Death penalty or life in prison?
Pretty simple concept
Lets here what you think
Death penalty
Side Score: 115
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Life in jail
Side Score: 124
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It really depends on the situation. Not every offense should get the death penalty. However, if a man murders somebody in the first degree, having thought about it and carried out the act, I see the death penalty as the ultimate punishment: "an eye for an eye..." If that man values life so little as to take the life of another, why should he have that precious gift? Side: Death Penalty
If that man values life so little as to take the life of another, why should he have that precious gift? I would agree but out judicial system is based on preserving a persons rights. Imagine if I find evidence that proves your guilt and I got it illegally, i.e. no warrant, that evidence is thrown out and you could be set free even though guilty. That's because I violated your rights. Killing a person is the ultimate violation of their rights; one you cannot correct if you make a mistake. Side: Life in jail
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More death saves lives. If you let the murderer live you will allow the cycle of murder and revenge to continue. Without "an eye for an eye" the world would be blinder still. Without severe consequences people will not hesitate to do evil. What does a homeless man have to lose from going to jail? What's wrong with free shelter, free food, free entertainment? You can't reward evil with good or else you'll encourage the wicked to keep on acting wickedly. Make an example of every criminal and you'll do much more good. Side: Death penalty
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We dont have any problem killing innocent unborn babys, why not a serial killer. Its cheaper, more efficant, and uses less resources overall. You know prisoners have a higher standing of living then most US citizens, expecially the poor, they have free heathcare, free meals, free clothing, a shelter, some federal penetaries they have TVs, free entertainment, usually a job, even if it pays you 25 cence an hour. Side: Death Penalty
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That is a horribly barbaric thing to say. If you really think it's okay for convicts to be raped, I honestly feel bad for your lack of humanity. Even we know for a fact someone murdered someone which is impossible, that is still totally unacceptable for something like that to occur. Furthermore we don't know for a fact that the people who are convicted are guilty. How would you feel if you were in prison for a crime you didn't commit and you were raped? Side: Life in jail
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Well raping & killing innocent children is horrible. If you think it is okay to take tax money from good hard working people & waste it on keeping child killing pedophiles alive forever then I feel bad for your lack of intelligence. Well what if we do have proof that pedophile raped & killed those innocent kids? should we waste our tax money keeping them alive forever? how would you feel if I raped & killed 1 of your kids then we started taking all your money you worked hard for keeping me alive forever? Side: Death Penalty
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Thats just as bad as murder! Its like paying someone to murder someone else. Did you do the murder NO but your associated with it. The way I see it people who murder shouldn't be sentenced to death or spend life in the jails we have here there to nice. The prison should be one of those high security no TV nothing fun type of prisons. Side: Life in jail
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This is so unfair! Why do victims lose lives and the killers, the people who deserve to lose life don't?! Of course there must be exceptions. Those that killed less than 3 people without other crimes not die. Those that sell secrets to an enemy country must die. People who killed less than 7/8 people with families must not die. Those that kill children are closer to death penalty although he/she deserves to live. Only adults. Side: Death Penalty
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Death penalty are given to those who have comitted a very serious crime. i believe that the government won't give a death sentence to a random person. so why let those 'evil' on the street to let them do the same mistake over again or putting them into a jail their whole life-long that will takes a large number of the government's tax? thus, it is much better to put them into a death row, and it's also much more better for them rather than letting them suffer by spending the rest of their time in prison. Side: Death Penalty
