/96). Pres. Mandela explained that “. . . it was necessary to inform the people about other strategies the government was using to combat crime.” As if the people didn’t understand. South Africa has had some of the highest crime rates in the world in the ten years, since Mandela’s comments. “The number of murders committed each year in the country is as high as 47,000, according to Interpol statistics.” As of 2006, 72% of South Africans want the death penalty back. (“South Africans Support Death Penalty”, 5/14/2006, Angus Reid Global Monitor : Polls & Research
NOTE: Some recent polls – with no mention of specific crimes.
97%+ of Guatemalans support the death penalty. 2.6% oppose
(telephone survey, newspaper Prensa Libre, 2/14/08)
http://www.latinamericapress.org/article.asp?lanCode=1&artCode=5545
79% support the resumption of hanging in Jamaica. 16% oppose. (Bill Johnson Polling for The Gleaner (Jamaica) Newspaper, 1/12-13/08
Two-thirds of Czechs for death penalty reintroduction – poll
Prague- Almost two-thirds of Czechs believe that death penalty should exist in the Czech Republic, while one-third believes the opposite, according to a poll the CVVM agency conducted in May and released. June 12, 2008, Ceskenoviny.cz/news/
9.24.10 / 2pm
Brian:
The Ten Commandments offer specific support for executions.
Saint (& Pope) Pius V, “The just use of (executions), far from involving the crime of murder, is an act of paramount obedience to this (Fifth) Commandment which prohibits murder.” “The Roman Catechism of the Council of Trent” (1566).
Yours is a common misunderstanding.
Some more:
God: ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and ‘Whoever curses father or mother must certainly be put to death.’ Matthew 15:4
Jesus: “So Pilate said to (Jesus), “Do you not speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you and I have power to crucify you?” Jesus answered (him), “You would have no power over me if it had not been given to you from above.” John 19:10-11
Jesus: Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us.” The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, “Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation? And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” (Jesus) replied to him, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” Luke 23: 39-43
Jesus: “You have heard the ancients were told, ˜YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER” and “Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court”. But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever shall say to his brother, “Raca”, shall be guilty before the supreme court and whoever shall say, “You fool”, shall be guilty enough to go into fiery hell.” Matthew 5:17-22.
The Holy Spirit: God, through the power and justice of the Holy Spirit, executed both Ananias and his wife, Saphira. Their crime? Lying to the Holy Spirit – to God – through Peter. Acts 5:1-11.
The Word of God: Numbers 35:16-21. Note the words “shall” and “surely”. What do you think they mean?
‘But if he struck him down with an iron object, so that he died, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death. ‘If he struck him down with a stone in the hand, by which he will die, and as a result he died, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death. ‘Or if he struck him with a wooden object in the hand, by which he might die, and as a result he died, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death. ‘The blood avenger himself shall put the murderer to death; he shall put him to death when he meets him. ‘If he pushed him of hatred, or threw something at him lying in wait and as a result he died, or if he struck him down with his hand in enmity, and as a result he died, the one who struck him shall surely be put to death, he is a murderer; the blood avenger shall put the murderer to death when he meets him.
Here is the full context http://nasb.scripturetext.com/numbers/35.htm
———————————————-
Some lesser New Testament scholars
Saint Paul, in his hearing before Festus, states: “if then I am a wrong doer, and have committed anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die.” Acts 25:11.
St. Augustine: “The same divine law which forbids the killing of a human being allows certain exceptions. Since the agent of authority is but a sword in the hand, and is not responsible for the killing, it is in no way contrary to the commandment “Thou shalt not kill”, for the representative of the State’s authority to put criminals to death, according to the Law or the rule of rational justice.” The City of God, Book 1, Chapter 21
St. Thomas Aquinas finds all biblical interpretations against executions “frivolous”, citing Exodus 22:18, “wrongdoers thou shalt not suffer to live”. Unequivocally, he states,” The civil rulers execute, justly and sinlessly, pestiferous men in order to protect the peace of the state.” (Summa Contra Gentiles, III, 146
St. Thomas Aquinas: “The fact that the evil, as long as they live, can be corrected from their errors does not prohibit the fact that they may be justly executed, for the danger which threatens from their way of life is greater and more certain than the good which may be expected from their improvement. They also have at that critical point of death the opportunity to be converted to God through repentance. And if they are so stubborn that even at the point of death their heart does not draw back from evil, it is possible to make a highly probable judgement that they would never come away from evil to the right use of their powers.” Summa Contra Gentiles, Book III, 146.
