I agree totally, this nation is to liberal, People do get away with murder,there is to much crime,in this country, and crimials get away with to much and they know it. Look! the old truth, you kill someone, you should be Killed!! an eye for an eye!! save the system billions,protect the innocent and clean-up the nation!!

No person should have the right to take away the life of another, including elected governments.

Very important issue. The death penalty is barbaric. Murder is wrong whether it's commited by an individual or the state. Not to mention all those who are found guilty but in fact are innocent. It's disgusting that it's still used.

Here are the results of my poll: 3 people support the death penalty while 13 opposed it. Bear in mind, however, that the "prankster" has been hitting my comments, so the results may unfortunately be mistaken. I have been thinking on both sides on the death penalty for months. Literally. I could never come to an easy conclusion. Part of me said, "These people killed someone, they deserve to die for it". But another part of me said "Are we really that inhuman and barbaric?". Well, the answer is yes. We as humans are barbaric. History has showed it many times. Yes, we do look civilized, but what civilized society slams planes into buildings, blow up millions of people, and so on. Here is my main argument. Having the death penalty will reduce crimes. Look at medieval England. They had public executions. But have you ever noticed that there was hardly any crime back then? Sure, there was some, but nothing like today. I believe that people today who commit crimes do so beacuse they know they will either get away with it, or have a very low sentence. If you killed someone, why do you deserve to live? Why? You should never return to society. Why should people like Andrea Yates and Charles Manson even live after what they have done? More tax dollars will just be spent on the years they are in prison. The current death penalty system is much too light. Public executions might seem like a bad idea, but it would DEFINETELY reduce crimes. People who recive the death penalty should be put down within weeks, not years. Still, I had arguments against it. Shouldn't it would be more painful if convicted people spent the rest of thier life in jail? It probably would, but most of belive in God, so he should decide the guy's fate. If they are left in jail, we will just be spending more money, and we run the risk of escape. As barbaric as humans are naturally, we should try to become more civilized. We would, if we got rid of these people in painful ways. Final Verdict: The death penalty, after much changes, will reduce cost, get rid of these sick people, make us all feel safer, reduce crime as a whole, but above all, justice will finally be done. BIGBABY

This is definately a political issue that absolutely needs to be settled as soon as possible, though I understand that's it's not a clear-cut argument, even to myself. I mean, arguments against the Death Penalty include 1) Do two wrongs make a right? Typically not. 2) There are some people on Death Row that are innocent, though the number is uncertain. Even after trials have proven "beyond a reasonable doubt" that these people are guilty, years later with DNA evidence have proved some people innocent, making one question the solidity of the term "beyond a reasonable doubt. 3) Lately many minors/borderline minors are facing the possibility of the death penalty. What is "too young" for the death penalty? Then, there are argruments for the death penalty: 1) Two wrongs don't make a right, but we should stop an individual who was clearly shown that he/she cannot live in society without endangering anyone else, and if given the chance to be set free, some criminals freely admit that they'd "do it again". At that point, it is a matter of protecting the existing public rather than just revenge, is it not? 2) Some people ARE, definately, without any doubt, guilty of the atrocities which would result in the death penalty (i.e. admission of guilt + video evidence + DNA evidence + eye witnesses + every other type of evidence that you can think of), and these people often don't regret doing it, and for some, the only regret is that they got caught. 3) The youths in question typically are 17 or 18, such as the J. Malvo case (who was 17), but is clearly guilty of the crimes committed. If he were only a few months older, that would change everything somehow. Another MD case in the Baltimore Sun yesterday talked about an 18-year old who robbed and beat/stabbed to death a Burgr King manager; the robbery was very well thought out. But, despite him being legally an adult, the judge now believes that he is still at a "youthful" age and should not be put to death. So, then the question is, when IS a person old enough to know that murder is wrong? 20? 30? 50? It's understandable that a ten-year-old doesn't fully grasp the full implications of death, but doesn't an 18-year-old know that by now? And if he doesn't, will he/she ever? Certainly, a person's life is not to be comtemplated over so lightly, and blanket assumptions of these kinds of things are dangerous, so this is indeed an issue that needs some type of resolution.

The Death Penalty should be decided by the individual states. I like the fact that some states have it and some states don't. . .gotta love democracy in action. I personally don't have anything against the death penalty- but death penalty advocates are a mystery to me. The Death Penalty serves nothing more than a biblical and emotional sense of revenge for victim's families. . .fine. Don't mask it as justice or a deterrent. . .

