Death penalty 'becoming thing of the past', says Amnesty

[UrbScotty]

Source: BBC

The trend toward abolishing the death penalty continues, despite some countries resuming executions in 2012, Amnesty International says.

Executions in India, Japan, Pakistan, and Gambia were disappointing regressions, Amnesty notes.

But elsewhere the death penalty was "becoming a thing of the past," secretary-general Salil Shetty said.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-22086233

[Warpy]

1. NM abandoned the DP

although there are thugs on death row whose sentences have not yet been commuted to life without parole.

When it happened, it did surprise me. This is still the Wild West in a lot of ways. However, I was very pleased that we joined the other civilized states in abandoning it.

[longship]

2. Then, there's Texas and other foul places of the Earth.

Like Saudi Arabia which is considering abandoning beheading by sword for more humanitarian means, but only because they don't have enough people trained in the methodology.

Likewise, Texas no longer fries people to death.

[Canuckistanian]

3. The death penalty is barbaric

It's unevenly utilized, politically driven and wholly ineffective as a deterrent.

Canada executed it's last citizen in 1962. And abolished it in 1976.

And we're not the poorer for it.

[Orrex]

4. I will be relieved when segments of DU stop advocating for capital punishment

A great many threads feature sentiments along the lines of "normally I oppose the death penalty, but in this case..."


It's a primitive and inhuman anachronism and can't be abolished soon enough.

[NYC_SKP]

6. +1 nt

[valerief]

5. Not with the US Congress. With their cuts, people are dying left and right. nt

[CBHagman]

7. Maryland just abolished the death penalty.

Only 32 more states to go...

[Javaman]

8. Texas still lives in the past. nt

[Doctor_J]

9. More American exceptionalism

like citizens without health care and more guns than people.

[treestar]

10. Good to hear