Saints Thomas Aquinas and Augustine. In addition to the required punishment for murder and the deterrence standards, both Saints find that executing murderers is also an act of charity and mercy. Saint Augustine confirms that ” . . . inflicting capital punishment . . . protects those who are undergoing capital punishment from the harm they may suffer . . . through increased sinning which might continue if their life went on.” (On the Lord’s Sermon, 1.20.63-64.)
Saint Thomas Aquinas finds that ” . . . the death inflicted by the judge profits the sinner, if he be converted, unto the expiation of his crime; and, if he be not converted, it profits so as to put an end to the sin, because the sinner is thus deprived of the power to sin anymore.” (Summa Theologica, II-II, 25, 6 ad 2.)
St. Thomas Aquinas: “If a man is a danger to the community, threatening it with disintegration by some wrongdoing of his, then his execution for the healing and preservation of the common good is to be commended. Only the public authority, not private persons, may licitly execute malefactors by public judgement. Men shall be sentenced to death for crimes of irreparable harm or which are particularly perverted.” Summa Theologica, 11; 65-2; 66-6.
“St. Thomas Aquinas quotes a gloss of St. Jerome on Matthew 27: “As Christ became accursed of the cross for us, for our salvation He was crucified as a guilty one among the guilty.” As Prof. Michael Pakaluk writes: “If no crime deserves the death penalty, then it is hard to see why it was fitting that Christ be put to death for our sins and crucified among thieves.” ” That Christ be put to death as a guilty person, presupposes that death is a fitting punishment for those who are guilty.” The Death Penalty: An Opposing Viewpoints Series Book, Greenhaven Press, (hereafter TDP:OVS), 1991
Saint (& Pope) Pius V, “The just use of (executions), far from involving the crime of murder, is an act of paramount obedience to this (Fifth) Commandment which prohibits murder.” “The Roman Catechism of the Council of Trent” (1566).
Pope Pius XII: “When it is a question of the execution of a man condemned to death it is then reserved to the public power to deprive the condemned of the benefit of life, in expiation of his fault, when already, by his fault, he has dispossessed himself of the right to live.” 9/14/52.
Christians who speak out against capital punishment in deserving cases ” . . . tend to subordinate the justice of God to the love of God. . . . Peter, by cutting off Malchu’s ear,. . . was most likely trying to kill the soldier (John 18:10)”, prompting ” . . . Christ’s statement that those who kill by the sword are subject to die by the sword (Matthew 26:51-52).” This ” implicitly recognizes the government’s right to exercise the death penalty.” Dr. Carl F.H.Henry, “A Matter of Life and Death”, p 52 Christianity Today, 8/4/95.
“Death Penalty Support: Religious and Secular Scholars”
http://prodpinnc.blogspot.com/2009/07/death-penalty-support-modern-catholic.html
“The Death Penalty: Neither Hatred nor Revenge”
http://homicidesurvivors.com/2009/07/20/the-death-penalty-neither-hatred-nor-revenge.aspx
“The Death Penalty: Not a Human Rights Violation”
http://homicidesurvivors.com/2006/03/20/the-death-penalty-not-a-human-rights-violation.aspx
9.26.10 / 11am
Orrin; How on earth can you be so contradictive? How can you be for the “sanctity of human life” when you support the exact opposite by killing people (in some cases mentally ill people) in the name of the law? Are you insane or just hell bent on revenge? You make me feel ashamed to be a fellow human. I wish I did not have to share the air I breathe with you and your supporters. Barbaric and worse than the archaic Muslim states you call your enemies. If only you possessed an ounce of empathy (an admirable human quality) you would change your views.
9.28.10 / 3am
Legalised murder permeates an entire society like the slowly rotting inner core of an apple. If we ever wish to proceed to a higher order spiritually we must raise our sights to greater acceptance, wear the fall-out of those sad deviats who simply can’t keep up and hold tight to our vision of a peaceful world. Jesus who received the death penalty for nothing more than speaking out bravely went to his death forgiving those “state-condoned” murderers and maintained his view that thou shalt not kill…under any circumstances. Lift your game people.