I think everyone will be in agreement that all murderers (and for me, rapist as well) deserve the most extreme of penalities our government syatem can enforce. Now, the debate here is which serves more of a punishment: life imprisonment, or the death penalty? On one hand, the greatest gift you can take away from a person is life itslef. Any joy that they could enjoy at this point( links to the outside world, tv, priviledges, parool...and yes killers and rapist can be set free after a certain time). On the other hand, making someone suffer for the rest of their lives for a most inhumaine crime can be considered as good or maybe an even better punishment than the death penalty. There is always the slim chance as well....remind you, slim....that someone on death row could be innocent of the crime they are accused of. However, if this country is going to enforce life imprisonment, they many of the priviledges that killers and rapist recieve should be taken away from them. Most killers and rapist are living in Hiltons. Granted, they're not suppose to leave (there's still paroll though), but it's still a Hilton. They are not recieving the punishment they're suppose to serve. You do not punish a child that did something wrong by sending the child to his room so he can play is his room with his tv, computer, dvd player, stereo, and so on. They do not feel fully punished. Same for the prisoners. They're still human beings. However, they didn't think of that when they took someone's life. Lots of issues to think about here.

get those who can not be apart of the society and took without regard others lives must pay the piper,and stop the million of wasted dollars on the worst of society.

I'm in favor of executions, but the system now is so full of red tape and bs that it is frustrating for the families of the victims. Why should a prisoner who has undisputable DNA evidence implicating him/her, 2 jury trials, and a half dozen of repeals rejected take 20 years to execute. By the time the execution roles around, it just brings back the pain for the family. Indeed, execution of certain criminals is justice, but the system needs amending.

I think that if anyone intentionally murders an innocent human being, then they should pay with their own life. It makes me sick that criminals have more rights and advocates in this country than their victims and victims' families do. People should remember not those who killed, but those who WERE killed! I agree that the system needs to be fixed so that innocent people aren't executed, but the clearly guilty ones should pay the price for their heinous crimes. I also think we need to bring back the electric chair.

I agree with below (DC): the penalty should be expanded to include child crimes of particularly heinous intenet and result. I disagree with the rape one, though -- it is much more nebulous a crime, with degrees of "guilt," so to speak. The rest of them, kill them: mostly quickly, although a few deserve pain.

No government or individual is morally competent for the imposition of the death penalty. Just in case there is some confusion, this means no right to abortion, Physician assisted sucide and mercy killing or any other termination of human life whether willed or not by the individual.

I give this a three because there isn't a number option available that is dead center. This is one issue about which I have mixed feelings. My first opposition to the death penalty is that the criminals would not be able to serve their full term. They would be executed before having to endure countless years of life in prison. Personally, if I had to choose between life in prison with no possibility of parole or Sparky, the big metal chair, I would go with Sparky. Who wants to be in prison? I would rather not live. In this sense, I am against it because it seems like we are giving the criminals an easy way out. However, I am for the death penalty because some crimes are just so incredibly disgusting that the world would be better if the people responsible are not even given the chance to remain here. And no, not everyone deserves that right. Once you take someone else's life away from them, not to mention their friends and family, you give up the rights to your own life. Often I feel that the death penalty is used as a means of population control in prisons. They are overcrowded, so one less person here or there would be helpful in space limitations. As long as we continue with the death penalty, we must take extreme caution as to who we put to death. We must be absolutely sure that they are the true criminal. In any case, the issue is too divided in this country and it is up to each state to decide based on what their voters feel.

Apparently people in power don't think the law against killing a person doesn't apply to them. Capital punishment is the ultimate abuse of power by the state.

We should join the rest of the civilized world and abolish it. I do not mean to belittle the need of crime victims for "closure" (read: revenge); they are absolutely entitled to those feelings. If someone murdered a loved one of mine, I'd want to wring the SOB's neck with my bare hands. But I would be wrong to do that, and it is just as wrong for the justice system to kill on my behalf. Three stars because there are other more pressing issues, but still important -- if for no other reason than there are likely innocent people on death row right now, as we recently discovered in illinois.

The perfect method for getting rid of people who murder innocent people. murderers, especially those who kill our children, should get the death penalty. I think we should use hanging and the firing squad to execute child killers, not lethal injection and the electric chair. If we abolish the death penalty, the murder rate will go up and more innocent people, especially children, will be murdered by barbaric psychos.

