Originally Posted by
-:Undertaker:-
Ah right, so thats ok then? surely if thats the case, the chances of finding that somebody had been executed under false evidence would also be as equally the same thus making your point void?
Incorrect. The difference is if someone hasn't been found to be innocent after 30 years in jail, then something has gone horribly wrong. The chances of finding someone is innocent after a short amount of time (eg. giving them the death penalty) is much higher.
The chances of innocent people being sent to death is also minuscule.
But higher.
But if death as a punishment/a means of punishment is wrong, shouldn't the soldier be given the same compassion? see, the difference between death in war and the death penalty is stark; with the death penalty you have trial by jury, innocent until proven guilty, the right of appeal and a humane method of execution.
So anybody who really didn't believe in execution wouldn't support war under any circumstances nor would they support abortion or euthanasia, which I have a deep suspicion you yourself do support.
No. As a soldier you are being paid to kill the enemy - that is your job, you know the risk is that your enemy will beat you to it.
Also, that is not really true. I support abortion is the sense that I would far rather a fetus that is barely there be killed before they are born, if their mother clearly doesn't want them. It is better to kill it when it doesn't really have feelings, than to let it be born and have parents who do not want it - making the life of the child unpleasant. Also, with euthanasia, people are not being sentenced to death. People have the right do die in countries where euthanasia is legal - if someone wants to die due to a terminal illness and wants to go with respect - then so be it. But no one chooses to die via the death penalty - so again it is a different argument really.
Er no it wouldn't actually, we were far more civilised when we had the death penalty than we are now. Britain in general - did we have ***** falling over in the streets at 2am? no. Did we have thousands of babies every year terminated on the basis of 'they are not wanted'? no. Did we have more civil liberties back when the death penalty was about? yes. Did pensioners and the public at large live in fear of organised and loutish crime day in, day out? no. Did the Police command respect? yes. Did people have faith in the justice system? yes, they did. I could go on but we'd be here some time.
You can tell you rape tabloids. A lot of journalese used in tabloids. Also, your argument over the babies - that is because abortion didn't really exist? If someone has accidently fallen pregnant (hey, they might have even been raped), is it not better for the fetus to be killed before it has really developed feelings than have it born in to a family where it isn't wanted? Just like in the animal world where young animals are born but are rejected by their mothers - is it not better for the fetus to be killed when it isn't fully developed etc?
So the 'its not civilised' argument really doesn't stack up if you really have a think about it - especially when the death penalty would have with it; trial by jury, innocent until proven guilty, the right of appeal. What has made us civilised as a country are these values.
Alright time for another argument, although I personally believe it isn't totally civilised. How on earth can we teach that killing is wrong by killing - I mean surely that is totally contradictory? Also it is fact that in states with the death penalty in the US there is a higher murder rate than in states without the death penalty. So this would beg the question; does the death penalty really deter people?
So the debate really is, is the death penalty worthy as the ultimate punishment?