Death penalty
 

Yes or no. Where do you stand ?

Yes. Absolutely, on CERTAIN things...

Yes in principle, but we still have no definitive method of determining guilt.

Determining guilt or innocence is just to inexact science in the overwhelming majority of cases.

Subject to the following plus anomaly.
 

I don't think there can be a simple yes or no answer; too many variables but if you mean do I have an absolute moral block on taking anyone's life, I would say no, but subject to all of the following.

I). Enough forensic evidence to of itself secure a conviction for a lesser crime.
2). Enough circumstantial evidence as above.
3). Full confession made in the presence of his/her lawyer. Any confession made without the
lawyer present to be unacceptable in Court.
4). Death penalty to be automatically commuted to life (meaning full life)
imprisonment. At any time, the 'criminal' can opt for voluntary euthanasia.

I think 4) is important. If innocent, would the accused take their own life or go for appeal after appeal after appeal, knowing that if/when it's successful, damages awarded would be considerable?

I know that like Liza's bucket the above has more than its fair share of holes, but it's the best I can do.

Anomaly? The state already does this, sometimes on a grand scale. When the U.S.A. and the U.K. bombed Baghdad, we were exacting capital punishment not just on its military, but on any innocent men, women or children who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. By and large, the people we were not punishing were the politicians. Whatever they were, they weren't stupid; most were long gone.

Point well taken, Noon.

I never talked to a con who was guilty of what he was in jail for. Except for the kid who stole a pig. He was just too stupid to lie.

From my experiences, there's not too many innocents on death row. It ain't like watching "The Green Mile".

Bottom line is, I won't miss them.

Chas

There's just no way to do it "right". We far too often execute people who are later proven innocent. (Chas, check out The Innocence Project.) Former Illinois Governor George Ryan, a Republican, placed a moratorium on executions in his state.

Even if we were somehow able to get it right every time, I have concerns about what it does to society as a whole to have officially sanctioned killing of other human beings. Frankly, I think it "models" a behavior that makes it more rather than less likely that others will commit murder.

John

Illinois was never a big "death penalty" state to begin with, so not exactly a good example.

Only for 100% proven child molesters.

Size doesn't matter. ;)

The thing that got Ryan going was the realization that during the time he was governor 12 people had been executed, while 13 people on death row had been exonerated. That's enough to get anyone's attention - or anyone outside a couple of Texas governors.

John

I'd be for "life without" for those people but, once they're dead, "Oops! Sorry!" just doesn't cut it.

John