I BELIEVE THAT I CAN CONDEMN THE DEATH PENALTY WITHOUT EVEN ENTERING THE "EYE FOR AN EYE DEBATE" 1.) It is a common myth that keeping the prisoner alive costs more than killing him; the price of legal fees almost doubles that of keeeping him/her alive. 2.) Statistical evidence shows a lack of deterent effect; more alarming, it shows an increase in the murder rate in states that practice the death penalty compared to those that do not. 3.) The idea that the victims family are comforted by the execution is nothing more than the application of a small understanding of psychology upon a much more complex situation. Psychologists have found that it actually causes psychological harm to the vast majority of families (New York Times) 4.) The application of the death penalty is in itself rascist and anti-low class. The representation of blacks on death row is much higher then in the general population and almost all of inmates are poor. This is not because rich white people are not committing these crimes, but merely because they are not getting verdicts calling for the death penalty. Those who are on trial are also much more likely to get a death sentence if their victim was white. 5.) Those that cannot aford lawyers due to poverty are given often sub-standard court appointed attorneys. One case in Georgia involved a black man who was charged with murdering a white man and stealing his car. The court appointed attorney was a KKK member and was known for going to court drunk. His opening statment was "So what if this little n*gger boy shot someone..." 5.) Many inmates are so menatlly retarted that they don't even understand what is going on. One man executed by Bill Clinton during his first campaign was so mentally retarted that he saved his cake from his last meal, intending on "eating it later." 6.) Many judges and all prosecutors are elected and use the death penalty to try to get votes by sending as many people as possible to death row. Sometimes even by forging evidence. 7.) The roots of our law comes from English common law, which held that it is better to let 1,000 guilty go free then punish one innocent. 8.) The probability of error is high and the fact that it is foreseeable that an innocent man will be executed violates our constitutional rights. 9.) If the bible on some level supports the death penalty I am interested in knowing how it says to enforce it fairly. What would Jesus think about murdering innocent possibly people? Why keep slaughtering potentially innocent people, what more reasons do we need to stop?

I believe that the death penalty is an antiquated form of punishment. The question is relatively simple--Why are we going to administer a punishment which has little deterrent value and why are we going to perpetuate the use of the death penalty when other advanced, industrialized nations have long ago abandoned it? I'll admit, my position on this one has shifted over time. It is my firm belief that enough Americans will raise their voices against this cruel form of punishment and make our government adopt a constitutional amendment banning this at the state and federal levels. Why am I personally against it? Look at the reality of the matter. Big death penalty states like Texas and Florida have a higher homicide rate than other states which don't have the death penalty. In addition, other countries who have banned the death penalty have a lower homicide rate than the U.S. Criminals who murder believe they have nothing to lose, they don't care about dying. In my view, let's really punish them by putting them in solitary confinement. Some people say that it is cost-efficient to execute people (a rather cold argument, but nonetheless). It's not really so. Of the 10,000 people who are convicted of murder yearly, most of them get probation over the death penalty. It does not save any money. Is it fair to give these people a lesser punishment than others? There have been many wrongful convictions that have lead to people receiving the death penalty. These innocent people died at the hands of a state who many times did not allow them to have competent legal representation because of economic constraints. It has been estimated that about three death penalty sentences have been returned every two years in cases where the defendants have been falsely accused. Almost half of those errors come from perjured testimony, forced confessions, evidence not being allowed to be used, and false identification. The grounds to ban the death penalty through the constitution are solid. The 8th Amendment within the Bill of Rights bans "Cruel and Unusual Punishment." Most of the time now the death penalty is administered by injection, thus it falls out of the legal standard for cruel and unusual punishment, but most legislators don't want to touch the subject. In short, stay tuned for developments in the courts. Some people say that murderers deserve the death penalty. As Hammurabi's Code, written in 1750 B.C. said, "An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth." Well, this isn't 1750 B.C.; I think that we as a society need to look beyond bloody revenge. All life is sacred, despite a person's past sins. President Reagan said that we are beacon of democracy for the rest of the world to follow. How can we, as a free, peace loving society advocate this form of punishment and allow the world to take away our moral perch? North Korea, China, Syria, Iraq, Iran, and Sudan are among the countries that enforce the death penalty. Great company to be in. All other modern countries have banned the death penalty and crime did not go up. Vengance is not a noble cause to allow for the perpetuation of this punishment. Let us do the right thing and show the world that we are the bastion of democracy, let us ban this form of cruel and unusual punishment.

An eye for an eye.

Not used in enough cases...

