The Death Penalty - are you for or against it and why?

[bozo]

Against, for all the usual reasons plus another one that isn't often mentioned.
With executions you need executioners.
People who relish the idea of taking a human life shouldn't be allowed to.
People who don't shouldn't have to, if it is as avoidable as using life imprisonment instead.

Interesting that the prolific hangman Albert Pierrepoint, who was so good at the job that he was selected to despatch the nazis convicted at Nuremberg, at the end of his long career wrote that he was no longer in favour of the death penalty.

[Epimethean]

That is a pretty telling point, but only from the perspective of the mechanism, not the mind of the executioner, since in truth, the executioner is only the lever.

[reverendjeremiah]

People who relish the idea of taking a human life shouldn't be allowed to.

What makes you think they "relish" taking a life? Honestly, if what you say has ANY merit, then why do they often have phantom switches and several people turning them, each person not knowing (or not wanting to know) that the switch they turned was the one that made the execution?

Its one thing to be against the death penalty. Its another thing entirely to make those who support it seem as if they relish it when they do it.

[Napoléon]

My grandad actually knew someone who used to do the lethal injection. He was a pleasant guy, and whilst he enjoyed his job (in a sense) he most certainly did not 'relish' taking life.

[DaveD]

People who relish the idea of taking a human life shouldn't be allowed to.

What makes you think they "relish" taking a life? Honestly, if what you say has ANY merit, then why do they often have phantom switches and several people turning them, each person not knowing (or not wanting to know) that the switch they turned was the one that made the execution?

Its one thing to be against the death penalty. Its another thing entirely to make those who support it seem as if they relish it when they do it.

Nicely quote-mined! Didn't you read the next line in my post? There will of course be a range of reactions between relishing killing people and being horrified by the idea, but if you have the death penalty you have to have someone to administer it. Whoever does so is likely to be affected, and I can't imagine how such an action would be "life affirming" unless you like killing, especially if it turns out later that the person executed was wrongly convicted.

[reverendjeremiah]

People who relish the idea of taking a human life shouldn't be allowed to.

What makes you think they "relish" taking a life? Honestly, if what you say has ANY merit, then why do they often have phantom switches and several people turning them, each person not knowing (or not wanting to know) that the switch they turned was the one that made the execution?

Its one thing to be against the death penalty. Its another thing entirely to make those who support it seem as if they relish it when they do it.

Nicely quote-mined! Didn't you read the next line in my post? There will of course be a range of reactions between relishing killing people and being horrified by the idea, but if you have the death penalty you have to have someone to administer it. Whoever does so is likely to be affected, and I can't imagine how such an action would be "life affirming" unless you like killing, especially if it turns out later that the person executed was wrongly convicted.

Well, if I quote mined then that wasnt my intention. I merely saw a snippet and went with it. In no way did I wish to come off as an asshole or something like that..I merely wanted to point out a generalization I didnt care much for.

As far as "life affirming"... LMFAO...WUT?!

[DaveD]

Forums like this have many advantages over other forms of communication, but one disadvantage is the lack of tone of voice or non-verbal signals, so a lot of nuance can be lost between thinking our thoughts and the words appearing on the screen. This is especially true of a contentious subject such as this one.
No offence was intended, and none was taken. (Try thinking of me as a sarcastic bastard; that should help!)

[reverendjeremiah]

Forums like this have many advantages over other forms of communication, but one disadvantage is the lack of tone of voice or non-verbal signals, so a lot of nuance can be lost between thinking our thoughts and the words appearing on the screen. This is especially true of a contentious subject such as this one.
No offence was intended, and none was taken. (Try thinking of me as a sarcastic bastard; that should help!)

Being the resident absurdist, I find sarcasm to be a great quality in a person. And you are correct, tone of voice is missing in a typed message. Voice tone is VERY important in social interaction...then again, my favorite saying on the job site today was "Dont look at me with that tone of voice"... so your post got a good chuckle out of me.

[bozo]

My grandad actually knew someone who used to do the lethal injection. He was a pleasant guy, and whilst he enjoyed his job (in a sense) he most certainly did not 'relish' taking life.

I can understand the executioner's situation. When execution is the sentence, someone has to be executioner.
In the case of Pierrepoint, he was expert at the job. It was a kind of science to him. I would rather have had him pull the lever, knowing he was the best at what he did, than someone less skilled, who may have made me suffer the insufferable.
I don't think executioners down the ages have all been maniacal murderers who got off on their power. I suspect for the majority it was just a job ( and probably the best job they could aspire to ).

[Napoléon]

I suspect for the majority it was just a job ( and probably the best job they could aspire to ).

Yeah I hear the pay was pretty frickin' awesome.