9.28.10 / 7am
Please stop quoting the Scriptures. Amnesty International and all other bleeding Heart please pool your resources and buy some Islands somewhere on Planet Earth. The all child molesters, rapists, drug dealers and murderers can be transported there to make the Islands habitable and prosperous. It worked in Australia. If the resources are not available then let us carry on with executions until they are.
9.28.10 / 9am
I believe that more than 300 people sentenced to death since the USA resumed the death penalty in the 1970s have been proved innocent and reprieved. How many innocent people have been executed? Quite apart from that, judicial execution is a barbaric throwback to the dark ages. It is practised by evil, repressive, backward regimes – and the United States of America.
9.29.10 / 3pm
The group of nations that practice the death penalty include Saudi Arabia, Iran, Sudan, Somalia, Afghanistan, Iraq, China, and others. Do we really want to be a member of such a club? The death penalty is a barbaric practice. We need to be led by the better angels of our nature and become an example of how an enlightened democracy treats even the most base and vile of its citizens. To all you Christians out there I ask, who would Jesus execute?
9.29.10 / 8pm
When the blood stops boiling, stop and think, is the taking of a human life, for taking a human life, the right thing to do.
I cant think of a worse punishment than spending the rest of my life in a prison cell, deprived of everything we hold dear, our self fulfillment and freedom.
You can tell the person walking down the street is a Texan, he holds a gun in one hand and the noose in the other. Can there be a better description of one who has no mercy in his heart.
9.29.10 / 8pm
When the blood stops boiling, stop and think, is the taking of a human life, for taking a human life, the right thing to do. I cant think of a worse punishment than spending the rest of my life confined in a prison cell, deprived of everything we hold dear, our freedom.
9.30.10 / 11pm
YES!!! PLEASE BRING BACK CAPITAL PUNISHMENT!! Capital punishment should be served to recidivist offenders such as Thomas Keir & Lloyd Fletcher, and other guys who are just the same. Keeping these monsters off the street so they dont kill anymore people is costing tax-payers money, plus why should they be alive after taking the lives they did, especially Lloyd Fletcher, who was on parole when he attacked, which is why I don’t agree with parole, if you do the crime, you do the time, if you take a life, you should lose yours.
10.1.10 / 4pm
Some of the ‘pro’ comments here sicken and sadden me. They are either from the uninformed or most likely from the vindictive cruel and callous mob. All the ‘pro’ people in America should get together with the archaic muslim states (the only others who also believe in state-murder) and form a “league of nations” kind of brotherhood – yes, I refer to your so called ‘enemy pariah states’ such as Iran, North Korea…”birds of a feather, flock together” It is no wonder America has so many enemies around the world- undoubtedly due to its the blatant double-standards. The US could and should be the ‘leading light’ of the world but choses instead to be the revenge-filled spoilt-brat supporter of Capital Punishment.
10.1.10 / 4pm
There is nothing more cruel than executing an innocent person. All you ‘pros’ put yourselves in the position of facing execution as innocents.Just imagine it! Scary eh? It is a known fact that countless innocents and mentally ill patients have been executed. Is it worth it? Not if it was you or your loved ones in their place, I bet. Two wrongs never make a right and revenge – which is what capital punishment is – can never bring back the victims. Lock up the criminals for ever and make them work their butts off to repay society by all means, but don’t stoop to their level with cold-blooded murder desguised as state execution.
10.1.10 / 9pm
I’m all for capital punishment, and yes if it was my son/father/ brother/ mate/ mother/sister, anyone i knew I’d still support it. capital punishment stopped being used in Australia in 1984, but our technology had only advanced enough and started being used in 1989 when the federal government and several states and territories begin developing regulatory standards for DNA collection and handling procedures. Because so many people are so close minded when it comes to capital punishment people like Lloyd Fletcher are free to roam the streets on parole, parole doesnt stop sick and twisted ppl from commiting acts of filth. do your research, capital punishment should be served to recidivist offenders, why should we be scared of being raped and murdered by recidivist offenders who are out on parole instead of killed by capital punishment simply because you dont like capital punishment? BRIG BACK CAPITAL PUNISHMENT!!
