RateItAll: The Opinion Network

I believe that statistics show that a majority of Republicans AND Democrats support the death penalty in at least some instances. No question that it is more popular with conservatives but it has a large appeal with liberals, too. Bottom line, Americans like the court system having Capital Punishment as an option.

In American politics today: yes, it is helpful to favor the death penalty from the standpoint that there are legitimate, thoughtful arguments both for and against it. And there are. If you don't see the logic and resultant sincerity of the other side, this is an issue you should try to avoid discussing. And there is room under the tent for guys like Lance who, very articulately, presents the "con" side for conservatives. I believe that the current fervency in favor of the death penalty is a long-term knee jerk reaction on the part of people like me, who believe that convicted criminals, who are marginally likely to commit the same crimes subsequently, should be kept from society, protecting future innocent victims. Too often, heinous crimes are committed by habitual offenders, previously incarcerated, but released. It is a conservative issue today because too many conservatives, deservedly or not, view liberals (and particularly liberal judges) as soft on crime and unwilling to punish criminals, even the most deserving of extreme punishment, in favor of rehabilitation efforts. That is also why it is such an emotional issue (for conservatives) that reliably conservative judges get appointed to federal and the Supreme Court. But, in ordinary, generic terms, the death penalty is not a conservative issue. It seems to be unique to America and unique to this particular time.

I agree with Magellan that it is an extension of Moral Absolutism,but where we differ is that I think it is difficult to be against the Death Penalty and Conservative at the same time.

This is not an issue that I'd fall on my sword on as a flexible conservative. Although I don't think that the death penalty is morally wrong, I don't think that it should be meted out without a lot of reflection and justification (although I agree with sentiments like those expressed by numbah, and also think that there shouldn't be a moment's hesitation in executing these guys involved in the recent spate of child molestations and killings - fry 'em twice over). When people go around killing other people, especially relatively defenseless, innnocent people like kids, they deserve what they get - and it shouldn't be a government hotel with losts of perks. I'm sorry, I have no pity for low-life like that.

If if you believe that people taking accountability for their actions and justice are core conservative point then you believe in the death penalty. The scales of justice are only balanced when the punishment is equal to the crime. They only way the punishment is equal to the crime in the case of first degree murder is death, so yes, I support the death penalty. Hell yes, I support the death penalty.

Many conservatives do not support the death penalty so I doubt that if you don't your not eligible for a membership in the vast right wing conspiracy (lol). Personally, I do support the death penalty and am also pro life. Some might see that as hypocritical but to me, I see it as logical. The main reason I'm pro life is that the procedure of abortion terminates the life of a child who has done NOTHING but simply carry out the biological process of life. Meanwhile, criminals who have done EVERYTHING to deserve their punishment, which has been determined in a court of law, are given a much more dignified and humane form of death. Thus, I can say, without a second's hesitation, that I fully support the death penatly.

I think you'd be hard pressed to find someone as conservative as me on this website and I don't support the death penalty, so I don't find this to be a prerequisite. I do understand how my conservative bretheren support the death penalty- in theory it is morally permissible. Unfortunately there is a difference between theory and application. When the goal: protecting society by removing the threat is available by other means I believe that is the better option in light of the systemic weaknesses of any humanly devised system.

Hey, we just had a cop killed while making a routine traffic stop in Phoenix. If I got got my hands on the little creeps who did it I'd make it slow and painful. Hell yeah, I believe in the death penalty.

Again, I don't see this one as a core conservative value. I see it as an extension of the Moral Absolutism wing of the conservative cause. This thinking says that actions are either right or wrong, and there is nothing wrong with punishing heinous crimes with the degree of finality and absolution offered by the death penalty.