   "Tookie" executed.
  You know, I have to say, reading this story made me sick.  What really bothers me about the death penalty is that it is amazingly hypocritical and useless.Personally, I value life.  I'm not religious, but I still do not see ANY reason to take a life.  The way that I view it is that the threat of any future violence by the person in question is neutralized by them being in jail.  Why is state-sponsored murder necessary?If life is sacred enough to make murder a crime, then why is state-sponsored murder ok?  Why does revenge make it ok to take a life?  How deranged is it to cold-bloodedly be able to stick a needle into the arm of an imprisoned person and have some fluid end his life?It really makes me sick that a human being, a so called "righteous" human being, could commit murder because it is "legal."  Honestly, I find proponents of the death penalty to be as sick as regular murderers.  It has been shown that the death penalty does not deter crime.  It has been shown that the system is heavily flawed (i've seen statistics of around 1/5 of executed people turn out to be innocent).  Basically, it is revenge, pure and simple.  I don't see it as being any different then having someone commit a crime, and some hillbilly picking up a shotgun and going after the guy.It really amazes me that people can be so insensitive.  This is a LIFE.  One that doesn't need to be taken, and really the act does no good to anyone.  Is it really a problem to let him rot in jail, and write anti-gang literature for children?Every time I see in the news that someone is put to death, and read the gory details, it really makes me sick.  It really irks me that so many people are deranged enough to support this.  It reminds me of that practice where exotic animals are caged up and shipped to rich people, then drugged up and let loose for the rich person to shoot them and claim them as a trophy.  Good job, you've killed a caged lion.  Congratulations./rant   
  I'm fine with keeping them in jail, provided of course you personally are willing to pay the millions of dollars it costs for his food, clothes, the guards to watch him, his medical costs, etc.And could we keep the stupid phrases like "state sponsored murder" to a minimum, they make your argument less credible by showing just how biased you are.   ;Quote:Original post by ktuluorionIt has been shown that the death penalty does not deter crime.Sure it does.  You'll never see the same guy in the chair twice.;Quote:Original post by the_dannobotQuote:Original post by ktuluorionIt has been shown that the death penalty does not deter crime.Sure it does.  You'll never see the same guy in the chair twice.I hate posting in the Lounge, but I really did laugh out loud at my desk at work. That was great.   ;  It's also a matter of threat, the fear of death will deter some people from commiting such crimes (less about 'revenge').When someone is in jail for the rest of their life, they "are" dead... just a lot more expensive, and still a threat.I feel that only few few crimes should quantify death, but the looser the punishment, the less the deterrance.   ;Quote:Original post by Puzzler183I'm fine with keeping them in jail, provided of course you personally are willing to pay the millions of dollars it costs for his food, clothes, the guards to watch him, his medical costs, etc.And could we keep the stupid phrases like "state sponsored murder" to a minimum, they make your argument less credible by showing just how biased you are.Millions of dollars?  And yes, I would rather pay to have then have them executed.  Basically, the argument there is that money is more important than life.  If that is the case, then it's ok for me to go rob a bank and kill the teller because I want/need more money.  Just because a person has committed crimes (or has been incorrectly convicted of crimes) does not mean that they suddenly become worthless.  State-sponsored murder is exactly what it is.  The state says it is ok, and the people are murdered.  Yes, it is strong, but that is most likely why so many people are ok with it.  They like to shield it with weak words.  There is actually some individual who picks up a needle and sticks it into another human being, knowing that it will kill him.  Murder.   ;Quote:Original post by ktuluorionIt really amazes me that people can be so insensitive.  This is a LIFE.  One that doesn't need to be taken, and really the act does no good to anyone.  Is it really a problem to let him rot in jail, and write anti-gang literature for children?Yeah it is a big problem. A big tax problem. Its cheaper to kill someone than to sustain them in prison. Its not like this is the reason that they do it, but you know...I just wanted to make your point invalid.   ;Quote:Original post by the_dannobotQuote:Original post by ktuluorionIt has been shown that the death penalty does not deter crime.Sure it does.  You'll never see the same guy in the chair twice.I mean before the crime is committed.  Basically, if someone is going to commit a murder, they would do it whether the death penalty exists or not.Life in prison keeps the person who committed a crime away from the rest of society just as well as execution.It's really not hard to just let these people live out their lives as best as can be done in jail.;  no, i dont see the point of the deathpenalty either. it serves no purpose at all, except for statisfying the urge for revence some people have. not a particularly great thing to base your laws on.Quote:Original post by Puzzler183I'm fine with keeping them in jail, provided of course you personally are willing to pay the millions of dollars it costs for his food, clothes, the guards to watch him, his medical costs, etc.ive often heard the claim that killing them is more costly than putting them in jail, though i find it hard to believe. either way, i think if there is one kind of drug the government should always provide for free to anybody, its cyanide. its not the main reason why i feel this way, but one positive sideeffect is that it would lower the amount of people imprisoned for life considerably.Quote:And could we keep the stupid phrases like "state sponsored murder" to a minimum, they make your argument less credible by showing just how biased you are.how is it not 'state sponsored murder' then? thats precisely what it is.   ;  The thing is, you aren't the only one paying, I'm paying to. And I don't want to pay. The problem is that at some point, money does become more valuable than life in a sense. There is a limit amount of money - it is a scarced resource. So at some point, it becomes better to spend it somewhere else such as healthcare for people who aren't killers: it saves more lives.And I'm like 99% sure that the families of his victims (who had to live through the pain of being shot with a shotgun) are feeling a lot better with him dead (and he only had to live through a little needle prick).   