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Subject: 
Re: Excellent news!
Newsgroups: 
lugnet.off-topic.debate
Date: 
Wed, 4 Jan 2006 17:34:48 GMT
Viewed: 
1636 times
  
In lugnet.off-topic.debate, John Neal wrote:
   In lugnet.off-topic.debate, Bruce Schlickbernd wrote:

Since I dragged Bruce back into this, I’ll field the question for him (though he’s welcome to refute or add to it, of course!)

  
  
  
  
  
   Assure me that everyone ever executed was guilty and I’ll agree to the death penalty. If not, then we have murdered the innocent in the name of justice.

So let me get this straight-- is it conditional for me to prove that everyone ever executed actually committed their crimes and then you’ll agree to the death penalty?

Of course not! The execution of a person who has been rendered harmless is indistinguishable from coldblooded murder. My point in linking to those articles (one of which now appears unlinked, alas) is to show that the execution of potentially innocent people is nothing like the “it never happens” assertion put forth by advocates death penalty.

I should hope that everyone who is scheduled for execution actually committed the crimes of which they’re convicted. That would seem the minimal requirement for the death penalty. Do you think otherwise?

And even if we eliminate the accidental(?) execution of innocent people, the death penalty is still an ugly throwback to our not-so-distant barbaric past and should be abolished as the savage, government-sanctioned murder that it really is.

   What about the fate of a man who kills 5 women and children during a botched bank robbery where he is captured at the scene. Presumably, then, you feel comfortable enough to execute him?

Of course not! If he’s rendered harmless (ie., he’s captured, then there is no justification for murdering him. Well, other than raw vengeance, which is no justification at all.

Dave!



Message has 1 Reply:
  Re: Excellent news!
 
(...) I reject your equivocation. In one case, the victim is an innocent, and in the other the "victim" is a coldblooded murderer. Being rendered "harmless" does in no way make a person "blameless". (...) No system is perfect. To criticize otherwise (...) (18 years ago, 4-Jan-06, to lugnet.off-topic.debate, FTX)

Message is in Reply To:
  Re: Excellent news!
 
(...) So let me get this straight-- is it conditional for me to prove that everyone ever executed actually committed their crimes and then you’ll agree to the death penalty? What about the fate of a man who kills 5 women and children during a (...) (18 years ago, 4-Jan-06, to lugnet.off-topic.debate, FTX)

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