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I agree with the death penalty, but only in specific cases where the person has committed very serious crimes, there are now many ways for a person to be released from prison after having committed horrible things and are likely to return to Commit the same crimes, these people the only thing they do is evil to humanity do not contribute anything good and it is true that we all have the right to life, but if someone who killed many people he did not respect the rights of victims, only did. So, why does he deserve to be respected his right to live? In addition, I think there is a stimulus not to commit such crimes, people seeing that it will have huge consequences, it will be more likely to avoid certain crimes because they know that it can cost them life. The biggest challenge facing countries where the death penalty is to be practiced is that they must maintain their transparency, avoid irregularities in law enforcement and injustice, I think those countries should be supervised by large organizations to be As fair as possible since they are deciding on the life of a person and should not allow any mistake. Side: Death penalty
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BOATS AND HOES LUV YA AS A BESTIE OK OK TXT IT NAO LUV YABOATS AND HOES LUV YA AS A BESTIE OK OK TXT IT NAO LUV YABOATS AND HOES LUV YA AS A BESTIE OK OK TXT IT NAO LUV YABOATS AND HOES LUV YA AS A BESTIE OK OK TXT IT NAO LUV YABOATS AND HOES LUV YA AS A BESTIE OK OK TXT IT NAO LUV YABOATS AND HOES LUV YA AS A BESTIE OK OK TXT IT NAO LUV YABOATS AND HOES LUV YA AS A BESTIE OK OK TXT IT NAO LUV YABOATS AND HOES LUV YA AS A BESTIE OK OK TXT IT NAO LUV YABOATS AND HOES LUV YA AS A BESTIE OK OK TXT IT NAO LUV YABOATS AND HOES LUV YA AS A BESTIE OK OK TXT IT NAO LUV YABOATS AND HOES LUV YA AS A BESTIE OK OK TXT IT NAO LUV YABOATS AND HOES LUV YA AS A BESTIE OK OK TXT IT NAO LUV YABOATS AND HOES LUV YA AS A BESTIE OK OK TXT IT NAO LUV YABOATS AND HOES LUV YA AS A BESTIE OK OK TXT IT NAO LUV YABOATS AND HOES LUV YA AS A BESTIE OK OK TXT IT NAO LUV YABOATS AND HOES LUV YA AS A BESTIE OK OK TXT IT NAO LUV YABOATS AND HOES LUV YA AS A BESTIE OK OK TXT IT NAO LUV YA HURRRRRR DURRRRRRRRRR
Side: Death Penalty
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Life in prison IS a death sentence, just a very slow one. What good does it do? Prisons don't provide justice. I'm against the jail system in general and in favour of physical punishments. Our society needs this right now with our current crime-pandemic. Prisons only make petty thieves worse. We all know this. If you're worried about innocent people being sentenced to death by mistake, pass a law that says a person must be given 5 years of jailtime BEFORE he is executed. Those 5 years will be enough time to still prove his innocence. After that much time has passed we must conclude that evidence for his innocence simply doesn't exist. He will then be executed in a manner that suits the severity of the crime. I would vote for death by shooting as a modern version of stoning. No death sentence should relate to strangulation. Justice is always bittersweet. Side: Death penalty
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If there was a guaranteed way to determine guilt I would be in favor of the death penalty. The problem is that we make mistakes all the time. Any justice system is flawed. People are wrongly accused all the time and set free as new evidence comes to light. How do you give a man back his life; if you've made a mistake? Side: Life in jail
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When has proof ever been guaranteed? There have been cases of positive ID, airtight evidence and new evidence has completely exonerated them. The point is that if you make a mistake there is no way you can ever take it back. This alone is all you need to invalidate any argument in favor of the death penalty. But I do have more. Side: Life in jail
I would like to say "Life outside of Society", but this is close enough. Laws, being created by man, only seek to punish people for acting out in a way that is commonly seen as disruptive. If a man murders another, which I believe to be the greatest crime, expel him but don't commit the same crime against him. It's an ultimate hypocrisy, for the state to kill a man because he broke a law that exists to save people from being killed by other men... The only difference being, one man deciding to kill another, and many men deciding to kill another. What's the difference between many people killing one or more people, and one man killing one or more people? There is no difference, the point is, a man's life however worthless it is to you or however tainted, is still a life. No one asks a murderer if killing a person for wearing pink feels like killing a person that has killed another... It may be equally as justified. My point is, that it's not that the man deserves to die, but it's that the man simply broke a societal contract. Unfortunately we cannot send our murders and rapists (whatever they are) to another planet... We have to keep them in prisons. Hrm, but what's the use in paying taxes to a man that doesn't live by our societal standards... Doesn't that create a bigger problem? (I'm drinking, sorry) Side: Life in jail
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Anyone can understand it in their own way. For some people death penalty is better than life in prison, who are respect their freedom and who are consider that it is better to die than someone to judge them. But there persons for whom are life is more expensive, someone have families or someone can have a plan for prison break... Side: Death penalty
