We could discuss the death penalty until blue in the face. No, I wouldn't be in favor of putting our leaders in front of a firing squad, no matter what the circumstances are. I don't think our justice system is nearly perfect enough to allow for a penalty as severe as death. Would you being willing to pull the trigger? I wouldn't; if they're innocent, then I'm surely a killer too. Over 100 people have been released from death row since the death penalty was reintroduced in 1976. That's way too many people for me to be comfortable putting people to death via the state. If you think our society is corrupt and sinster enough to pull off 9/11 against its own citizens, why would you trust the government with administering the death penalty? You're trusting these same corrupt people with decision of life and death.
The death penalty is used, even extrajudicially, in some of the most barbaric societies on earth. More enlightened societies, far less violent societies than the U.S., from Australia to Canada to Europe have done away with the death penalty. Even are 3rd world neighbor to the South, Mexico, has done away with the death penalty, for religious reasons, and also because their justice system is so screwed up that they know innocent people would be put to death.
As far as holding criminals accountable for actions committed against society. In a civilized society we have things like police, courts, and prisons to deal with criminals and hold them accountable. If necessary, we need to lock them away for life to remove them from civilized society. But, what is so civilized about killing them in jail? It could be called a lot of things, but civilized is not one of them. |
