Quote:
Originally Posted by Zero Signal
So you are telling me that it costs over half a million dollars to execute someone? Bullshit.
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Zero, I'm afraid it's not bullshit at all. It's mostly because of all the court appeals and fees and whatnot. Lot of red tape.
Check out any of these links for more info. It's the sad truth that killing someone within the confines of our legal system costs more than providing for their well-being for a lifetime:
http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/arti...did=108&scid=7
http://www.amnestyusa.org/abolish/cost.html
http://www.thenation.com/deathrow/
http://www.bushkills.com/facts.html
http://www.vadp.org/info.htm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Immortal Goat
My thing is that people are always saying that prison is worse for the prisoner because they have to live with what they did. That is complete bull. In the case of serial killers and just plain psychos, they HAVE no concience, and therefor, they will NOT feel guilty about their choices.
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Prison isn't solely about rehabilitation, it's also about punishment. You're right, some people just
can't be rehabilitated. Several studies have shown (and I'll be glad to dig up data, if you like, I'm just recalling stuff from my criminology class right now) that the death penalty is NOT a deterrent to violent crime at all.
Consider this: most murders are crimes of passion. Ergo, the murderer killed quickly, in the heat of anger or hate or whatever powerful emotion drove them to it, without forethought or planning. The consequences of one's actions are not even considered in such instances. Most of the rest are murders that were premeditated, and those are often done by pyschotic individuals who have no regard for human life at all, including their own. They are not afraid of death, in fact, many of them desire it, but are unwilling to act out their wishes for whatever reason. Have you ever heard of the "suicide by cop" phenomenon?
So, so far we have A) the death penalty is more expensive and B) the death penalty is not an effective deterrent to violent crime.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Immortal Goat
I think, personally, that the death penalty should be the same as whatever the killer did to his victims. If a person killed someone by cementing their feet and dropping them in a river, then their punishment should be to be drowned. I know that seems like "cruel and unusual punishment", but we are TOO LENIENT on prsoners nowadays, and the killers didn't seem to think that it was "cruel and unusual" when they did it to other people.
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Personally, I find "an eye for an eye" to be a bit too savage for my taste. What does that say about our supposedly "civilized" society, when we endorse murder sanctioned under the law?
It is pretty much agreed upon that innocent people have been put to death in this country for crimes they did not commit. A falsely convicted person's prison term can be overturned, and while the innocent person's time will be gone forever, at least they will have their life. You can't correct such a wrong if new evidence comes to light and the person is already dead. Is it really worth it? How many innocent people put to death is too many? For me, that answer is simple.
One.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Immortal Goat
Prison is not punishment. They get 3 square meals a day, they have recreational activities every day, and they have cable. If it weren't for the fact that a lot of them got corn-holed every day they probably wouldn't view it as punishment, either.
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The way you talk, it almost sounds as if you wouldn't mind being there yourself. Would you like to go to prison? If you could sign up for a "prisoner exchange program" of some sort, would you? I guaranfuckingtee you that if you were in prison, you would feel like it was ample punishment. Think about the freedom you have that is so easy to take for granted. And then try to imagine not having it. I'm not sympathizing with criminals here, they get their just desserts, but I think prison is a pretty fitting punishment. I doubt you'll find many prisoners who consider it a "Fun Slumber Camp of Jollies".
Quote:
Originally Posted by Immortal Goat
That shit about it costing more to kill a prisoner than to keep them alive, I don't know what your sources are, but get new ones. Over half a million dollars to keep ONE prisoner alive, or half a million dollars to send electricity through the bodies of a LOT MORE. I would rather spend the same amount of money an killing a lot of those scumbags than keep one single killer alive.
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Incorrect. Check my links above and you will see otherwise. I think I have posted enough sources to illustrate the point with credibility.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Immortal Goat
Live and let live; Kill and be killed. Simple as that.
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Careful. Now you're just sounding like Vince in that last part.