Quote:
Originally Posted by tjinaz
Why is the life of a murderer worth more than a victim?
If it can be proven beyond a shadow of a doubt, then put them down. They showed no mercy in taking life why should any be given them and why should they continue to be a burden on society by spending their life in prison. Even in prison they have life, which is more than they gave their victims.
What is to keep them from killing again in prison? They are likely already in for life anyway.
|
No one thinks the life of the murderer is worth more than then victim. I doubt anyone has ever said that.
What would be proof beyond a shadow of a doubt? What would be 100% incontrovertible evidence? Does that even exist? Think about the 'beyond a reasonable doubt' standard prior to DNA evidence. How many mistakes resulted from that? And who knows... maybe something else will come up after DNA evidence. After all, it's not just what DNA evidence notes, but how it's used at trial that matters.
And where do you draw the line at what's appropriate for the death penalty? Serial killers? One-offs? Crimes of passion? Reckless, criminal negligence?
Pro-capital punishment types like to paint the anti-capital punishment types as bleeding heart liberals who are totally out of touch with victim suffering. I think most of us don't give a rat's ass about murderers and don't really care if they live or die. The point for many of us is two-fold: 1. there must be an ethical stance against murder - even state-sponsored murder to ever truly achieve justice and 2. any system of capital punishment will involve human decision-making and is thus simply too flawed to ever implement it without mistake. I'd rather lock up all the loonies for life and bear the economic cost then risk ever killing an innocent individual.