Difficult debate. Felt inclined to point out two things. As to the issue of guilt/innocence...innocent persons have been put to death in the U.S. However, the state(s) that did so believed (i.e. "knew") that they were guilty. Come to think of it, at one time, we "knew" the world was flat. One innocent person killed by the state is one too many if it is not a full-proof system. To the issue of cost...Urban Institute completed a study (Life in prison vs. DP) for the state of Maryland. Findings: cost of DP (trial, attorney costs, investigator costs, mitigation specialists, expert witnesses, etc) is substaintially more than life in prison. With the appellate process as it is, it takes years and years, and much money to go from Grand Jury Indictment to needle. Several other states including Kentucky (cannot think of the others off the top of my head) have had the same study completed with the same results. Virginia...has not had the study done as of yet. Side: Life in jail
I think it is a difficult debate regardless of the two things I added to support life in prison. With all the facts and how they look on paper, to me, its a struggle b/w the facts and the thought of being a victim or having someone close to me be a victim. Its easy for me to sit back and support this or that. But then I think, "what if i had a young daughter who was raped and killed...what if my mother was tortured and killed?" I tend to think that my initial reaction would be to kill the person who did this. I only hope after time that I would be able to make a smart and rational decision...as hard as that would be. Side: Death Penalty
While the Bible says, "Thall shalt not kill," it also says that, "Who so sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man." That is Genesis 9:6. But that is the only time a pro-death verse is in the Bible right? Wait, no. Check Romans 13:1-4. And Revelations 13:10. And Acts 25:11. And God even says He will smite those who do not use the death penalty. Deuteronomy 19:11-13. Before you quote the Bible, do your research. http://www.biblebelievers.com/jmelton/ Or just check the Bible. Side: Death Penalty
While the Bible says, "Thall shalt not kill," it also says that, "Who so sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man." That is Genesis 9:6. But that is the only time a pro-death verse is in the Bible right? Wait, no. Check Romans 13:1-4. And Revelations 13:10. And Acts 25:11. And God even says He will smite those who do not use the death penalty. Deuteronomy 19:11-13. Before you quote the Bible, do your research. [http://www.biblebelievers.com/jmelton/ Or just read the Bible. Side: Death Penalty
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I'm not necessarily against the death penalty, if it were 100% possible to determine guilt, and if it were a family member, loved one, or close friend pulling the switch. In a world where guilt could be determined without any doubt, I think that moral judgement should be left to those closest to the person, and not the general population. But unfortunately people are killed every year, that later evidence finds were not guilty. If this happens even once in history it should give us as a people, who hold life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness as the most important rights, pause. But it happens all the time, and should be unacceptable to us. We're used to it. But pretend for a second that this is the first you ever heard of the death penalty, and pretend you just found out sometimes innocent people are killed by the State. This does not sound like the actions of a civilized people. Outside of that, life in prison is cheaper for States than condemning one to death. It turns out lawyers and judges are expensive. Side: Life in jail
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We shouldn't be wasting our tax money on them. Follow the logic: Life in prison costs taxpayers X. Death penalty costs X + Y. X + Y > X Therefore tax payers are "wasting more money" by pursuing death. Listen. Like I said, I don't disagree with the theory of the death penalty. Murders, rapists, child pornographers, etc. literally should die for a better society. There is not reason to allow them to continue life. Society though is complex. It is impossible in any society at this point in time to both pursue justice and correct justice, and to at the same time support a death penalty. We simply have not evolved to that point. Side: Life in jail
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The other point is that our justice system is based on not violating a persons rights. If I acquire illegal evidence it is thrown out and you could be set free even though I have absolute proof of your guilt. How can you have a justice system that will let a guilty man go if we violate his rights but will commit the ultimate violation of a mans rights by killing him? That's insane. Side: Life in jail
If his rights are violated then yes, the illegal evidence must be thrown out. I'd hate to think that anyone could have illegal evidence brought against them in order to prosecute. That'd allow for all sorts of corruptness. I'd be 100% concerned if illegal evidence could be brought against me. Anyone could fall victim to that. The police and prosecuters must dot all the I's and cross all the T's in order to bring a fair and accurate prosecution against someone. Defense attorneys are not there to determine innocence or guilt, but to uphold the constitution and bill of rights. They are the police of the police so to speak. If we allow prosecutors to bring illegal evidence against people then we all set ourselves up to be illegally prosecuted. Side: Death Penalty
