The death penalty has long been a controversial issue in the US, and it's back in the news again. The federal/national government still uses it, but several states do not. Michigan, where I live, does not have the death penalty, though it's come down to close votes several times in the past decade. This means that crimes committed in Michigan cannot carry the death penalty unless tried in a federal court under federal law.

Is a death sentence allowed in the other countries represented here? Regardless of what country you're from, what are your thoughts on it?

Personally, I've always been against the death penalty. Much of that has to do with my religious beliefs. If someone is killed, they lose the opportunity to repent. Granted, many wouldn't even given the extra time, but I'm all for giving people as much opportunity as possible.

Also, on the non-religious side, there's some wisdom from Tolkien, who's character of Gandalf said of Golem, "Pity? It was pity that stayed Bilbo's hand. Many that live deserve death, and some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them, Frodo?" Even the seemingly worst of people can have something good left to do in their lives, as did Golem in Lord of the Rings. Even with evil intent, evil may betray itself and do good.

On a completely pragmatic note, putting someone on death row in the US costs more to taxpayers than life imprisonment. This is due to the law that states that those who are sentenced to death can appeal their sentence an unlimited number of times, and actually requires a certain amount of appeals. These appeals, which involve all the costs of running a court trial, end up costing far more than keeping someone imprisoned. Plus the cost of keeping that person in a high security prison for a minimum 20 year wait period before they can be executed.

I will say exactly one thing... if you're going to begin making all these political topics, be prepared for them to be closed at a moments notice. Most political debates that have occured on these boards ended up being deleted because it got so out of hand.

To prevent this, be mature about your posting. If you are arguing a point opposite of somebody else, READ through your post before clicking add reply, and make sure nothing offensive will be said.

you have a good point on giving them many oportunities. But most people charged with the death penalty do deserve it. Im all for it, I believe it should be "eye for an eye" kinda thing. You kill you get shot. That kind of thing. But when I really think about it, I know in the end it wouldn't work out, because there are all those people in the world that think the way you do. And it's not a bad thing at all.

But on the other hand, like you said, alot of people do deserve to die...like the presiden (again, my opinion...maybe tons others) And the man who killed JKF, Hunt was his last name, but I dont know his first.

But I really think there should be a death penalty, or prisons should be more stricked, because I dont want to have to pay taxes for a prisoner in jail while he's being educated. I mean they get to go to college for frekin free, were paying for it. The perfect prison would have them chained up and fed only enough to survive. And they would be labord to death, that would teach them their lessons.

Anyone agree? lol I know, im kinda evil heheh...but it's true

The death penalty is a very barbaric thing, And thus im happy its not in the UK anymore. What gives the american government, or any individual the right to dole out death? i thought we were trying to move ahead in the times, not backward.

Ive always been against the death penalty, some people who kill/rape and other things deserve nothing less than a life sentance in solitary confinement, Screw prison, put them in a padded room with 2 meals a day a toilet, and a water source. This would be a far worse punishment than death. And when you say life imprisonment actually mean it.

on a lighter note, if they must have a death penalty, put them in a room with this guy :ton: when you hear the *DOINK* its time to get the corpse.

Australia has nothing like that, we are the kind of country that lets pedafiles live near schools and rapists work in I don't know teenage modelling agencys, but you get the point.

I don't think the death penalty is necessary in Australia but that doesn't mean Im against it. I don't really care if a criminal dies because he murdered someone. If someone came and killed my brother, yes I would want them to die.

Life imprisonment on the otherhand is just as good. If only, just as Stephen said, it stayed that way. What really makes me mad is the fact that a person can rape someone or muder someone and they get a 20 year sentence and don't serve the full term. Since when has killing someone been equivilent to using drugs.... if the punishments the same then it would seem people take these crimes more lightly and more likely to do them.

See I don't have a problem with the death penalty or life imprisonment if only they were used properly and life imprisonment actually meant being in prison for the remainder of their life.

Death Penalty needs to be amended.

First off, it costs slightly more to kill a person via lethal injection than it does to keep them in prison all their life. Second, the living quality in prisons is...far better than most low income families, something is very wrong here.

The solution? Lose lethal injections, take up the firing squad again.

The method of killing isn't where the cost is, it's all the appeals. And the cost is significantly higher, not just slightly. Especially when considering what Stephanie said about life terms rarely being actual life terms (true in the US as well).

Most prisons around here have modified the "perks" prisoners get. For instance, there's no more tv or internet access or even computers. They get to read books, exercise or type on a typewriter (if they can afford to purchase one and find someplace that will sell them one). And people in low income housing have far, far more freedom than prisoners. The comparison between low income housing and prison is an old argument that never held water to begin with. I know people who have been in both situations and prison is, by far, the worse of the two.

