USA is #4...

[piasabird]

I find it amazing that we trust statements from international groups like it is the truth. You guys should question any group that makes some kind of blanket statements. Ask them for their data sources!

Anyway I could live with fewer executions, but when you kill a stone cold killer, he will not escape from prison to kill agian. Many officials have got in trouble for releasing prisoners and giving parole to people only to see those supposedly reformed citizens to go on another killing spree. This is one reason I favor having the death penalty.

However, I think we could give some people the benefit of a doubt. So if you are not for the death penalty, what murderer would you like to live next to you, and what new prison do you want built in your back yard?

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: CSMR
Point to a non sequitur. I am arguing with some care.

I'll say again, what is your argument? What idea are you advancing?

 

[CSMR]

Originally posted by: DonVito

Originally posted by: CSMR
Point to a non sequitur. I am arguing with some care.

I'll say again, what is your argument? What idea are you advancing?

That the data you have given (murders in states with and without the death penalty) do not show that the death penalty when it is applied with a significant probability is not a deterrent.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: CSMR

That the data you have given (murders in states with and without the death penalty) do not show that the death penalty when it is applied with a significant probability is not a deterrent.

Then what was the relevance of your wacky hypothetical, and all those strange questions about finances and morality? What data do you have to suggest the death penalty IS a deterrent? I have never seen one iota of empirical data that would suggest that.

 

[CSMR]

Originally posted by: DonVito
Then what was the relevance of your wacky hypothetical, and all those strange questions about finances and morality?

That is a separate discussion relating to your statement about finance and morality!

What data do you have to suggest the death penalty IS a deterrent? I have never seen one iota of empirical data that would suggest that.

I do not know of any data. I hope you or I can find some data that shows whether there is a deterrent or not. Until then, I am making no statistical assertions and nor should you.

 

[FrancesBeansRevenge]

The murder rates in states with the death penalty is consistantly higher than those without. Just a piece of info to consider.
http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/article.php?scid=12&did=168

Mind you this site is a special interest group but the numbers are from the FBI report and are easily verifiable.

 

[MonkeyK]

Originally posted by: CSMR

Originally posted by: MonkeyKAlso, for those who think that the death penalty acts as a deterrent, do you know anyone who would have killed somebody if it were not for the death penalty? It seems to me that murder is such an irrational act that thought of a concequence --any concequence-- could not be meaningful.

Not implausible in theory, but would you really suppose that if there were no punishmnent for murder (no death penalty, no jail) - no laws against murder that is - the murder rate would not increase?

As indicated in my previous post, I do not believe that someone willing to murder is terribly influenced by laws. However, I do believe that someone willing to murder is more likely to be willing to murder again. Lock 'em up for life where, at least if the conviction is wrong, it can be partially undone.