On the bright side, at least the U.S. is not alone in death penalty douchebaggery.

[backscatter712]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/feb/21/japan-executions-resume-three-hangings

Japan executions resume with three hangings

Hopes dashed of reprieve under Shinzo Abe's government with first sentences carried out since September 2012

Japan has carried out three executions – the first since the country's conservative prime minister, Shinzo Abe, was elected last December, and a sign that Tokyo will defy international pressure to abolish the death penalty.

The justice ministry said the executions were carried out in the early hours of Thursday in three different locations. One of the condemned men, Kaoru Kobayashi, had been sentenced to death for the abduction, sexual assault and murder of a seven-year-old schoolgirl in 2004. He sent a photograph of the murdered girl to her mother.

The executions, the first since September 2012, could signal a return to more regular hangings under the current justice minister, Sadakazu Tanigaki.

"I ordered the executions after giving them careful consideration," Tanigaki told reporters. "These were extremely cruel cases in which the victims had their precious lives taken away for very selfish reasons."

While I'm intellectually opposed to the death penalty, I can't say I have much sympathy for the child rapist/murderer who got strung up.

[Eleanors38]

1. I feel the same way. Cap. punishment, IMO, violates

due process and the equal protection rights of the Constitution.

Warehousing murderous stink with adequate food & watering for life is sufficient.

[backscatter712]

2. Granted, it's fun to have revenge fantasies.

I, for one, would enjoy seeing the Japanese force that child rapist and murderer to commit seppuku with a rusty butter knife.

But that's just my revenge fantasy.

You're absolutely right in that the death penalty violates the American Constitution, and is destructive to human rights.

[Eleanors38]

5. If someone attacked my family, the question would be moot...

But that is why there is a jury system -- to keep me off one.

[NightWatcher]

3. we join with other enlightened countries such as Iran, Saudi Arabia, North Korea, China....

you know, the liberal hippie countries

[backscatter712]

4. Yep, now Japan's a member of the Happy Fun Club! n/t