Do You or Would You Support the Death Penalty If?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Since World War II there has been a consistent trend towards abolishing the death penalty. In 1977, 16 countries were abolitionist. As of August 1 2008, 91 countries had abolished capital punishment altogether, 11 had done so for all offences except under special circumstances, and 35 others had not used it for at least 10 years or under a moratorium- while 60 countries actively retained the death penalty.^[5]

At least 3,000 people (and probably considerably more) were sentenced to death during 2007, and at the end of the year around 25,000 were on death row around the world, with Pakistan and the USA accounting for about half this figure between them. China carries out by far the greatest number of actual executions - while Amnesty International has confirmed at least 470 executions there during 2007 the true figure has been estimated at up to 6,000. Outside China, at least 800 people were put to death in 23 countries during 2007, with Iran, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Iraq and the USA the main contributors. Iran, Saudi Arabia and Yemen executed people for crimes committed when they were juveniles, in contravention of international law.^[6]

Executions are known to have been carried out in the following countries in 2007^[6]:

Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Botswana, China, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Kuwait, Libya, North Korea, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, USA, Vietnam, Yemen.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment

[Ban Hammer 12,836]

bleh i done hosed up the results already.

change in the first part one yes vote to depends on percentage, the rest is accurate.

votes should be depends on percentage, 5%, and male usc.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

No, No, Male USC.

[Hannah+Vito 0]

no no female foreign

Edited August 30, 2008 by Hannah+Vito

[beejay 123]

I seem to remember a statistic from when I was doing research for a speech I had to give in college that most people who are against abortion are for the death penalty.

Sorry I don't remember where I read it and I don't feel like searching for it but I always thought it was interesting and have still remembered it over the year.

I also remember hearing that it actually costs less to house an inmate in prison for life than to have the death penalty. (Again I apologize I don't feel like searching)

[Aubrey 10]

No, and no.

I support the death penalty only in extreme circumstances (such as for serial killers) and is otherwise undeniably guilty (admitting guilt, showing no remorse, multiple witnesses...). For such cases, they are often even a threat within the prison system.

I also am a strong advocate for REHABILITATION of inmates -- something we do terribly in the USA. It costs less to fix the problem than to continually lock people up, and it improves the lives of the convict and their families.

[jundp 191]

No, no, Female USC.

I don't support the death penalty, nor do I support abortion. Yes, my belief is grounded in the social teachings of my faith.

Though I do agree with Aubrey about serial killers and those who show remorse, except, they don't care if they live or die. I don't understand the argument which states the death penalty is the ultimate punishment. How? Who is being punished?

I've often been asked "would you feel that way if someone killed your child/husband/insert person here?" I think I would, but of course I can 't say and hope I never have to. However, one of the main foundations of my faith is the belief that God judges, not me. As well, what would such a revenge killing accomplish? My child/husband/etc would still be dead.

No, I'm staunchly and unforgivably pro-life.

[moe1985 8]

I support Death penalty when somebody kill somebody for No reason .....WHO KILL SHOULD BE KILLED ..

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Attention poll takers:

The question is - if statistically speaking, a certain percentage of death row inmates who are put to death are actually innocent, do you still support the Death Penalty? If it depends on that percentage, state what percentage of innocent people are you willing to tolerate putting to death without having any reservations of the Death Penalty.

Edited August 30, 2008 by Jabberwocky

[Ms. Squirrel 11]

No, no, female foreign

Has anyone seen the movie 'The life of David Gale'?

[bora bora 1]

No

No

Female USC

[Saddle Bronc 124]

bleh i done hosed up the results already.

change in the first part one yes vote to depends on percentage, the rest is accurate.

votes should be depends on percentage, 5%, and male usc.

Copycatted!

[Damian P 92]

Whilst I have no doubt in my mind that the Ted Bundys & Richard Ramirezs of his world richly deserved/deserve the death penalty, I would have to say I am against it. The reason for this (and this concerns Jabberwocky's percentage of innocence question) is that in my mind, the only acceptable percentage of innocents put to death is ZERO percent. Rather let a thousand Bundys & Ramirezs escape with their miserable lives than wrongly execute a single innocent person.

Male, foreign, btw.

Edited August 30, 2008 by Damian P

[peejay 327]

The death penalty is appropriate in some cases, but not in all cases. Not everyone that murders is assessed the death penalty. There are various degrees of murder depending on the circumstances. Nobody wants innocent people to be executed. If you look at many of the cases that are continually appealed through the system, the vast majority are over frivilous proceedural matters or interpretations of constitutionality. Few are over new evidence to exonerate the innocent. These people have their due process in a court of law.

On the flip side...there have been cases of murderers that had the death penalty assessed, had the sentence reassed to life through appeal, were eventually released (life isn't really life in Texas), and then went on to murder again after they were set free.

What percentage of that type of outcome is acceptable? 1%, 5%, 10%, etc.?

How about comparing released repeat murderers to the number of executed inmates that were proven to be innocent after the fact. Most likely there have been more released to murder again than innocents executed.

This poll tugs at the heart without considering reality. Letting dozens of repeat murders go so that one innocent is not executed by the state is unacceptable IMO. The state never knowingly intends to execute an innocent. Criminal murderers don't live in that mindset and are not constrained by it.

[jundp 191]

There are various degrees of murder depending on the circumstances.

Killing is killing. There are no 'various degrees.' You are either dead or not. This isn't The Princess Bride where someone can be 'mostly dead.'