This Is Why We Must Have The Death Penalty

I have read all of the posts on this topic, and I agree with the points that Joseph M. Smith and npc made about the human element that is inevitably connected to the process of capital punishment. This human element is not just connected to the commission of the crime. It is connected to every aspect of the process: the crime, its investigation, the arrest, jury selection, the trial, the prosecution, the defense, the judge, the verdict, the determination of the sentence, the appeal process, the execution.

It is well-documented that abuses are committed and mistakes are made in every stage of this process. Some are accidental, some are deliberate. I refer you to the situation in Illinois a few years ago. A student project (connected to Northwestern University, I think) secured the releases of about a dozen death row inmates based on new evidence that proved their innocence. Several of these cases involved inadequate defense, prosecutorial misconduct, or police misconduct. The response of the out-going governor was to commute the death sentences of over 100 inmates because he could not be sure that some of them were wrongfully convicted.

The arguments about the death penalty being effective and its being a deterrant are still open to debate. But the propensity of human beings to make mistakes or to commit abuses in their own self-interest, is indisputable. Because of that I am absolutely opposed to capital punishment. I know many of you are just waiting to ask me for biblical references to back up my position. I refer you to any passage that affirms the sinfulness of humanity. We are all guilty in God's sight. For that very reason, we cannot justify our fitness to execute an absolute, irreversible punishment such as death.


Tim Reynolds

 

3-page warning: This thread will be closed no sooner than 5:15 a.m. ET by one of the moderators.

Lady Eagle

 

I would still like to hear from anyone whether or not shortening the appeals process would be worth over a hundred innocent people being executed just to more quickly kill a few thousand guilty persons.

It's not a hypothetical argument; because of the interminiable appeals process, over a hundred innocent persons condemned to die, were saved when new evidence cleard them (since the death penalty was reinstated)

In some cases, the evidence showed up decades later.

Who says this is worth it? Remember, this is not about banning capital punishment, it's about allowing the appeals process to drag on long enough to let the innocent not be executed. Good idea or not?

Anyone?

 

Closed per previous warning. LE

PS: Galatian, you can start another thread for your question in the politics forum. Thanks.