I'm for the death penalty. If someone killed or hurt a loved one, I would want them to die, not pay for their living expenses with my tax dollars while they are in prison in the US where they might actually be given a chanced to be released. As these scum are in prison, people in prison for lesser crimes often come out worse than before they were imprisoned, simply just by living in the same building or cell and learning from these scum.

Did you know a lot of child molesters in prison get killed by other prisoners? The reason why is because a high percentage of prisoners were molested as children. So lets stop the chain.

I say get rid of all the murderers, rapists, and child molesters, good riddance.

I agree, but we should do that by locking them away, not by killing them.

First of all, how can you be sure that the one that's going to get the death penalty was the murderer/rapist/whatever? What if something went wrong in the investigation and you find out you just killed an innocent man? Explain that to the family.

Second, I think it's a far worse punishment to live the rest of your life without a future, knowing you'll spend it in jail. All you can do is think about your life and what you've done. That opposed to the death penalty, which is actually an escape. You die, and no more worries about what you've done, because you're dead and it's no longer your business.

That's why I'm against death penalty. Like SG said, what gives us the right to decide between life and death?

I'm talking about the death penalty for undeniable proof, often with genetic proof and witnesses.


Psychopaths often do not care if they live out their lives in jail as they do not think as regular people, and lack emotion. Psychopaths still kill and rape other prisoners while serving their life sentences. Your point may only be valid (maybe) if the criminal is a reasonable human being. A lot of killers and rapists are not and fall under the category psychopaths. I don't feel or see in anyway that as justice. I don't find it justice just to lock up someone after they could have killed or hurt a loved one, (or me) because I would not have or feel peace until justice (the death penalty) is served. That is human nature. Why do you now see more vigilantes popping up everywhere? Because society is being unrealistic to human nature until something bad happens to them specifically. So more and more people everyday is going to take the law into their own hands.

Life, survival, human nature, evolution, good vs evil etc. on and on.. A big part of wanting to get rid of the evil people that hurt loved ones is built into everyone, and is a part of human survival and evolution... and it will be the same a thousand years from now. This whole recent "I'm against the death penalty" is just a pc fad started by a group of people that will fad away over time. I bet if sh*t hits the fan, real human nature kicks in and most people who is against the death penalty will sing a different tune.

Hey yeah just for something a little different, have you seen the chopper reid ad for rapists? Its pretty scary because It's probably true.

Heres a link...

Chopper Ad


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How do you tell who's a phsyco and who's not I mean really, who knew those kids who go and shoot up schools would do that. I'm sure a lot of their families are hoping they would get the death penalty if they didnt kill themselves after it, because their kids are now dead and its happening all time so really how can you tell. So just punish all who do bad because whether you have killed one person or 20 its still murder anyway you look at it.

No, Firstly the saying "two wrongs dont make a right" is the best way to explain this. Ive always been against the death penalty, Allowing the death penalty is pretty much giving someone the power of the grim reaper. The death penalty is wrong, and will always be wrong. Im not a religious person, but killing someone is never the answer. Far too many countries have the Kill now ask questions later policy, and its bullshit in my opinion.

Believing that death isnt the answer isnt a simple fad, Its good morales, And we evolved for a reason, So why are we still killing our fellow man? if we are killing then we might as well take away our technology, because i dont think we deserve it.

Alot of people are pushed to murder (i know this isnt the case all the time, some people are just psychos) by the world in the state it is in today. Now stop me if its wrong, but i believe live deaths are shown on TV over in the states? well thats just messed up.

I don't see it as wrong, just because you believe its wrong doesn't make it so. I see it as justice served. Once again if someone killed/hurt my loved ones or me, I want that person to die, just like most humans on the planet.

Actually the only reason for a organism to evolved is to survive. That's why getting rid of evil people is also apart of human evolution, it is built in humans to increase survival rates. Humans will consciously and subconsciously always have this instinct and most people will act upon it when necessary and/or possible.

Don't you know everybody in here who play video games is subconsciously acting out the same instinct? What do you do when you fight the bad guys? You eagerly kill them to save the village/town/people/. After you kill/defeat the bad guys you feel good about yourself. That's pure instinct under the disguise of entertainment.

Murderers, rapists, and child molesters are not my fellow man, maybe they are yours.(I hope not) I see them as monsters that prey on society, and monsters should be extinguished.

Why should we take away our technology? Technology help to improve the lives of good people. Technology can help make the world a better and more safe place to live in.

Please stop, because that is false.

Ok firstly, not seeing it as a wrong makes you a murderer. the death penalty is just acceptable murder, thats what it is simple as, You can dress it up as you like but at the end of the day your killing someone, and murdering them.