IM totally against the death penalty. It does deter and some people that were executed were innocent

I tend to be on the conservative side of most issues but the death penalty is one issue I have never felt strongly about one way or the other. I just think that crime should be punished. The method of punishment is secondary. A lot of people that are big on the death penalty seem to see it as a form of revenge. They say that certain criminals "deserve to die." Maybe so, but who says that the death penalty is necessarily the worst punishment? Some convicted criminals have actually requested the death penalty. Why should they have their way? Some people use the Bible as their basis for supporting the death penalty. But if we're going to get technical, the Bible says to stone people to death. It doesn't say anything about lethal injection or the other methods we use. In that sense we do it wrong anyway. I think the main point of the Bible is that crime should not go unpunished.

Morally i have mixed feelings on the death penalty. personally i've never been affected by murder or even death, so i leave it up to whoever's problem it is. so i don't think it's a pressing issue that direly needs consideration, though there's always the problem of the occasional innocent guy getting it unjustly. i know this sounds really bad but in general, if you've got a coldblooded killer on your hands, why not kill them and redirect the large amounts of tax money spent to keep them fed and sheltered to more worthy causes?

i dont support legal revenge.

The death penalty should be banned. See Neil8's comment.

I am rating this by importance. I give the death penalty itself a 1! To execute people is lowering the good people in society to the level of murderes. We need to come to our senses and abolish this crime! All kinds of killing are wrong. Do away with AIDS, murderers, terrorists, all those killers out there! I applaud the countries who have abolished this penalty. Life in prison is the most severe punishment we should use. Even if someone in my family was murdered, I would take this position. I would go through a lot of grief and terror, and I wouldn't want another family to have to go through all that grief and terror. Let's come to our senses QUICK!!!!!

I think that the death penalty isn't even enough....I think that a worse punishment is to rot in jail 4 life thinking about wat he has done and to feel guilty about it..let him go through torture in jail...like the torture he bestowed upon others....for example a woman/mother in my state DROWNED her 5 children!! Our whole state heard it on the news...they said she was suffering from insanity and the question of the death penalty came about. At times I thought let her die the way she killed her children if..the death penalty was ordered..but then I discussed this w/ some1 and we thought that it would be better for this aweful human being or should i say animal to rot in jail remebering what she had done to her children...so tell me people how do you think she should be punished? I heard in another state that it had two men going around rapeing, melesting, and then killing women!! And what happened to them?? Oh well they are still in court about it...well considering the case has been going on 4 almost 12 years...These men keep dropping lawyers and hiring new 1s and the court keeps giving them two more years to work w/ new lawyers...WHAT IS THAT??? I think the government should do something about it....Now I think that these men deserve death row. They keep conning the government and that should be enough PROOF that they are guilty! NOw these type of men dont have a conscience...they deserve death row...b/c iif they were to just stay in jail 4 life I really dont think that they would think about what they have done...but think of what else they can do! In stead of having these con-men in prison..probally thining of ways to escape and might actually having them escape..there is the death penalty..Do u think this would be the correct punishment?? I know that some people might think, "Who really cares what the government does to bad people?...as long as we know they are off the streets..." Its what okay or fine...what if some1 u loved or cared about was killed or what not....I think u will think differently...Another thought just came to my mind...what if an inescent person was put to the death penalty....that wouldnt be fare for them to be cheated out of life...would it? So my point is that our community should take some type of interest in this and the government should listen to what the people have to say...let our voices speak and BE heard...for death row may and may not always be the answer...

I used to be all for the death penalty. Until I heard the views of a girl in my sociology class. Her name is Ashley. Her super idea was to put the convicted in a building and blow them up if that is what they are convicted of. To rape and mutilate them if that is what they have done. I think there could be much more severe consiquences other than ending their lives. I believe taking another persons life no matter how horrible the crime they have commited is wrong in the hands of the government. If someone kills your child and you hunt them down and kill them yourself, that is cool with me. The government should make it known all over the country what they have done. take away alot of the rights the law abiding citizens are blessed with, the convicted cannot leave the county and should have their crime branded on their wrist. Humiliation is a far worse consequence of a violent and horrible crime, because the criminal will get it in the end. I am sure vengence will be carried out in one form or another. But, if the electric chair, lethal injection etc is the best we can do, then whatever. As long as they get something. I think death is too fast and easy though. We should go back to hangings. It would cost the tax payer much less and they would still die.

Whomever pulls that plug is just as guilty of murder as the inmate! Murder is Murder,any way U look at it.

