AIBU to think the death penalty should sometimes be used?

[Gide]

In cases such as mass murderers, paedophiles, rapists? Obviously only if there is absolutely no doubt at all about their guilt.

[Haggisfish]

As ever, it's been really interesting to read the opposing views to mine. And, as ever, I'm properly on the fence now!! Thanks for this thread, I've found it thought provoking.

[SuburbanRhonda]

And anyone who voted yes to bringing back the death penalty.

[SwedishEdith]

And the jury.

[TiggyD]

On the condition that if the person was ever found to be not guilty after the sentence was carried out, the executioner and judge were automatically convicted of murder and themselves executed...

[oliviaclottedcream]

You're wrong. Mass murderers, sadistic rapists etc should spent the rest of their lives reflecting on and paying for their crimes. Every single day... Ian Brady, Charles Manson, Yorkshire Ripper all would much prefer to die. Shipman, Fred West etc etc once they had the chance, took their own miserable lives in order to escape the decades of misery that awaited them. Having to face themselves with their crimes laid bare in front of them..No distractions and no outlets, but 4 blank walls to stare at . Lock them up and throw away the key . Who says death is a punishment anyway. Plus I dont wish to stoop to their perverse level.

[SuburbanRhonda]

I don't think that's very likely varya

[Varya]

I think that peadophiles, and those cruel to children might be considered for the death penalty.

[AugustaFinkNottle]

Apologies, Purple.

[PurpleDaisies]

augusta I've checked and what I said in response to...
Sometimes tough choices have to be made for the safety of the whole society so if a few people need to be executed to protected hundreds or thousands of others then so be it.
Was Life in prison achieves the same thing without killing anyone.

I wasn't talking about life meaning life at all, only that is there was someone who had committed a crime so heinous that they should never be able to rejoin society rhey should be imprisobed rather than killed.

You've mixed me up with someone more right wing.

[PurpleDaisies]

You said that all life sentences should be full life sentences and that prison conditions should be tougher.

That wasn't actually me-I think you're confusing me with another poster. I said life sentences should mean life in prison but nothing about conditions. I'm sure prisons are tough enough already.

I didn't know that murder comes with a mandatory life sentence. I'm not sure I agree with that idea-I think sentencing should have guidelines with the judge having the final say based on the individual circumstances. I think when sentences have been handed put they should be adhered to.

[AugustaFinkNottle]

PurpleDaisies, a life sentence is mandatory for murder. People can be let out of prison after a time on licence, but that means that they can be hauled back in without trial if they commit even a minor offence thereafter.

You said that all life sentences should be full life sentences and that prison conditions should be tougher. Should we take it that you don't actually believe that to be the case and that in fact there does need to be a release on licence scheme in place?

[LikeDylanInTheMovies]

But the reality is that you wouldn't. People who make these pronouncements never actually think through what it would mean, or even whether it's practicable

Yes, the wannabe vigilante posing is just hot air from people who've seen too many John Wayne films.

[SuburbanRhonda]

Have to say, if anything ever happened to one of my dc, when the guy got released, I'd be waiting for him. It would be a long slow death.

And leave your remaining DC without a parent? How cruel.

[PurpleDaisies]

Always? How about, say, mercy killings carried out by people under intolerable pressure and stress?

Surely the judge would be able to take any mitigating factors into account at sentencing so they wouldn't get a life sentence?

[AugustaFinkNottle]

Have to say, if anything ever happened to one of my dc, when the guy got released, I'd be waiting for him. It would be a long slow death.

But the reality is that you wouldn't. People who make these pronouncements never actually think through what it would mean, or even whether it's practicable. And they certainly don't think about the reality of killing someone and whether, when it comes to the crunch, they could actually do it.

[AugustaFinkNottle]

I believe a life sentence should be a life sentence and prison conditions should be tougher.

Always? How about, say, mercy killings carried out by people under intolerable pressure and stress?

[Haggisfish]

But we simply don't have the resources to increase sentences! Prisons are already full to bursting, and struggling to cope with elderly inmates suffering from elderly illnesses such as dementia. The system cannot tolerate an incrwase in sentencing or numbers.

[maggiethemagpie]

Killing someone for murder is...er...murder.

[AlpacaLypse]

I can't support the death penalty, for all the many reasons explained eloquently above - but I do think sentences should be longer in many cases.

Also by committing crimes, particularly the sorts of crimes that are abhorrent in all societies around the world, not just in the West, the perpetrators have abrogated some of their human rights. I think prisoners should have the right to life, food, shelter, health care and frankly that's about it. If they've stolen somebody else's right to a family life by taking a member of someone else's family, why should they retain a right to a family life of their own?

[Sunnybitch]

husky my dad has always said the same and said that he'd tell the judge 'when you say life you better mean life, if you release him, I'll be waiting and next time you'll have me in the dock for his murder'

[FrancesNiadova]

Exodus, 6th Commandment, "Thou shalt not kill."
Whether you believe in God or not, Exodus relates to 1500 years before Christ & earlier.
So, as a rough guide, people felt so strongly about not killing each other, over 3,500 years ago, that they wrote it down in the most powerful language that they had.
In the grand scheme of things, we've not moved on very far, have we?

[FeedMyFaceWithJaffaCakes]

"An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind."
Not in my name.
Pedeophilla is an illness, as a pp has said just because they are attracted to children doesn't mean they have to act on it.
I believe a life sentence should be a life sentence and prison conditions should be tougher.

[lurked101]

There is a reason we don't allow victims or their relatives to choose what justice is given to perpetrators.

This thread shows why. It's too emotive.

[Janeymoo50]

If someone had ever broken into my 80 year old mums bedroom in the dead of night and brutally attacked and raped her (twice) *, I honestly think I would be so consumed with hate I would want to inflict such hurt on the person who did it. I can't help it. Would I be brave enough to do it, probably not.

Two very awful wroñgs don't make a right.

• This happened to an elderly lady in South London a couple of years ago and I remember thinking at the time that I'd have to kill someone who did that to a frail, old lady - it so upset me.

[VestalVirgin]

I'd actually have no problem strangling the bastard myself.

I have no problem with that. Strangle him and go to prison for manslaughter. I would send you flowers.

However, have you considered that if death penalty is made the official punishment for rape, what the "Noooo, don't report that he raped you, it will ruin his life!" idiots will say? Can you imagine the kind of pressure they will make on victims to not report? Maybe they'll even threaten to kill the victim!

Your child is most likely to be raped by someone you know. Someone the child knows. Perhaps someone everyone in your neighbourhood loves.

Your child would be made responsible for the death of the rapist. Do you really want that?


I have no empathy for rapists. But I do have lots of empathy for victims. It has to become easier to report rape, not harder.