Ott^ said:
Hahahahahaa!!! That's more like it.
Wanna fight about it, ya big soft shite?
Ott^ said:
Almost every pertinent reason for opposing the death penalty has already been stated
And it is hard to disagree with.
Ott^ said:
I'll just point out that all the evidence suggests that capital punishment serves as no deterrent whatsoever.
All of it? That is quite a bold statement considering it is unlilely you have been able to gather it all.
It is a 100% deterrent against re-offending.
Ott^ said:
Those of you who support capital punishment should try to imagine being an innocent person convicted and executed for something you haven't done
But you don't give me any credit for the fact that I, and others, might have gone over that very scenario whilst forming our argument. (And it *is* only a harmless argument.) I didn't say it would be without risks. It just depends on what risks you are prepared to take. I don't know what the stats are, but let's say 5% of people convicted are innocent. 100% of victims almost certainly are innocent. Based on that, the current justice system appears to be weighted too much in favour of the criminal.
Ott^ said:
Imagine the absolute horror of counting down your final hours before going to the gallows/gas chamber/electric chair/lethal injection.
Yup. But if I was innocent, I would rather go through that rather than spend the rest of my life shitting in a bucket, thanks.
Ott^ said:
People like Miszt and Warwick Bassmonkey should be compelled to go and explain to the families of the wrongfully executed exactly why their innocent loved ones have been taken from them and killed...
In that case, would it be fair for me to suggest that you should explain to the families of victims who have been killed, exactly why the murdering psychopath was released from prison in the first place? (e.g. the recent case of John Monckton, killed in front of his family by man convicted of attempted murder and released after 7 years despite a very high probability that he would do it again.)
Ott^ said:
...satisfying your vengeful bloodlust?
It is nothing to do with vengeful bloodlust. If it were, maybe I would insist that the punishment would be as horrific as the crime that was committed... e.g. death by stabbing in front of one's family. But I am not.
Personally, I am glad that I do not have to make such decisions, but I can certainly see why people think that captial punishment is warranted, and I can also see the point of view of the people who are appalled at the idea of "state sponsored extermination of life".
For me, the risk of something going slightly wrong on occasions has rarely been a good enough reason not to do something, so that is why, although there may well be other reasons why it is wrong, I will argue against anyone who says that it is wrong to have capital punishment just for fear of occasionally getting the wrong man. It would be insignificant when compared with what we usually refer to as "collateral damage".
Ott^ said:
P.s. I'm thinking of changing my sig to "I Disagree with Miszt" - just to save time and keystrokes...
In Latin, right?