Should the U.S. Abolish the Death Penalty?

Should the U.S. Abolish the Death Penalty?

The death penalty has provoked heated discussion since biblical times, and today the debate remains as controversial as ever. Is such a sentence ever justified? Capital punishment is an intensely emotional topic for everyone involved because it sits at the intersection of life, death and the very definition of the word 'justice.'

Next question in Crime

You are seeing 2 Comments. See all 136 Comments on this Question.
  • Sundevil
    There are cases where the death penalty fits

    Cruel and unusual you hear all the time when the argument of abolishing the death penalty arises. I have vigorously in the past argued that some cases still exist where the only course of action means to use the death penalty. I can certainly see where the pro abolishment group is coming from: Aren't we a civilized culture that detests the inhumane and unnecessary acts? Absolutely correct. But, lest us forget Timothy McVeigh? What about the terrorists that bomb US embassies throughout the world? And how about Osama Bin Laden? There are more examples of miscreants who deserve the death penalty. I also strongly support death penalties in cases of premeditated murder 1. I'm not from Texas and I have a college degree, so spare me that rhetoric. There are people in this world that have shown they do not belong among civilized man. And they are not all clinically insane, in fact some of them plan out every last touch before they execute the deed. Let's not abolish the death penalty...yet.

    - SundevilUS July 13, 2008 9:45PM

    Reply to this Recommend (2) Icon flag Side: No

    Thank You for your Comment

    We review all comments before they're posted. For more on our comment policy, please see our FAQ.

    • mangueken
      Bait and switch

      "There are people in this world that have shown they do not belong among civilized man. And they are not all clinically insane, in fact some of them plan out every last touch before they execute the deed. Let's not abolish the death penalty...yet."

      So the best response is to allow the state to plan every last detail and murder? I don't have any rhetoric for you but I do wonder about the logic of "we think killing is wrong so if you do it we are going to kill you".

      - manguekenUS February 28, 2009 7:35AM

      Reply to this Recommend (1) Icon flag Side: Yes

      Thank You for your Comment

      We review all comments before they're posted. For more on our comment policy, please see our FAQ.