The death penalty is certainly a touchy issue, and it would take a whole book to truely put light on the subject, but I thought I would throw in my two cents anyway. The Christian Issue----- I certainly consider myself a good Christian. But from what I have been seeing on here, I am not sure if I fit in. Many of these Christians are saying the Bible says kill kill kill!! Yes, there is certainly a lot of death in the bible, especially in the old testament. But, is that the solution? First off, the old testament does say "An eye for an eye. A tooth for a tooth." So many people take just that little line from the Bible and say that it is cut and dry. But, the Bible has to be read as a whole. You can't take things out of context. You have to read the entire thing to truely understand it. Many of the other problems today also come into play when we bring in the Christian aspect. In the old testament, a disobediant child, or a cheating wife were to be stoned to death. Well, I certainly think that if we applied those standards to todays world, we would certainly not have a population problem.... Anyway, my point is, that the Jewish people did what God said was best for them at the time. But, God also said that the Christ would come, and that he would bring a new covenant between man and god. That covenant can be found in the new testament. That is what Christians are supposed to follow, if they are truely christians. I am not saying that the old testament should not be read, but, one needs to understand it all. Education is the Key. Now, seeing that we live in a republic, we can not apply religious laws over everyone. So, what is the answer? Truely guilty???? Another question is, what if innocent people are put to death? Well, in the past couple of years, if anyone watches Dateline, you have seen that innocent people have indeed been on death row. At least if you have life in prison, if one is found innocent later on, he or she can be freed. But, no one on earth can bring a man back to life. Cost------ Many people complain about the taxes. Many wonder why their tax dollars should go and pay for that (scum) as they call it. Well one reason is, that we live in a country that believes in justice. The truth is, that it costs more to send a man to death than to keep him in prison. The reason is, that the appeals process is so costly, and anyone on death row is going to file for an appeal. Sure, anyone can shoot and kill them all, but is that Justice??? Our founding fathers believed in a country in which a man could be tried by his peers. They believed in a country that would fight for those who needed protection. Well, we have a republic, and if any of you can't live with it, I would suggest you might try China : ) Answer??? Well, the answer to this problem is actually easier than one might think. We do need to change the system. Yes, it has become corrupt. Those found guilty of muder do need to have a punishment!!! Sitting in from of a cable T.V. in jail dosn't cut it. And, life without parol should mean life without parol. Yes, it is certainly good that those in jail have been on "good behavior", but should that give them time off their conviction? No! So, what is the answer? Life without parol, no special treatment. That settles it! Have a great day!

Admittedly, my feelings towards the death penalty would likely change if I were in the horrible position of having a loved one taken away by a murderer. Thus, my opinion on the death penalty is somewhat compromised by the fact that I do not know how it feels to be the surviving relative or kin of a murder victim. Nevertheless, under 'normal' circumstances on the outside looking in, I do not believe that capital puinishment is justified under any circumstances. Morally, taking the life of a person who has taken the life of another makes the executioner as bad as the murderer himself. Who is anyone to play God? All human life I believe is sacred, no matter how wretched it may be. Perhaps instead of vengeance, people should seek true justice by seeking life inprisonment for those who commit heinous crimes. Make criminals pay for their crimes by letting them rot away in jail instead of allowing them a relatively quick and painless escape.

The death penalty is essential for a law abiding society. In 1995, 90% of the American public supported the death penalty. However, over the last 7 years there has been a massive propoganda campaign against the death penalty. I am involved in the "criminal justice" system and I can assure you that 99.9% of all people found guilty of a crime have committed that crime. The American public has no idea how much crucial evidence is suppressed by defense lawyers in this country. Prisoners should be put to death for acts of murder. They have taken a life. Our jails are free room and board 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. The prisoner has complete access to educational opportunities and correspondance with the outside world. This is not punishment. Recently, the Roman Catholic church has become active in opposition to the death penalty. This is a tax exempt organization trying to influence governmental policy. We need separation of church and state. I see four fundamental changes that need to be made in the criminal justice system. (1) Repeal the criminal rights laws that have been put into law from 1968 until present. The accused has many more rights than the victim. (2) Demand a swift trial. Anything over 6 months after the criminal is captured is too long. (3) Enforce the death penalty. The criminal should be allowed one appeal and one appeal only. The current endless appeals at tax payer expense is ludicrous. (4) Criminals confined to jail should be forced to perform public works projects. Additionally, the current argument that the dealth penalty is not fair because poor people and non-whites are over represented is ridiculous. Everywhere in the world, the underclasses commit the most crimes. The United States criminal justice system is a joke to the rest of the world. No where else is the criminal so coddled. No other country has "Mirada Rights". Fact: 55% of all violent crime committed in the United States is committed by blacks. Racial profiling? No, it is called catching the criminal.