We evolved to be a better people, not to simply kill those who we cant handle. The reasons we have the death penalty is because prisons are too full, Half the time when the death penalty is used, its not even on the worst people. I play video games for fun, not for defeating evil. I play it simply because i enjoy a good story. I dont get manipulated that way, and i doubt many people do.

Yes everyone is my fellow man. Just remember these people were manufactured by todays culture, yes you cant blame anything as a singular for murder/rape etc but as a whole, it is the culture of today that causes it. Maybe instead of spending so much money on the death penalty, they could spend it on something more constructive? just to be clear here, i dont blame video games on murder before you bring it up, But i do blame it on the "LETS GO TO WAR" propoganda.

Yes technology is helping us live good lives, but if we are as a barbaric as to kill with such reckless abandon, then we dont have need for it, We should instead live in caves with clubs.

I fully agree with SG. You are just as much a murderer as the one who murdered your loved ones if you kill that person/have him killed. Have you forgotten that that person might have people that care about him as well?
"Yeah but he killed someone, so that doesn't matter." Maybe he's a psycho? Maybe he doesn't know the consequences of his act, can't tell right from wrong? There are always people who care about this person, and taking him away from them, because he did something he wasn't aware of, just because you'll feel better, is that justice?

And about that evolution thing...what you're talking about is natural selection, "survival of the fittest". You say that only the right people should be allowed to continue living? Let me generalise for a moment here; Hitler was thinking the same thing(even though he used in a bad way).

And the video games...Like SG, I play them because of the feeling of getting drawn into the story, not because I want to kill some sick psycho.

I'm for the death penalty. I do not believe it is right but it is productive and effective.

Though there's far more I could comment on here, I think I've probably already said more than enough, lol. One more thing, if you'll excuse me. Mainly to clarify something and point out why a certain analogy used doesn't work.

The violence depicted in most video games is that of people who are fighting wars. War is quite a bit different, as you're up against an enemy who can go on the offensive. An unarmed prisoner in jail is a far cry from an armed soldier on a battlefield. I'm not at all against killing someone if it's in defense of myself or others in order stop the immediate threat caused by said person. I am against slaughtering someone who is defenseless because of what they did in the past with there being slim to no chance of them being able to repeat the crime.

Oh, and Aztec, could you please elaborate on how it's productive? Effective I can easily see, but I'm not seeing the productivity of it, lol.

OK one at a time...

Stephen if you believe anyone who support the death penalty makes them a murderer, that is your opinion, but I don't see at all that way. I see it as justice being served, and the right thing to do to scum as murderers, rapists, and child molesters. To hold justice away from the surviving family and the victim is what is wrong. I know how I would feel if someone killed/hurt a loved one or me, and I would have no peace until justice is served (death penalty for the mentioned scum). I doubt we have the death penalty because prisons are full, the reason being since the death penalty has always existed in one form or another in countries and ancient times for thousands of years.

I didn't say people only evolved to simply kill people, you are twisting my words. I said the only reason for organisms to evolve is to survive, and it happens that exterminating evil individuals that harm loved ones is A Part of human evolution (I didn't said it is the only thing). That is the truth. Exterminating harmful individuals increases the survival rates of loved ones.

You may consciously think you are playing video games for fun which is true to a extent, but it is also to satisfy the old subconscious human instinct that have been around since the ancient human ancestors. The reason I say "subconscious" because people don't know/realize WHY they find video games fun. If you do your research in history, in almost every culture that ever existed, the most favorite games with children/adults were being a soldier, swordsman, knight, wizard, hero etc, fighting against the enemy, evil people and evil forces. Which usually ends with them saving the village/town/country/people. This has not change at all, it just have a different cover, which is video games.

If you consider murderers, rapists, and child molesters to be your fellow man, hey that is YOUR choice, real nice group of people you got there. BUT they will never be my fellow man, they're monsters.

I am going to be realistic. If a murderer killed a loved one, I am not going to think about making the murderer's family feel better. I doubt most people would either. I would not care if the murderer could not tell right from wrong, and if that is the case, sending the murderer to prison is not going to help him since he is a psychopath. Why send him to prison where he can live, and pollute the prisoners locked up for lesser crimes, making them more dangerous when they are released then what they were before being sent to prison?

Hitler was a murdering psychopath of the worst kind who deserved the death penalty if he didn't already killed himself. What he believed in is TOTALLY different from what I'm talking about.

Natural selection is only a part of human evolution, which also includes natural instincts, genes, mutations, nurture, and enviroment.

I believe any other point you wrote similar to Stephen's is responded to in the above response to Stephen.

I actually think a life sentance should be hell, one meal a day, with dirty mudy water, and there in a dark cold damp place, with a small matres in the middle of the room, with no toilet. (they get to use the prison bathroom once a day) And there food is basically shit on a plate, That would be the best think for them. Instead of letting them roam freely around the prison.