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So you think that someone who has claimed the life of someone else deserves the comfortable environment of a prison? Being in prison is a luxury to some of these people that are thrown into jail. Should we have to pay for these pieces of trash to live comfortably in air conditioning with no bills to pay and free food? I am not saying jail is a nice place to be but it is better than living in hell some other countries. Meant to be opposed Side: Death Penalty
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I'm a christian. The bible specifically says "thou shall not kill." Also, several people across the country have been found to be not guilty after they were sentenced to death. My home town, Ada, Oklahoma, has an entire book written about events that happened here (John Grisham, the Innocent Man). Also, minorities are sentenced to death way more than whites and non-minorities. Too much racism in this country to have the death penalty. BTW, I'm white. Side: Life in jail
You couldnt be more correct. As someone who works directly with this topic, I can tell you that it is biased. It goes as deep as how grand juries are selected (who subsequently sign off on an indictment to charge someone with capital murder). Proportionality is supposed to be representative of the population (age, race, etc.). Lets just say we have found numerous courts that have not followed the law to the T. That to me, is a scary thought. Keeping in mind that not every district is biased. Some have and do in fact follow the guidelines as they are written. Side: Life in jail
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people make mistakes... ALL THE TIME! but being judged and killed... shouldn't be an option. it should not be legal. say a father had a 7 year old girl just for says and a man raped and murdered his little girl... then i would understand the father for wanting him to die and i would to but once he is caught then he can spend his life in prison. because if he dies and believes in god then he will still go to heaven with riches. so i don't believe that people who have problems with killing or having any issues that have to do with the death penalty should just be kept in prison for life! not 30 years life, that what they call life in prison. am i correct? i know this is long but i feel strong about this debate... :) Side: Life in jail
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We should abolish the death penalty. We have so much that we could put these criminals to work doing. They may be hate filled rapists and murderers, but many of them were simply wayward people. They still have families, and they still have contributions to be made to society. Let them try to fill their chasm sized debt to society, by giving them a bucket. Plus, if even one wrongly accused person is put to death, that is too many. I believe in order to handed the death penalty you would have to be caught on tape, no doubts about it, red frickin' handed. Otherwise you could be putting away an innocent person. Have you ever looked into what lethal injection really means? If not administered properly, the condemned could be paralyzed but not numb to pain. This would enable them to feel which has been described as your entire body of veins igniting into fire. It's something to think about. How to Kill a Human Being
Side: Life in jail
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life in prison for sure.. why let them escape so easily by giving them death? isnt it more awful for them to rot in prison living in remorse rather than just dying? besides, its agaisnt the law for citizens to kill people but ok for the government to do it?? thats hypocrisy to the higest level.. Side: Life in jail
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to those who quoted the bible.. take this into conssideration: Exodus 31:15, "You may work for six days, but the seventh day is a day of worship, a day when you don't work. It is holy to the LORD. Whoever works on that day must be put to death." Leviticus 11:7 "and the pig, for though it divides the hoof, thus making a split hoof, it does not chew cud, it is unclean to you." Does that mean i have to be sentenced to death for working on sunday?? am i a sinner for eating pork?? its was written for those times not the 21st century.. i'm not saying dont listen to what the bible says.. i'm just saying, the bible cant always be taken literally (the exception is the ten commandments).. an eye for an eye doesnt work anymore.. how are we to become civilized if we stick to primitive laws?? Side: Life in jail
