Canada
Related: About this forumDeath Penalty drumbeat continues...
http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2012/03/15/tasha-kheiriddin-stafford-case-shows-why-canada-needs-the-death-penalty/Tasha Kheiriddin: Tori Stafford case shows why Canada needs the death penalty
These points are all valid. And yet, upon reading McClintics testimony, a common gut reaction is that if what she says is true, she and Rafferty simply dont deserve to live. It is simple, it is basic, it is human; it survives statistics, defences based on horrible childhoods and theories prizing rehabilitation over punishment.
This all has me worried. I know it's Kheiriddin, not an MP or anything, but this attempt at marshalling public opinion is worrisome, especially after the front page of the Ottawa Sun featured a full-page photo of a death chamber (as a good thing!) earlier this week.
And of course I'm not an apologist for the assholes who killed Tori Stafford. They are clearly horrible people.
Kheiriddin's assertion that feelings of vengefulness are "basic" is interesting - laws are in place because of "basic" (base?) feelings like that. It might be "human" to want things someone else has, but it's illegal to steal those things.
How long before we can vote the Cons out, again?
I wonder if any western countries have ever gone back to capital punishment after having abolished it?
Smilo
(1,944 posts)Eye for an eye, etc.?
The death penalty - while making the living feel a smidgeon better - doesn't work, it is not a deterrent and it is a very backwards way of thinking. It is also a very expensive way of killing - and don't they say that killing is wrong.
I don't say I have the answer - but killing because someone killed does not seem right to me.
pansypoo53219
(20,981 posts)life in prison is hard.
shockedcanadian
(751 posts)Life in prison is punishment enough, even a month in the pen breaks most people.
Furthermore, if a mistake was made int he conviction, and we know it is becoming more commonplace, prison can be undone, death cannot.
I used to be supportive of the DP, but I have since changed my attitude drastically after great arguments have been made which swayed my opinion.
arikara
(5,562 posts)Harper's extremist Northern Foundation roots are becoming more evident all the time. Creepy sneaky low life bastard.