By a show of hands, who would rather have their taxes pay for the food, clothing, shelter, and health care of death row inmates than contribute to the schools and free clinics of this country? Oh, none??? Just as I thought! Now, I am pretty liberal about some issues ie. abortion, but when the govt wants to use my hard earned tax dollars to buy new weights for the gym in the local prison, that's when it's time to speak out from my experience! Several years ago, my godmother was a victim of murder and, unfortunately, her killer was never caught. He took away a mother, a wife, a friend, a living, breathing person! To those who oppose the death penalty: Put yourself in her children's shoes for a minute! Imagine someone killing your mother in cold blood and then give me a justifiable reason why that murderer should go living and breathing in the same world as you! True, killing the killer doesn't bring the victim back, but to know that the one person who brought you so much pain in this world is finally going to meet his maker in the next does give one a sense of closure and relief. That's the time to mourn and celebrate the stolen life of your loved one and finally move on! My god brother and sister will never have that, but there's that oppurtunity for others! Our prisons are overcrowded. Our legal system has grown more twisted and corrupt over the years (the OJ trial being a prime example of that!). So, to agree with some of the other reviewers on this page, the execution of a prisoner who is known to be 100% guilty of a crime such as first degree murder should be done swiftly. To me, the death penalty is not revenge, it's justice! What the hell happened to this country? When did we start blaming victims and making lame excuses for murderers? To all the bleeding hearts out there: The world needs people like you to be compassionate towards those who really deserve it!!!!!

I think that if someone murders someone then he should have the choice to live forever in prison and have to go through the torture of living in prison or having the death penalty and getting it all over with because if he diecideds to accept or beg forgiveness from God he could go to haven and live the ertinity there so either way he wont be let out again into the public

I have to agree that our children today take the law very lightly. It's really bad when you tell a boy the age of 10 that someday he could end up in prison, and he says to you: I don't care. OK... When I was little, your parents were allowed to smack you on the rear and not go to jail for it. If you stole a piece of bubble gum at the convienence store, they took you back to the store and you had to appologize for what you did. You were so embarresed that you got caught, you never did it again (or anything to break the law, for that matter). If you did that now, people look at you like you are corupting your kid!

AN EYE FOR AN EYE.

Well, quite simply, what's the point? My biggest complaint about the death penalty is that it takes 5, 10 or even 20 years before the person is finally excecuted. What's the point of killing them if they're going to keep them alive that long? It just seems like a lost cause to me. For people who support the death penalty, it only makes sense to me to make the death swift, very soon after the guilty verdict comes in. Otherwise, what's the point of waiting ten or so years later? I mean, if you wait too long, people can change. I recall a few years ago, a woman on death row had turned into a good Christian person during the years before finally being put to death... so was there a point in killing her anymore? Well, they did so anyway, but it just seems like a waste of life to me, anyway. As for my complaining about the death penalty "taking too long" to be put into action to be of any use, I don't want to sound like I support the death penalty in the first place, because I don't. Allow them to live. There simply isn't any real reason to kill them, except that some people just plum like revenge. As I understand, prison is a form of punishment. Punishment is to teach a lesson--the people in prison hopefully learn to behave in society, so they don't make the same mistakes and get in trouble again. The death penalty, by this definition of punishment, doesn't fit. You can't learn from your mistakes if they kill you! At best, all that could happen is, as I described above about that woman, to "turn good" (for lack of a better wording).

With the infamous Timothy McVeigh execution looming forever on the horizon, the death penalty seems to be floating through my mind – as well as the TV news - quite a bit more than usual these days. I’ve thought about this off and on most of my life and my opinions on the subject have run hot and cold – complete with all the contradicting emotions that always seem to go with this kind of controversy. I have no idea if what I now feel would change were any of my loved ones ever to become victims of murder; this has thankfully never been put to the test. But when I actually think of the reality of taking someone into a gas chamber, strapping a person to a chair or sticking a lethal injection in an outstretched arm, my mind and soul completely recoil. If we can bring ourselves to do this in the name of justice or revenge or even as a deterrent to further crime, isn’t that actually just accepting yet another victimization from the criminal? Aren’t we then just allowing the monster in this person to turn us into something at least vaguely similar? Do we really want that? I certainly can’t answer for everyone, but I don’t think I want to accept or nourish that kind of trait. And I have to agree with Neil8 on this topic. True, the Old Testament was full of slavery, all kinds of death penalties for what we now consider minor crimes, and a lot of other now unusual ideas from a bygone civilization. Even so, this does not really say to me that these actions should continue to be imitated. Maybe they were, in some ways actually meant to be examples of things we needed to read, learn from and move on. At any rate, Neil8’s final quote from the New Testament would certainly seem to back up this idea. And, I know that when I really think about it, I feel more compelled to try to bring myself to follow Christ’s commandment to turn the other cheek – even if it is the most difficult thing to do and goes against the grain of our human definition of justice.

