The Tide Shifting Against the Death Penalty

[Crabtownboy]

Death penalty opponents say the use of DNA evidence, which has led to a number of prisoners being released from death row, is a big part of the reason for the decline in executions generally. "That's had a ripple effect," says Richard Dieter of the Death Penalty Information Center, a Washington-based advocacy group. "The whole legal system has become more cautious about the death penalty. Prosecutors are not seeking it as much. Juries are returning more life sentences. And judges are granting more stays of execution. Last year there were over 40."

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1876397,00.html

 

[Magnetic Poles]

It is time that our nation join the civilized world by getting out of the business of executions. The article is correct...DNA evidence has shown just how often we wrongly put people on death row. Besides, I think life in prison at hard labor is more punishment than killing someone.

 

[Revmitchell]

The Death Penalty is the epitome of civilized.

 

[Magnetic Poles]

The Death Penalty is the epitome of civilized.

Hardy! We are in sad company. Mainly like the Islamic countries and China.



Blue - Abolished for all crimes
Green - Abolished for crimes not committed in exceptional circumstances (such as crimes committed in time of war)
Orange - Abolished in practice
Pink - Legal form of punishment

 

[Revmitchell]

Hardy! We are in sad company. Mainly like the Islamic countries and China.



Blue - Abolished for all crimes
Green - Abolished for crimes not committed in exceptional circumstances (such as crimes committed in time of war)
Orange - Abolished in practice
Pink - Legal form of punishment

And?..........

 

[SBCPreacher]

I don't think eliminating the death penalty is the answer. The punishment isn't the problem (in my humble but accurate opinion). The answer is more stringent evidence in death penalty cases, being sure the real murderers are convicted and punished for their crimes.

 

[Andy T.]

It saddens me to see people more concerned about the supposed immorality of the death penalty, but show little or no concern for the millions of innocents taken out by abortion.

 

[Magnetic Poles]

It saddens me to see people more concerned about the supposed immorality of the death penalty, but show little or no concern for the millions of innocents taken out by abortion.

This is not an abortion thread. Please stay on topic. There are plenty of threads on that.

 

[Revmitchell]

I don't think eliminating the death penalty is the answer. The punishment isn't the problem (in my humble but accurate opinion). The answer is more stringent evidence in death penalty cases, being sure the real murderers are convicted and punished for their crimes.

Truth is even if there were no problems with the death penalty they would still oppose it.

 

[matt wade]

OK, first let's get this out of the way. I hate abortion. Abortion is evil. If I had to make the horrible decision and choose one or the other, I would choose for our country to engage in the death penalty rather than abortion. My previous posts on abortion reflect this view. Let's not debate abortion.

Now, on with the subject. I'm pro-life. That means all life. I don't think it is my job or the governments job to decide when God is done with somebody. Criminals should be punished and punished severely. More life sentences should be given and they should be given for crimes where lighter sentences are currently given. I think time in prison should not be nearly as easy as it is now. I don't believe that prisoners should have access to any computers, tvs, games, work out equipment, etc. Criminals have it far too easy.

I go back to my point that I don't believe I should decide when God is done with someone. David Berkowitz, aka "Son of Sam", is a perfect example why the death penalty should not be used. David Berkowitz certainly is guilty of his crimes. He openly admits it. After spending 8 years in prison he was born again and now is a great influence for God in the prison system. Who am I to deny God glory? Who am I to say that someone is beyond hope and won't come to salvation?

 

[Bro. Curtis]

Why can't we talk about abortion ? It's a life issue.

The death penalty is biblical, like it or not. It doesn't surprise me, at all that the rest of the world is pulling away from it.

 

[Andy T.]

Matt Wade, while I disagree with you on capital punishment, I certainly respect your consistency and your thoughtfulness on the issue. What I cannot stomach are those who are pro-abortion but are anti-death penalty, or those who give lip service to being against abortion but are far more concerned about the death penalty. I cannot think of a more wicked inconsistency than that.

 

[Crabtownboy]

To be anti-abortion but pro capital punishment is as contridictory as the other way around. If you are pro-life then be pro-life. Don't be pro-life in one area and pro-death in another. It is always interesting to me how many anti-abortion people love the babies, but hate people once they are adults and do not agree with them. Totally a contridiction.

DNA has shown we have put people to death who are innocent and DNA has freed a fair number of innocent people from death row. Should we not celebrate their being saved from death?

 

[matt wade]

Matt Wade, while I disagree with you on capital punishment, I certainly respect your consistency and your thoughtfulness on the issue. What I cannot stomach are those who are pro-abortion but are anti-death penalty, or those who give lip service to being against abortion but are far more concerned about the death penalty. I cannot think of a more wicked inconsistency than that.

We agree on that point. Like I said, I'm pro-life. That doesn't mean just unborn children, or born again believers. It means pro-all-life-created-by-God.

If I lived in Saul's time, my carnal nature would have wanted Saul done away with. He committed horrible crimes against Christians of the day. I'm sure glad that God has a greater purpose and that Saul became Paul.

 

[Bro. Curtis]

Paul was put to death.

And before anyone brings up the adulteress that Christ spared, remember the Jews were under Roman control at the time, they had no authority to stone her. And even if they did, the Jews never brought the man involved with her, and it was required that he be stoned as well. Jesus stopped a lynch mob, if you will.

 

[matt wade]

Paul was put to death.

Interesting that you bring this up. So, do you believe Paul was put to death justly? It would seem that his execution is an argument against against the death penalty, not for it!

 

[Bro. Curtis]

And I disagree with the admonishment that we have to be against the death penalty, if we are against abortion. The fetus is innocent of anything. The bible doesn't tell us to put innocent life to death.

 

[Bro. Curtis]

Interesting that you bring this up. So, do you believe Paul was put to death justly? It would seem that his execution is an argument against against the death penalty, not for it!

Nope. Just putting up facts'.......You said he was spared, but he wasn't.

 

[Revmitchell]

To be anti-abortion but pro capital punishment is as contridictory as the other way around.

One has nothing to do with the other. Apples and refrigerators.

 

[Crabtownboy]

And I disagree with the admonishment that we have to be against the death penalty, if we are against abortion. The fetus is innocent of anything. The bible doesn't tell us to put innocent life to death.

So you are for the death penality even though you know that innocent people will die. Why are you not interested in their innocence? Isn't a life sentence also a death sentence?