If you don't believe in the death penalty, this should change your mind.

[The Ghost of RubangB]

Tyrannical said:

The Ghost of RubangB said:
The OP didn't change my mind.

My whole argument against the death penalty is really short. I posted this in an abortion thread on Valentine's Day:


The death penalty costs way too much money. There are 2 ways to lower the costs: abolish the death penalty entirely, which will save tons of money (good) and never accidentally kill an innocent person again (very good), or allow for speedier executions with fewer appeals, which will save money (good), but leads to more accidental executions of the innocent (very bad).

So, if there was 100% certainty you wouldn't have a problem with it?

 

TheRealMafoo said:

The Ghost of RubangB said:
   "                                     "

What if you could eliminate the accidental execution of the innocent?

(for example, in this case there is no way to dispute what he did)

I still don't think a government should have the power to kill.  I think all murders should be against the law, no matter the reason and no matter the killer.  I want criminals and governments to follow the same law: no murders, no executions, no torture.

I think the only time we should legally be allowed to kill is in defense of self or others.

I think in this case it is 100% guaranteed the man is guilty of one of the most horrible crimes, but I still don't want to allow the government to kill him.  When we allow the government to kill, they might get some right, like with this nutjob and people like him, but there is no way to be 100% sure with every single criminal ever (outside of 1984 thoughtcrime magic or reading people's dreams).  If there's even a chance we can accidentally kill one innocent person, I am against the death penalty.

But even if we had magic powers to be right every time, I would be against the death penalty.  I don't think governments should have separate laws than their civilians.  They get better health care and the right to murder?  Bullshit if you ask me.

 

Has anybody here seen The Thin Blue Line?  Governments can have agendas and want revenge kills, even if the person is completely innocent and has no record of any crime whatsoever.  All they need is the bullshit testimony of the real killer, and an "oh no what if he's gay?"  They just want to make an example of people.