Death Penalty.

[dogfacedboy]

I, for one, am 100% against the death penalty. I am, however, in favor of very harsh, draconian punishment for those who are convicted of crimes that would currently recieve the death penalty.

Where do you stand on this?

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

1. Well, That Tookie and the Other One Deserve What They Get, But I agree

that the DP is always wrong. But you are then suggesting torture, which I also believe is wrong. Course, life is prison is no picnic, so I guess that's extended torture so hmmm maybe that's wrong. But shit, I don't want em in society either. Fuck.

I think I'm fucked.

I'm gonna smoke a cig now.

[dogfacedboy]

2. I'm not suggesting torture.

I propose 1000 year sentences, no parole, hard labor, no prison amenities,e.g. television, exercise rooms, commissary priviledges, minimal food necessary to survive.

[Balbus]

3. Until they figure out how to reverse death should a mistake be made,

I'm against it. I believe there are crimes that deserve death but the justice system is not perfect so an irreversible punishment should not be handed down by an imperfect system.

[Kipling]

4. Against. 101%.

Life in prison should probably mean life, though. At least for the most heinous crimes.

[khashka]

5. It is not moral for a group to do what it is immoral for an individual to

So I'm against it.

As for harsh, draconian punishment? Your sense of morality might even be worse than the DP. I firmly believe that certain people must be removed from society for the sake of all. That does not mean cruelty - simply creating a situation where they can no longer harm anyone.

As a victim of violent crime and as someone whose loved ones have been victims of violent crime, I understand the desire for vengeance. But it's base, if understandable. But there is something to be said for standing by your morality and not stooping to their level.

I am better than the man who raped me or the man who stabbed my lover 23 times. Because, unlike them, I will not resort to violence or cruelty.

Khash.

[dogfacedboy]

7. I've been a victim of a shooting myself. Please read my clarification.

See post #2 in this thread. Draconian was a poor choice of words on my part. I am not, however prone to turning the other cheek. The man who shot me, and shot and killed my friend was subsequently jailed. In jail he was used as a sex toy before he was stabbed to death, and while I don't really receive any joy from that, I feel no sympathy for that guy, either.
One less to worry about.

I don't believe that we, as a society, have a right to put criminals to death. It's morally wrong, and mistakes DO get made.

[aikoaiko]

6. Death penalty = leverage for plea

or so I've heard. I'm no expert, but one of the good things about having a death penalty is that it allows prosecutors to plea bargain with life with no parole.

If life with no parole is the harshest sentence, then they can only plea to life with parole. Which means they could get out.

Of course I always wondered how many times this type of plea arrangement was made and could easily be convinced with evidence that its a rare occurence.

ETA: With regard to Tookie. Mixed feelings.

[dogfacedboy]

8. I'm talking about a complete re-vamp of that process.

A life sentence would never have a chance for parole under my proposal.