Indeed, I am a Texan who is opposed to the death penalty. Yes, I am a bit embarrassed by my state's reputation, especially in light of the fact that the current President (while he was governor of Texas) allowed for the execution of a man whose IQ fell into the range of retardation. The death penalty in this nation is unfairly applied (on the basis of race and socioeconomic echelons), it does not save money (it actually costs more taxpayers' dollars to place a person on death row than to confine that person to life imprisonment because of the heavy appeals process), it does not deter criminal activity (nations with the harshest of punishments typically have the highest crime rates), and worst of all, at least 350 innocent persons have been sentenced to death in the last century alone, 75 of whom were wrongfully convicted since 1975 (according to the Stanford Law Review.) Equally seriously, the US is one of the only two industrialized nations (the other is Somalia) who sanction execution of minors (citizens below the age of 18.) And some have been as young as 13! For this, I will not be satisfied until I see that the death penalty is abolished in this nation--and I will vote accordingly. Science itself is uncovering details leading us to the conclusion that many murderers suffer from biological defects. Almost all cases of schizophrenia are now attributed to chemical imbalances in the regions of the brain. A man in Austin, Texas a number of years ago decided one day he might take a weapon, mount himself in a tower overlooking sidewalks filled with busy pedestrians, mostly college students, and open fire. After killing several young people, he proceeded to kill himself. What would make a man who seemed non-violent and ordinary take a weapon of destructive force and use it to kill? Well, a thorough autopsy revealed a malignant tumor that had lodged itself in a portion of the brain that moderates inhibitions and violent tendencies. Was this man deserving of a death penalty? No, he was physically ill. The truth is, anyone in civilized society who decides it is an acceptable practice to kill others is, indeed, at least mentally ill. No matter what the specific legal terms and their interpretations may be, something is fundamentally wrong with a person who believes it is acceptable to use violence in society. And strangely enough, folks often cite the Bible as rationale for having a death penalty, despite the fact that the Old Testament clearly dictates that murder is not the only wrong on which the death penalty is to be levied: a disobedient child is to be put to death (Deuteronomy 21:18-21,) a married woman and her extramarital lover are to be put to death (Deuteronomy 22:22,) Sabbath breakers shall be executed (Numbers 15:32-36,) worshippers of other gods are to be put to death (Deuteronomy 13:6-11,) and the list goes on and on. Clearly, even if Jehovah did, in fact, stipulate these penalties, it would horrify us in our current societal mindset, especially in light of the fact that MOST criminals incurring the death penalty in this country do not even satisfy the Old Testamental requirements for execution! It was mandated by Jehovah Himself that no person could be put to death on the testimony of only one eyewitness--at least two to three eyewitness accounts were required to carry out executions under ancient Talmudic law. (See Numbers 35:30; Deuteronomy 17:6,7; 19:15.) With that said, would you believe that 98% (!) of all criminals placed on death row in this country are convicted without even one (!) eye witness account?! So even if the death penalty really were justified Biblically, our current death penalty in this country is NOT in compliance with the stipulations of Talmudic law. In reality, we are a much more enlightened society than we once were. Above Biblical advocacy of contrary viewpoints, we outlawed slavery and extended the right to vote to women and minorites. In both cases, matters of the conscience outweighed the Old Testamental position. And the death penalty is no exception to this trend. Indeed Jesus Himself said on the matter, "You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth,' but I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slap you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also" (Matthew 5:38,39.) I couldn't agree more. Thanks for reading, and God bless! :-)

Why? Why would anyone support this system? People should settle their differences for themselves. An arm for a leg so to speak. I don't even want to know how many people on death row are innocent. More than enough I should imagine. Don't kill someone without water proof evidence. And even then, just ban capital punishment and bring back torture instead. It would be a lot easier and a lot more painful.