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The death penalty is a moral issue I’ve struggled to come to terms with personally. Mahatma Gandhi once said One must be slow to form convictions, but once formed, they must be defended against the heaviest odds. My first thought was that if we are going to have a death penalty, then people who commit really serious crimes in a really serious way deserve it. But people who act in the heat of a moment, who don’t predetermine to take lives or do harm, they are at least excused from the death penalty for not having put rational thought into the matter. For example, a man who walks in on his wife cheating, pulls out a gun and immediately shoots them both before stopping to breathe or think is a man who was ruled by passion. After a little more consideration, I began to think that those who set out to take someone’s life for nothing more than fun are just insane. Which leads to the question, should mentally insane people who are dangerous be punished by death? That one’s really iffy for me, but in the end my bleeding heart says no. But there are other reasons to take a life. Petty things, such as greed, jealousy, lust, etc. Should we punish rational people who kill by killing them? This one is really tough, because those are incredibly stupid things to take a life over. And while the death penalty may not be a successful deterrent, is it a worthy punishment? Yes. Absolutely. These are people who have less respect for another human being’s life than they do for their own pride, self-interest, and whathaveyou. Exactly the sort of person that we might want put to death by the justice system. But then, the justice system is not perfect. And although we have a standard of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, there’s still room for error. Is it ever going to be right to kill one innocent person, in the name of punishing the others who deserve it? No. Not when we have other means of punishing those who are not entitled to their freedom. Although it is costly keeping someone in prison for their lifetime, this isn’t a valid reason to excuse errors in the system. “It’s cheaper” will never qualify as a reason to risk putting innocent people to death. Side: Life in jail
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Isnt it a little too merciless to take away one's life because of what he/she did something wrong on the impulse of a moment?(I believe majority of crimes are from moment's mistake,cuz no human is perfect.) Cant we give them another chance too be good? Death penalty is similar to "an eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth"which is too inhuman. We wouldnt want to have what's wrong from a past to reappear. Death penalty is just a superficial measure of punishing the wrongs. Side: Life in jail
As a former Manager of Life Sentence prisoners in HMP UK. I have personally seen 3 cases when the prisoner has been found to be totally innocent after some years in prison. i have also seen many Life sentence Prisoners work very hard to better themselves and leave prison to serve in the community. Money has nothing to do with it as far as I am concerned. Also, if you can afford the best lawyers you have a better chance of not being convicted. Side: Life in jail
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I know this has already been said before, but an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind. Just because a person takes the life of another doesn't mean an innocent person needs to be paid to kill him or her. Plus, there is no way to be sure if this person is actually guilty. Should the justice system really take such a risk as to put an innocent man or woman to death? The answer is no. Side: Life in jail
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Well, indeed one of the benefits of death penalty is that there will be less crimes especially murders and massacres, but there are always many things and ideas to get away with it. There are a lot of means of escape after committing a crime. Of course, with our technology, even drops of liquid and a pinch of salt will do in order for a person to do a crime and get away with it. We cannot give a "final judgment" to a person who committed a crime. Each person has their own mind and perspective of what life is, and what those people need is a point or position in which they can stand there and see another perspective or the right/correct meaning/purpose of life. If we are going to have death penalty,which is announced 1 to 10 days before it will be done, how can they realize and see that new perspective? That is why they are kept in a place where all they should problem is how to make themselves fixed and not how to get out of there; and also, it is the reason why they are fed, given some good indoor jobs, given a lot of freebies. They were there to solve their own problems so that they can be pardoned by their conscience (or maybe by the judges or government) and be free, maybe not with the place they physically live in but from where their spirit is jailed. Side: Life in jail
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I FEEL THE DP AND LIFE IN JAIL CAN BOTH WORK IF THE PEOPLE ARE TRULY GUILTY. THE JUSTICE SYSTEM HAS KILLED SO MANY BASED ON NOTHING. ALSO HAVE MANY IN JAIL FOR THE REST OF THERE LIVES. BUT THEN AGAIN THERE ARE MANY CHILDREN 15, 16 YEAR OLDS SPENDING LIFE IN JAIL FOR MURDER BECAUSE THERE PARENTS WERE NOT THERE FOR THEM SO IT WAS UP TO THEM TO MAKE IT. SOMETIMES THE DP AND LIFE PLEA CAN BE TO MUCH. WE ALL DESERVE ANOTHER CHANCE IN LIFE. BUT I SAY FORGIVE BUT DONT FORGET.YOU DO IT AGAIN THATS YOUR ASS....THTS JUS ME... Side: Life in jail
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I dont think staying in prison for life is more punishment. They feel like they got away with murder if you dont execute them. Their victim is dead and they are still alive living each and every day with three meals per day, a place to sleep and plenty of other people to live with. Side: Life in jail
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