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.'
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Justice Shouldn't have a Price Tag
- From Josh Marquis
By Joshua Marquis - District Attorney, Media Commentator
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Where?
No country that has abolished the death penalty (Canada, Mexico, Europe, many others) has eliminated life in jail as a consequence. This argument is not based in fact, but speculation.
- PrometheusUnborn August 2, 2008 4:58PM
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Side: Yes
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Life without parole abolished (LWOP)
Mexico has abolished Life without parole and the Mexican Supreme Court has held that persons facing LWOP should NOT be extradited back to the United States.
Many honest death penalty foes will admit that if they are successful in abolishing the death penalty the next target is LWOP. This debate is already very active as it relates to murderers who were under 18 when they committed their crimes.
- Josh Marquis
February 15, 2009 10:16PM
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Side: No
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Misplaced Concern
The lobbying consequence of abolishing the death penalty should not affect the decision on whether the death penalty itself is a good idea. If life-without-parole cannot withstand scrutiny or indeed does not meet the needs of the public then we are doing a dis-service by keeping it in place simply because the lobbyists are too busy with the death penalty.
While I agree that justice shouldn't have a price tag the reality is that it does. I have no qualm with the death penalty per-se but given the realities of our judicial system I do not support it. It is unlikely to be used but a "death penalty agreement" clause would be desirable where the defendant could request death instead of life-without-parole.
- polobo
August 30, 2008 7:51PM
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Side: Yes
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