10.1.10 / 10pm
Today technology is so much more advanced I think everywhere in Australia atleast should adopt California’s 3 strikes and you’re out! rule, how can anyone disagree wit that? you rape or/and murder 3 times, you’re out, simple, i love it, you all say its wrong to take a human life, and that response makes my blood boil, ur basically saying its ok for repeat offenders to go out and rape and murder and not have their life taken, after what they’ve done. your thoughts are disgusting. if a serial rapist, murderer, pedophile is alive, they shouldnt be, its not fair on the people who have to be scared and worried bout them iving right next door.
10.1.10 / 10pm
If life in prison is worse than the death penalty, then I think we should be merciful and execute cold-blooded killers.
10.18.10 / 1pm
but as every one is a person and you don’t think that some members of authority does not set certain people up for a fall, that is why it is un safe to bring it back. and you were right about the fact that if you killed the murderer then you could have prevented a killing same can be said when wee abolished the death penalty, wee prevented thousands of them by doing so… think!
10.18.10 / 1pm
so if you carry out the death penalty then you are saying the family’s of the person you killed should have there right to call upon the death penalty for you! as killing is killing, define murder, the taking of an other mans life, wich is the case for the executioner whom carry’s out the death penalty!
10.19.10 / 3am
Possibly 25 actual innocents have been released from US death row since 1973.
The 130 (now 139) death row “innocents” scam
http://homicidesurvivors.com/2009/03/04/fact-checking-issues-on-innocence-and-the-death-penalty.aspx
11.4.10 / 10pm
who cares how much it costs, do you think that maybe execution days take so long coz there are people who do criminal psychology, they study the minds of serial killers, serial rapists and Paedophiles, and what safer place to study them then in a place where theyre watched by guards?Serial killers and serial rapists are sick, literally, they cant help themselves, they have to do it, and let those people out on “parole” is too dangerous, those people are equivelent to a blooded dog, a blooded dog will get put down, so why not execute these people, put them outta their misery. so many people would still be alive, so many families would not have been destroyed, every place in a country so lucky to be free would not have everyone living in fear, children could go out and play without parets panicking with every right to be paranoid about them losing their child, their miracle from God. because of these killers that most people seem to want on the streets it seems better to have a miscarriage, or a still-born simply because the loving bond you get between a parent and child is viciously taken away
11.8.10 / 8pm
All credits must always equal all debits. Otherwise the amount involved gets written off to bad debts expense. That account is then cleared against our equity account called QOL (Quality of Life). The 8th amendment is the only problem with the death penalty. Without the 8th we could tax the death penalty with so many hundred lashes pulling blood and then slosh a nice brine wash. Would 25K murders per year drop to 250 or less in a hurry?
11.8.10 / 8pm
Killers commit murder under the jurisdiction of Newton’s 2nd law of motion according to hischool 9th grade physics. The state is compelled by laws of 9th grade physics to kill the killer but under the jurisdiction of Newton’s 3rd law of motion; reaction equals action in the opposite direction. Humans cannot ignore or violate those laws of nature. If we do anyway, nature imposes a tax on us called the tax of chaos. We now have chaos thought not as much as in that place called Mexico.
11.9.10 / 6am
To any quoting “Thou shalt not kill”, consider Romans 13:1-2. “(1) Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. (2) Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.”
Rather useful part of the bible, that.
11.11.10 / 2am
Let me comment on a quote with another quote.
“If we believe that murder is wrong and not admissible in our society, then it has to be wrong for everyone, not just individuals but governments as well.” -Helen Prejean
11.11.10 / 6pm
Rory:
Neither biblically nor rationally are execution and murder remotely alike. Morally, most of us know the different foundations for crime and for punishment and the differences between the victim and the criminal.
Prejean makes them all equal in an amoral mass.
“Killing equals Killing: The Amoral Confusion of Death Penalty Opponents”
http://homicidesurvivors.com/2009/02/01/murder-and-execution–very-distinct-moral-differences–new-mexico.aspx
11.21.10 / 12am
I believe they should hang people for selling Crystal Meth also I had a sister that was murdered and it completely ruined my life and family even though my wife stuck with me for many years it came a time when I even lost her and I beleive it was because of the ways that I changed after my sisters death.
11.21.10 / 10pm
this is why capital punishment should never have been taken away.
Michael, do you mind me asking what justice was served for who killed your sister?
yer I agree people who manufacture and distribute hard-core drugs should also get the death penalty, hard-core drugs like that lead those junkies to murder just for another hit
Unknown Feed
163 Comments
Jump to comment form | comment rss [?] | trackback uri [?]