What's your stance on the death penalty?

[Elessar Zappa]

69 votes, 1 pass | Time left: Unlimited
	For
	10 (14%)
	Against
	57 (83%)
	Other
	2 (3%)
	1 DU member did not wish to select any of the options provided.
Show usernames Disclaimer: This is an Internet poll

[hookaleft]

1. against

under all circumstances.

[marble falls]

6. Me, too. Any and all circumstances.

[Johnny2X2X]

2. It has not been applied fairly and evenly

In principle I think it would be a fitting punishment for some crimes. But we have a racist and unjust CJ system in this country that has proven over and over it cannot apply the death penalty evenly and fairly.

[Tetrachloride]

12. +++

[Lunabell]

35. This.

Lori Vallow, the monster, deserves the death penalty. Child rape and murder is deserving of the death penalty. Serial rape and murder is deserving. That's pretty much my list.

[Elessar Zappa]

3. I'm against it.

My resolve is tested though when it comes to child killers but I just can’t support state-sponsored murder.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

4. It should be abolished.

[lastlib]

17. Agreed. The state should not have the power to take life. Period.

Allowing the death penalty puts us in the company of China, North Korea, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Russia, and too many other unsavory governments.

Abolish it.

[marble falls]

5. Totally 100% against state sanctioned murder carried out in my name.

[FalloutShelter]

9. 10000%

No government should not have the power of life or death over its citizens.

[Lochloosa]

16. This.

[spanone]

7. State sanctioned murder.

[WhiteTara]

8. I would support the death penalty for Donald Trump

and the other leaders of the seditious coup. Foot soldiers, prison.

[marble falls]

10. He would love the martyr aspect as would his minions, imprison him as he turns into an irrelevant ..

... feeble minded old lump of grizzle. Wheel him out anytime people start to forget how dangerous we had let him become.

[WhiteTara]

18. well, there is that

but if you cut off all the heads of the hydra, the body dies. They need to all be on parade on their way to the gallows.

[marmar]

11. Against. Without equivocation.

[Tetrachloride]

13. Ukraine

[roamer65]

14. Generally against it, but this one tests my stance on it.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=17909519

[Thunderbeast]

15. I see my internal debate on this (and several other) issues in terms of brain biology.

Our brains have evolved over millions of years. Our primitive brain stem controls instincts necessary for survival. It developed at a time when we were small rodents. Those individuals that could defend their young and defend their territorial food sources survived. Part of that survival trait involved the defeat of others of our species that would do us harm.

As we evolved into humans, traits of socialization and cooperation became more valuable. Our brains evolved with a large prefrontal cortex to support these functions.

Human life today is largely defined by the conflicting "needs" of our hybrid brains. We eat, breathe, mate, and respond to threats based on the functions of our ancient mammalian brain. Modern political and commercial advertising messages are crafted to address the powerful emotions of fear and grievance that originate there. The prefrontal cortex manages higher functions, but must moderate the messages coming from our vestigial brain stem.

The urge to execute other humans is a defensive function. While our rational brain knows (through extensive research) that capital punishment does little as a deterrent against future crime, our brain core is crying out for revenge.

The risks of "getting it wrong" and executing an innocent person outweigh any vengeful satisfaction I get from the state killing in the name of justice.

[Johonny]

19. If Putin fell out a window

I wouldn't complain too much. But in general, it has a long track record of being applied unfairly and it's typically more expensive than simple incarceration.

[hlthe2b]

20. Past executions of subsequent conclusively determined INNOCENT people has underscored my belief

that it has not and can not be justly determined and carried out with certainty. I've been opposed since my teen years and never wavered. I can not say some crimes/perpetrators don't test that belief but protecting justice and the innocent outweighs all else.

[ProfessorGAC]

24. My Biggest Issue, Too

People make mistakes. It's inevitable.
If someone is executed because of a mistake, there's no making it right.
Unless we are all perfect, there shouldn't be a death penalty & if everyone was perfect we wouldn't need it.

[Rafi]

21. Yep, nothing to do with someone deserving it. Some do imo.

But since it courts are not foolproof and the should not carry out sanctioned murder...I'm against.

[flvegan]

22. It's revenge, not punishment.

I can't support killing someone over such a pathetic human emotion.

[MurrayDelph]

23. Generally against

but am willing to make specific exceptions. The scumbag who murdered Polly Klaas and used his verdict statement to taunt the family, the various white boys who shot up synagogues and black churches and are proud of it,

They've used enough air.

[Kaleva]

27. +1

[Mysterian]

25. Too much corruption and incompetence in government

The government is unqualified to have the power of life and death. That is too much power to give to the government.

[Kaleva]

26. On principal I'm against it but I don't feel sorry for some

[Frasier Balzov]

28. I don't want to sound paranoid. But is this a trap? A sting?

A way of culling the DU herd?

Domestic tranquility seems rather controversial around here lately.

The death penalty can be administered quite humanely and with the overall well-being of the community enhanced.

I haven't voted in the poll though, sensing impending risk of DU's own version of the death penalty.

[Elessar Zappa]

33. Not a trap, I'm just curious as to people's views on the subject.

[Upthevibe]

29. I'm against it.....n/t

[Zeitghost]

30. Other

I believe that some people deserve to die for their crimes and that life in prison is more cruel than death.



I just don't trust our system to get it right 100% of the time and you can't be 99.9% right when it comes to taking lives.

[Solly Mack]

31. Abolish it.

[zipplewrath]

32. How about assassination?

I often see suggestions about extra-judicial killings of despots and dictators. How many objected to the assassination of Osama Bin Laden?

[hamsterjill]

34. I'm generally against it but there are some heinous crimes

Where, if I were on a jury, I could vote it.

As an example of what I mean - if the Uvalde shooter had lived to face a trial, I could vote for the death penalty in an instance like that. Because I do not believe that someone like that could ever be rehabilitated nor do I believe that someone capable of doing something like that would deserve to live.

Goes without saying that evidence to convict would have to be irrefutable and there be no question of guilt.

[mvd]

36. Completely against

Morally and practically. Yes, some crimes are so bad they tempt wanting the death penalty. But I feel making one exception could open things up for more and more. I just don’t believe in state sanctioned murder.

[Vinca]

37. Opposed as long as a mandatory life sentence - no parole - is granted for crimes that otherwise

might get the death penalty. Quite honestly, were I in that situation, I'd prefer the injection over a lifetime in a cell. Living is a much harsher punishment, IMO.