h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Not only is the death penalty horrible, barbaric and many other things you so excellently mentioned, in my opinion it's also not a suitable punishment, for the simple reason that nobody knows what happens when you die. What people tell you varies according to what they personally believe - but if these people don't go to hell for eternal torment, what happens to them?

If people want punishment, keep the guilty alive where we can be sure it happens - but that's barbaric as well. Much research needs to be done into rehabilitation.

The only argument for the death penalty I've ever seen that makes much sense is that it removes the possibility of reoffending. However, I believe that if there was such a thing as a totally right penal system, reoffending would never occur.

We're a long way off that yet though.

If we assume that an executed murderer really does go to Hell, who are we to decide to send him there now???

And yes, the code-phrase here is rehabilitation!

-Kimoto

We are nobody to decide when another sentient being should die. This may conflict with my views on Euthanasia (which I think is sometimes acceptable) but that is with the consent of the individual and AT THEIR REQUEST.

Execution is something totally different, and not really any better than murder.

No, actually, it's probably worse, because it's supposed to be for a good cause. I am thankful I live in a country where capital punishment has been abolished for some time (although it was only in the last few years that they removed the death penalty for High Treason, which hardly anybody ever gets convicted of anyway).

To kill a human is to kille a human, no matter if it is done by a hideous criminal or a well-meaning government official!

And there are NO redeeming factors when it comes to calmly and with consideration taking another human life!

-Kimoto

Oh yes, indeed.

I agree with all that has been raised here.

For the past twelve years I have lived with a partner who agrees with a death penalty and we used to have some heated "debates" on this topic.

However, over the years, not only my partner, but also other friends who have admitted to being in favour of a death penalty have gradually changed their opinions. This is probably due to the considerable publicity given to executions, past and present.

Let us hope that the trend continues and more countries abolish the death penalty, as there is already too much violence in the world, without using the law to add to it.

I used to be pro-death penalty, but my boyfriend never was.

Once, eight years ago, we had such a heated debate on the subject and continued to argue pro and cons all through the evening and, in fact, most of the night. But he simply had good c0ommon sense and morale on his side and eventually I gave up. Nothing I said could justify my points and ever since, I've been against this ghastly form of state-sanctioned murder!

The only good side to this story about my past views is, that in Denmark we've not had the death penalty for many years. And thank God for that!