[John_D]

Re: Death penalty? : Fri Sep 21, 2012 3:00 pm  

Just out of interest...
Five US states have abolished the death penalty in the last five years. California will vote in a referendum whether to scrap it in November. Oregon's governor has called a halt to all executions.

It doesn't work. It's never worked. It can't possibly be the right thing for anyone who wishes to be described as civilised to support.

Re: Death penalty? : Fri Sep 21, 2012 3:11 pm  

Ferocious Aardvark wrote:

Every human has the same equal right to their life. That is the whole point of arguments against the death penalty.

Not the whole point. My main opposition to the death penalty is the potential for miscarriages of justice.

Re: Death penalty? : Fri Sep 21, 2012 3:18 pm  

John_D wrote:

Just out of interest...
Five US states have abolished the death penalty in the last five years. California will vote in a referendum whether to scrap it in November. Oregon's governor has called a halt to all executions.

It doesn't work. It's never worked. It can't possibly be the right thing for anyone who wishes to be described as civilised to support.

Texas will make up any shortfalls in numbers should these two abolish it.

Re: Death penalty? : Fri Sep 21, 2012 4:28 pm  

Mintball wrote:

Perhaps I was confusing it with the subject of this thread.

Perhaps. In proposing adding to the argument "the person who can't run into the burning building, because they're in a wheelchair or are 82" and posing the question "Do age or disability mean that people become less special?"
.. you were I suppose on reflection clearly talking about the death penalty.

Though I haven't worked out why you would suggest those categories of people might be in line for it.

Re: Death penalty? : Fri Sep 21, 2012 6:53 pm  

I'm in favour of the death penalty for certain crimes in theory but in reality as soon as even one innocent person is hung it renders the whole thing unworkable.

You can argue that modern techniques such as DNA can prove beyond a reasonable doubt that someone is guilty but that depends on a reliance on the police to be honest and trustworthy (so no evidence tampering etc) but I think the revelations about the police's conduct in the aftermath of Hillsborough shows they are anything but !

Re: Death penalty? : Fri Sep 21, 2012 7:20 pm  

DNA doesn't prove anything beyond reasonable doubt. It may work in cosmoplitan areas such as London, Manchester, Liverpool, Bristol or Leeds, but it doesn't work in more rural areas where the DNA spread isn't as great.

Re: Death penalty? : Fri Sep 21, 2012 7:23 pm  

Either way, we all know that the death of 2 young female police officers was more tragic than if it had been 2 male officers

Re: Death penalty? : Fri Sep 21, 2012 8:07 pm  

I'm assuming that's irony?

[John_D]

Re: Death penalty? : Fri Sep 21, 2012 8:47 pm  

Wolfieseviltwin wrote:

I'm in favour of the death penalty for certain crimes in theory

Therefore I reserve the right to call you an amoral idiot

Re: Death penalty? : Fri Sep 21, 2012 9:02 pm  

John_D wrote:

Therefore I reserve the right to call you an amoral idiot

I'm an idiot for having an opinion? get over yourself prick