Saidin

Having no belief in Gods myself, I was wondering how other non-believers perceive the death penalty. The basic Eye for an Eye foundation of this form of punishment smacks of biblical justice.

Personally, I find the death penalty barbaric, a very crude punishment that should be outlawed in an enlightened society.

Other thoughts?

Kvalhion

First of all, welcome to the II.

It is a fact that punishment does not prevent bad behavior. The more harsh the punishment, the less effect it has as an effective detterant. Obviously the death penalty is about as tough as you can get in regards to punishment, yet crimes that qualify for the death penalty continue to happen.

To be blunt, killing people for killing people is not going to prevent people killing people. There are obviously other factors at work that cannot simply be wished away by harsh threats of punishment.

I used to support the death penalty fully, and in some way I do. I believe that people who take other lives do not deserve to enjoy their life as well, especially when murder is premeditated.

However, I now believe that people who qualify for the death penalty actually have a debt to society, and that should be a debt for life. It is far more beneficial to jail these people and allow them to repay their debt through a variety of ways. Whether it making license plates, cleaning up trash, or doing some other services for the community, it benefits both parties involved.

The death penalty is more expensive than keeping criminals in jail, and killing them does little to act as a deterrant. Life in prison is nothing pleasant. Nor should it be. If anything, the roles prisoners play in helping out the community and society should be expanded upon.

I do not reject the death penalty as a cruel and unusual punishment. I just think that it is unnecessary and not beneficial to anyone involved.

[ May 17, 2002: Message edited by: Kvalhion ]</p>

tronvillain

Kvalhion:
It is certainly not a fact that punishment does not prevent bad behavior, and it does not follow that the more harsh the punishment the less effect it has as a deterent. If we started cutting off hands for shoplifting, I think we'd probably notice a very sharp decline in the rate of shoplifting.

While I am not necessarily opposed to the death penalty in principle, I don't think it's necessary and I don't think it's an effective deterent. It might be a little more effective if the sentence was carried out quickly or if people were tortured to death, but I don't think we want to resort to either of those measures.

Proxima Centauri

I thought I would give you all a link to show you what Amnesty International thinks about the death penalty in the United States.

<a href="http://www.amnesty-usa.org/rightsforall/dp/" target="_blank">http://www.amnesty-usa.org/rightsforall/dp/</a>

We used to have a death penalty in Britain. When we did too many innocent people were killed. We found out our mistakes later but couldn't bring them back to life.

Atheists and agnostics should be especially careful before taking away from a person the only life we are sure we have.

[ May 18, 2002: Message edited by: B.Shack ]</p>

Kvalhion

Would you really want to live in such a society? How would you like your hand cut off over a misunderstanding or mistake? How would you like your eyes gorged out for looking at a married woman?

The fact remains that we have made penalties more and more and more and more harsh and the behavior continues to exist. Why? Because it is part of human nature. This ties in very much with religion, who believe that certain acts are "sin", or against being human. That is fallacious. People, no matter what rules are in place, will still be jealous, violent, greedy, hateful, careless, etc, just as they will be generous, loving, caring, etc.

You simply cannot ignore other factors that cause people to commit crime. It is pretentious to say that our society is perfect where everyone is equal and nobody is lower or oppressed. Harsher penalties does not make this go away.

Like I said, I do not believe it is cruel or unusual punishment to put someone to death. I just think that it is not an effective deterrant, and that no one truly benefits. I would rather see criminals spend their lives paying back the family of those that they wronged. I would rather see them do their part for society, in exchange for continued life.

In the meantime, hopefully we will come to realize that brutally punishing people for what is often their own circumstance is foolish.

DemonSpawn

"An evil deed is not redeemed by an evil deed of retaliation. Justice is never advanced in the taking of human life. Morality is never upheld by legalized murder."


- Coretta Scott King

vixstile

I am opposed to the death penalty. I don't view the death penalty as murder, and I don't oppose the death penalty on a moral position of the value of life.

The institution of the corporal punishment, is an institution of revenge. I don't think the justice system of a civilized people should be based on the primitive emotion of revenge.

beachbum

Saidin

I have opposed the death penalty since I was about 15 years old and that is a long time, I am now 57. I have written a rather lengthy paper against the ceath penalty and would be glad to share it with you if you would like to read it.

Stan the author beachbum

Secular Elation

beachbum, I would like to see it as well.

I am also opposed to the death penalty.

The AntiChris

Sums up my feelings perfectly.

Chris