The Death Penalty

[SlowwHand]

Blind Lemon Jefferson, coming soon to a theater near you. Cool.

[Lorizael]

Originally posted by SlowwHand
I don't either. I'm serious as a heart attack.
You read it, analyzed it, and comprehended.
I truly appreciate it.

Woops. I apolgize. Assumed you were being sarcastic.

[civman2000]

Originally posted by SlowwHand
I certainly will.

Many quote the passage, "Vengeance is mine, sayeth the Lord".
That passage refers to the destination of their soul.
It does NOT have to do with punishment.
It's also written, "Spare the rod, and spoil the child".
As bad behavior escalates in severity, so goes the punishment.
You might "ground" a child for a week, as an example.
You might elevate to 2 weeks if it's warranted, as in perhaps doing the same act again.

How you as an "outsider" to religion can even be so bold as to tell me what the church believes is almost funny.

He's not saying what the church itself believes, just what a large proportion of those who claim to be members of it believe (which, unfortunately, need not be the same thing).

[ajbera]

I think the Catholic stance (haven't been one in a while, so I could be wrong) is that CP should only be used if there is no other way to prevent further harm by the convict. I guess the modern question is what reasonable steps can be taken to prevent this further harm. People do escape from prison, and they usually commit more crimes while out.

Ted Bundy escaped custody twice. He jumped from a courtroom window and was recaptured in a week. he was later jailed and escaped from jail. He fled to Florida where he assaulted several coeds, killing 2; he later raped a 12 year old girl and slit her throat in a hog shed. He's dead now, and he can never hurt anyone else again.

But I certainly agree with Sloww that CP should be restricted to the worst offenders, and only when the the weight of evidence shows the perp is guilty. For example, Joseph Edward Duncan, the piece of human excrement who murdered 3 people and kidnapped 2 children earlier this year (and who has been linked to 3 other child murders and suspected in more), brought the kids into the woods and tortured and raped them. He took pictures of himself with the kids. Based on the accounts of some bloggers, he may have videotaped the torture (by fire, no less) of the boy. If this is true, if they have this proof, I can think of no better poster child for the Death Penalty.

[ajbera]

By the way, the majority of Catholics believe in the whole "culture of life" thing, y'know, no abortion or CP.

[SlowwHand]

As in, see my initial post.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Originally posted by Colon
You'd imprison people if you're not sure if the defendant is guilty?

You don't imprison people if there proof beyond a reasonable doubt? Now there is a possibility that the defendant didn't do it. It is just beyond a reasonable doubt, after all.

I'm saying the DP should have a higher standard of proof. You know, no DP solely based on witness testimony (which, yes, can put you in jail in whatever legal system you wish to choose).

[Imran Siddiqui]

Originally posted by Traianvs
Psychopaths won't be deterred by death penalty, so what does it matter to you. Does handing out revenge give you a good safe feeling?
If you kill people you're not better than those psychos.

So killing psychopaths won't deter the psychopaths from killing again?

And if you say they can be in for life, what about other prisoners? Do they not count to you? And you were saying about 'not better than those psychos'?

Can the psychopath never escape? Did you miss the story about the death row inmate escaping out of a Texas jail recently?

[KrazyHorse]

Originally posted by SlowwHand
How you as an "outsider" to religion can even be so bold as to tell me what the church believes is almost funny.

5 years of Jesuit education and I'm an outsider?



I know what every major Christian sect believes as a matter of doctrine. What I'm telling you is that most so-called Christians are bad Christians.

I'll eat my hat if identification with "Christianity" as a creed is not a positive correlator with support for the death penalty among the general population.

[Kuciwalker]

Protestant or Catholic population?

If you limit it to the former I'd agree. The latter I'm not so sure.

(And I had four years of Catholic education, though it wasn't a Jesuit school I don't think.)

[KrazyHorse]

On the other hand, I'd be willing to bet that support for the death penalty among the clergy (both Protestant and Catholic) is probably lower than support among the general population.

[KrazyHorse]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker
Protestant or Catholic population?

If you limit it to the former I'd agree. The latter I'm not so sure.

(And I had four years of Catholic education, though it wasn't a Jesuit school I don't think.)

If you limit it to Catholics then probably negative correlation. If you take both, probably positive.

[KrazyHorse]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker
(And I had four years of Catholic education, though it wasn't a Jesuit school I don't think.)

If it had been you would have known.

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by KrazyHorse
If it had been you would have known.

It was first to fourth grade. Though, since you definately have gone through it, I'll concede the point.

[SlowwHand]

Going by your criteria, everyone at Notre Dame, Southern Methodist University, or wherever is of that faith, or even believe?

You going to a school doesn't count for much.