Are people who believe in the Death Penalty by definition Evil?

[MOBIUS]

After all, are you not yourself murdering the murderer? What gives you that right, especially if murder itself is such a heinous crime?

Surely isn't it better punishment to incarcerate someone for life so that they can live with their crimes for the rest of their lives?

Winston's accusation on another thread that, to paraphrase him, lefties are more bloodthirsty than rightists just doesn't ring true to me...

Surely it is the lefties that are generally against the death penalty and therefore less bloodthirsty, than the rightists that seem overwhelmingly in favour of the DP.

Indeed, by this definition doesn't the right want to kill all its enemies it gets its hands on?

[Japher]

Necessary evils. I would gladly sacrifice the few for the good of the many, and so that self rightous ppl can continue to feel that they are good. I'm a rightist, and not religious. My perception of good/evil may be skewed by my morals being defined in reality and not some mumbojumbo made up fantasy bible thumping land.

[Winston]

Varying views on the administration of justice to murderers have nothing to do with different degrees of "evilness" IMO.

And BTW, I didn't claim that lefties are more bloodthirsty than others, but that a larger number of them let their true character shine through when political opponents are stricken with serious illness or death.

It really is astonishing how bad your reading comprehension skills are when it comes to interpreting opinions that you disagree with.

It would suit you to edit that part out of your opening post. Evenmoreso since it seems immaterial to the issue you're now raising.

[lord of the mark]

Re: Are people who believe in the Death Penalty by definition Evil?

[QUOTE]
Note: I dont necessarily support the death penalty, but I also dont think those who support are necessarily evil.

After all, are you not yourself murdering the murderer? What gives you that right, especially if murder itself is such a heinous crime?

Cause the youre not murdering the murder. Murder is defined as killing without judicial warrant, or killing an innocent, or in some other way that excludes judicially warranted use of the DP on a convicted murderer.

Surely isn't it better punishment to incarcerate someone for life so that they can live with their crimes for the rest of their lives?

Maybe so, in which case supporters of the DP are misguided, but not evil.

Winston's accusation on another thread that, to paraphrase him, lefties are more bloodthirsty than rightists just doesn't ring true to me...

Maybe so, but this doesnt speak to the issue of the evilness of DP supporters.

Surely it is the lefties that are generally against the death penalty and therefore less bloodthirsty, than the rightists that seem overwhelmingly in favour of the DP.

There may other motives for supporting the DP then bloodthirstiness, and there may other ways of manifesting bloodthirstiness than support of the DP.

[q/]Indeed, by this definition doesn't the right want to kill all its enemies it gets its hands on? [/q]

By this definition of what? Who, apart from supporters of exterme authoritarian regimes, wants to use the DP on political enemies, as opposed to convicted murderers?

[MOBIUS]

Originally posted by Japher
Necessary evils.

But evil nonetheless...

Surely you could just as easily 'sacrifice the few' by locking them away for the rest of their natural lives?

[MOBIUS]

Originally posted by Winston
Varying views on the administration of justice to murderers have nothing to do with different degrees of "evilness" IMO.

If to murder is evil, surely the taking of his/her life is evil too?

I didn't claim that lefties are more bloodthirsty than others

but that a larger number of them let their true character shine through when political opponents are stricken with serious illness or death.

It really is astonishing how bad your reading comprehension skills are when it comes to interpreting opinions that you disagree with.

more = larger number?

My reading comprehension skills seem fine so far...

[Gibsie]

I'd only say the "string 'em up!" types that seem to long for a nice juicy execution are evil. When you relish the possibility of someone being executed, you've got problems. But that only really covers the type of people who'll rally outside prisons when an execution is about to take place to support it.

[Pekka]

Japher, how is it a necessary evil? We don't do it in Europe, so how is this necessary?

[Arrian]

Don't feed the MOBIUS.

-Arrian

[vomitus]

Re: Are people who believe in the Death Penalty by definition Evil?

Originally posted by MOBIUS
Are people who believe in the Death Penalty by definition Evil?

No.

By the way, I don't support the death penalty. However, killing a person (a serial child rapist for example) can be perfectly moral. It depends on the circumstances and other things. Is the person going to rape again? Will nothing stop him? Etcetera. Killing of a human is not inherently immoral.

[loinburger]

Re: Are people who believe in the Death Penalty by definition Evil?

Originally posted by MOBIUS
After all, are you not yourself murdering the murderer?

That's a weak argument, along the lines of the "abortion is murder" claim. Even if you're using an ethical definition of murder ("murder is a homicide performed with premeditated malice") instead of a legal definition ("murder is an unlawful homicide") then you'd still need to support the claim that everybody who supports the DP does so with malicious intent.

[Sandman]

The death penalty is an expensive, morally inconsistent shambles. Why bother?

[OneFootInTheGrave]

people killing people

state killing people

opinion which states that state killing people is good

however people with such opinion are not necessarily evil, they are most likely just ignorant, or even more likely just accepted the moral norms of their society and accepted them as "good", which does not make them evil.

[alva]

Are people who believe in the Death Penalty by definition Evil?

Yes.

The state has no right to kill it's citizens.

[Sava]

Re: Are people who believe in the Death Penalty by definition Evil?

Originally posted by MOBIUS
After all, are you not yourself murdering the murderer? What gives you that right, especially if murder itself is such a heinous crime?

Surely isn't it better punishment to incarcerate someone for life so that they can live with their crimes for the rest of their lives?

Winston's accusation on another thread that, to paraphrase him, lefties are more bloodthirsty than rightists just doesn't ring true to me...

Surely it is the lefties that are generally against the death penalty and therefore less bloodthirsty, than the rightists that seem overwhelmingly in favour of the DP.

Indeed, by this definition doesn't the right want to kill all its enemies it gets its hands on?

It's punishment... not murder. Anyone who thinks the two are the same is a complete moron.

Justice

demonizing your opposition because you disagree with them (known as ad hominem debate fallacy )