I think that a person who has comitted a huge crime like murder, should have his life take as well so he can never make the same crime in the future.

How can anyone support death penalty if it's on Amnesty Int.'s list of the most cruel crimes against humanity together with torture, political, religious & secual oppresion & imprisioning without a trial? How can the US be proud of this, when the country that practices death penalty the most is China with about 1800 a year, a country the US seldome likes to e compared with, & which numberous of American presidents & politicians have condemned for not respecting human rights? How can it be more acceptable that a nation take human lives than a private person? Death penalty is actually one of the symbols of dictatures & underdeveloped societies! Shouldn't it be more than enough taking another persons freedom? Why do some people think the death is the only choice? This is why one of Amnesty's largest campaigns throughout times was pointed towards the US! thought-provoking?

Killing is murder whether carried out by individuals or the State! As a Believer I am convinced that Jesus Christ set the example to choose Mercy over Justice when he allowed the adultress to go free.

Numbers 35: 11-31 lays out the biblical course of action for handling a murder. The revenger of blood has the authority to slay the murderer. Numbers clear dictates that there can be no pleasure taken in the act, if so the revenger should be put to death, as this in itself is an act of murder. In the U.S., we have chosen public laws that allow us to choose our Government bodies to be our revenger. A logical move in a civilized society to maintain order and avoid public brutality and hatred. The verses also say it is wrong for the revenger to lay in wait to take the life of the murder. If we place a person on death row and do not swiftly act on the verdict, is this not very similar to laying wait? The murder does not know when the execution will take place and then after years of imprisonment, they are suddenly told of the day. Our actions must be swifter in order to be effective. Delaying when there is 100%, proof of a guilty verdict only builds up hope that there is a chance for survival. Thou shall not kill is certainly one of the commandments, God also new that humans would break those commandments therefore we are given instructions on how to deliver earthly justice and deterrence. Some may argue that it is hypocritical to be against abortion and support the death penalty. There is significant difference in the biblical teachings on the subject. To be against abortion is to be against murder, the act of execution for a murderer is the biblical punishment for the act not the act itself. It is all too convenient to quote convenient scripture without understanding all of Gods laws and teachings. This is why there are 66 books in the Bible not just 1.

When innocent people are murdered their lives are cut short and they no longer have the opportunity to grow, learn, and enjoy their lives. That is why I support the death penalty 100%, prisoners don't suffer in jail, their cell is like an unsanitary hotel room; they have free food, free health care, and don't have to work 8 hours a day 5 days a week. All of this comes out of our taxes, until the government can become self-sufficient and we no longer have to support criminals, I say that since they aren't suffering, kill them. Why should they live when those they have murdered cannot?

Murder is murder. The government does not have the ethical right to kill. My concern, however, is that we will never see a "life without parole" that doesn't take place in Club Med. People should be made to be responsible for their actions, and punishment should be a real threat/deterrent, but the government does not have the right to kill. (Exodus 20:13; I see no exceptions printed.)

Many people say locking up is the answer..yet everyone bitches about taxes..Back when people had to pay for their crimes they thought twice about committing them, now with OJ being an example not even our children are afraid of the law. Now you get shipped off for free room, board and workouts all on our tax dollars with most of the time possibility of parole. Yet someone paid their entry fee with their life. Is justice only in Texas?

if they are beyond responsible doubt that they are gulity then i say kill them i hate paying taxes to keep the dirt bag slime licking murdering SOB's alive in prison i think that the death penilty should take place within 24 hrs after it is issued (e.x timothy mcveigh killed 100 something+ in the OKC bombing 5 years ago yet he is still alive and his lawyers (paid buy my tax dollars probably) think he shouldn't get the death penalty f that kill him

I would have given the death penalty a 5 but the process is too slow and inefficient. How many years does it take to get an execution??? Justice should be swift. Get rid of the insane number of appeals. Get out there and actually kill somebody already. While we're at it, let's increase the number of capital offenses and reduce the total number of offenses. Clean out the dregs and remove the rediculous laws. Life in prison should not even be an option. It's just a stupid waste of our tax dollars.

THE DEATH PENALTY SHOULD ONLY BE USED IN CASES WHERE DNA DETERMINES THAT IT IS FOR 100% SURE THE PERSON THEY ARE PUTTING ON TRIAL AND IF THERE IS NO DNA TO PROVE IT, WELL LIFE IN PRISON IS BETTER THAN NOT KNOWING FOR SURE AND ALWAYS WONDERING THAT IS FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE FEELINGS.