WE is right. It's a state matter. The Federal courts have had their say on the D.P.
The D.P. isn't about revenge at all. If that were the case, the accused would be turned over to the victim's family. The state acting on behalf of its people, carry out the prosecution and punishment. I believe there are some crimes too heinous for just a life sentence. I don't think it always has to be, "you kill, we kill you back". Some of these cases would keep any decent person up at night if they knew the facts. Death is appropriate sometimes in my opinion.
Color me jaded, but I support Louisiana's decision. It's a shame the highest court in the land seems to be off their meds this month. Let's hope they don't screw up the Heller ruling as well.
yep.
first and foremost, the death penalty is about deterrence, which is ultimately a primary means by which our social order defends itself. it's existence deters those that would consider such a heinous crime from ever committing it, and it is certainly the ultimate deterrent for those that are executed from ever committing the same offense again. and that isn't a minor argument, considering modern recidivism rates.
It is dangerous to establish the premise that the death penalty is about deterrence. To base it on that premise gives ammo to those who want to do away with such a penalty.
As long as we can all agree the death penalty is purely about "eye for and eye" there is no argument.
I just flatly disagree. if you are suggesting that the "deterrent" argument to the DP in particular is a "slippery slope", then we should probably open the jails now and let everyone out. if it's not a deterrent in a capital cases, it's not a deterrent ever.
and, just for the record, I am myself quite ambivalent about the DP, but my problem has to do with absolute certainty that you are executing the right guy, every time, and every place . . . juries, being comprised of people, being the fallible things that they are, and all. ultimately, I am forced to come down firmly in favor of the DP, because I think that a social order that refuses itself the ultimate punishment is, in the final analysis, incapable of defending themselves.