If you believe in the death penalty, could you do the job.

[HCM856]

I do believe in the death penalty in certain cases. When there is zero doubt and for certain crimes. As an example, Rose West and Wayne Couzens, wouldn’t be against them getting the death penalty.
I couldn’t be the one to kill them though, mainly because of the idea that there is a heaven/hell.. I’m not sure, I murdered someone but it was my job to do so would matter, I’d just be judged as a murderer.

I don’t agree with it but there are plenty of jobs which people benefit from but aren’t willing to do. Loads of people happily eat meat but wouldn’t kill an animal.

I beleive in sewerage workers or vets i couldnt do those jobs

I couldn’t be an executioner because I’m opposed to the death penalty.

I couldn’t work in a sewer or an abattoir because I’m squeamish with a very active gag reflex, not because I’m morally opposed to eating meat or disposing of human shit. I’ve always tried to ensure I have other options than working somewhere I really don’t want to work. I feel for people who have fewer options.

I think there are no shortage of people willing to do the job, weirdly enough.

It's a point. And to me this is proof of our nature.

Having said that, I last ate meat in 1993. I couldn't kill a non-human animal.

I could do the executioner's job no problem whatsoever. I will say that with the greatest confidence, bearing in mind there's a bunch of other jobs (car park attendant, prison officer etc) that I am not sure I could do!

Edited, typo.

Yes I could

I would volunteer to. For free

I know I could do the job, but I would never choose it. I wouldn’t want to have their blood on my hands, so to speak.

Edited to add: sorry didn't read the full OP. I don't agree with the death penalty. But could I physically do it? Yes. But would I choose it as job? Never.

That doesn’t make sense though. No one is forcing you to be an executioner. The op is basically saying would you do it willingly?

Albert Pierrepoint’s reflections on the subject are worth looking into.

Well then the answer would be no.

I don't understand your logic, OP.

If you think you would go to hell for being the one to implement the death penalty, surely that suggests that at some level, you consider it to be immoral? So why would you be in support of it? And why would you think it was ok for some other executioner to go to hell for just doing their job?

I don't believe in heaven or hell, but I think the death penalty is utterly barbaric, so no, I would not be prepared to kill in the name of the state.

The reason I stopped eating meat was because I realised that I wouldn't ever be willing to kill the animals myself and it was therefore hypocritical.

I’m not a supporter of the death penalty. I could probably kill in exceptional circumstances. I think those saying they could do it don’t realise the toll it takes. Very few of the formally employed executioners in this country came away mentally unscathed. I don’t think being able to take life easily is a regular feature of the human psyche.

I think there are a lot of people who talk that talk. I suspect far fewer would walk the walk if it came to it. Most people have a horror of taking life, thankfully.

Cross posted. Agree entirely with this. I think a lot of people are glib on the subject.

I’m not pro death penalty, too many mistakes could be made that result in the wrong person dying, however I do think I could do the job. If it pays well that is

I suspect it would take its toll on me. I definitely wouldn't be averse to putting a noose in murderers' cells though. Then they can take themselves out and save the state a fortune if they want to.

I wonder if those saying they would happily do the job are aware that PTSD, personality changes and alcohol/substance misuse are common among people who carry out these tasks. Many only participate in a small number of executions before stepping down, and many leave the prison service altogether afterwards (due to the psychological toll/stress/moral conflict involved). And these are people who are, or were, pro the death penalty (obviously, otherwise they couldn’t have done the job in the first place).

It’s easy to get incensed about a crime you’ve read about in the news, and to feel hatred for the perpetrator. It’s easy then to say ‘I’d happily flick the switch’. But actually doing so is a different matter. As soon as you’ve flicked that switch, you’re a killer too.

I don't agree with the death penalty and I couldn't take part in an execution. I don't think I'd ever sleep properly at night again. I have no problem with full life terms for the worst offenders though

I am aware, but I have also done a lot of other jobs that supposedly 'take their toll' and they've had no effect. I've also been the victim of an attempted murder and do not have PTSD from it (it was a violent method). I deal day in day out with people with MH difficulties and trauma and have never had it take any effect. Call me a psychopath if you like (I'm not, other things very much DO affect me!) but yes, I could be an executioner.

I’m not so sure. My family is American and plenty of them would genuinely be okay to do it, they are very pro death penalty and see it as just part of the justice system. To us in the UK it seems very “out there” but it isn’t the same elsewhere. (I’m anti death penalty btw).

No I couldn't do it. *

Obviously there are different execution methods, some of which are far more personal / intimate and "hands-on" than others, so people's answers may differ?

* I might possibly be able to make an exception for the likes of Wayne Couzens but I'd far rather he rot in an overcrowded, rat-infested prison (see today's news about early prisoner release, and the stories that some of the former inmates are telling) for the rest of his pointless life ...

Sorry OP, I've just edited my post to add that I hadn't seen that you only wanted replies from people who support the death penalty! I don't, therefore please feel free to ignore me!

Crikey. Do you truly think they would? Or is it the bravado of people who know they’ll never have to do it?

I would agree with the death penalty where there is no doubt of guilt. Rose West and Wayne Cousins (as cited by the OP are good examples) amongst many others. Proof will inevitably become far easier to establish in years to come with the abundance of CCTV, ring doorbells, mobile phones and newer technology. To say nothing of the incredible advances in DNA. And of course cases where the criminal is actually caught red-handed. But no, I wouldn't want to be the executioner any more than I'd want to work in an abbatoir.

Yes for certain people. And yes I could do it. I could not get violent or hang them or shoot them or something but I could calmly administer a lethal dose yes.

unless they did something to one of mine. Then I could do it with violence.