Capital Punishment Works.

Hello Redyellowblackdog, Would you please check your link? I'm not able to access the story. Without knowing the specifics of the new study, I'm a bit in the dark. However, I will say that I am a proponent of Capital Punishment, in cases where DNA evidence proves guilt beyond any doubt, or where the preponderance of evidence is absolutely overwhelming, i.e. multiple, high quality witnesses, murder weapon unequivocably linked to victim, blood evidence found on defendent, etc... At this point in history, DNA evidence is the norm, rather than the exception. Now, I may get lambasted for this, but I'll present it for the sake of debate anyway. What may be most problematic about capital punishment today is it's dilution/sanitization. No one but certain officials, the victim's family, and perhaps a journalist or two, actually witnesses the execution. How is that a deterrent? When the public sees a news story about an execution, the general focus of the story is the protesters outside the prison facility. Rarely, are any specifics of the criminals heinous crimes ever reiterated. This only serves to make people wonder why we would ever consider taking one life as payment for a life or lives that the criminal has taken. What we tend to overlook is that many of these animals simply cannot be rehabilated. The reason why capital punishment worked in the the past is because the whole village, town, city, etc... knew about and generally witnessed the execution. One is far less likely to commit crime if they've seen the horrors of execution -- first hand. Although I've never seen one, I'm told that it's something that doesn't leave one's psyche quickly or easily. So if we're going to be executing hardened, violent criminals, I say we should allow for the maximum deterrent factor by eliminating the sanitization of the act.

although i will get major flack, i have to agree with you because capital punishments gets murderers off the street and doesnt cause a drain on our government coffers.

I hate punishment

I like Capital Punishment because it gives justice to the person who lost their loved one. But I think the family member should be able to kill their family member's killer.. the SAME way they got killed... Capital Punishment is to easy... a gas chamber.. or leathal injection... is not a real payback... But yeah I like it, It works for those who deserve it.

Having a national DNA data bank would get many more violent criminals off the street than capital punishment will. As long as there is a possiblity of executing ONE innocent person for a crime they did not commit,(and there always is) I'm against capital punishemnt...DNA is an amazing tool, it not only exonerates the innocent but it also convicts the guilty. There is strong evidence that many violent criminals are serial (murderers, rapists etc.) They are also not reluctant to start brawls, drive drunk etc. If everyone picked up for fairly minor violations submitted to DNA testing and there was a national data bank, we could pull a lot of dangerous criminals off the street and keep them off. We now have the means to protect society and we don't have to risk killing the innocent (usually the poor) to do it but it will cost some money and require the support of the American public.

I've always believed capital punishment was effective! I've never been able to understand how people can be so heartless to the victims of these criminals, and would want to "pamper the criminal" for such a devastating criminal act! Why can't people see that the lack of punishment for any criminal act, only inspires criminals to not be afraid to do it again! And they complain of the increase in crime!

If the system was set up properly it would be good. Lawers are too good at finding technicalities that get people off just to commmit crimes again. Fix the problems so the criminals actually end up in jails & the innocent people aren't & you'd already be doing 1000000% better. If their really murderers Zap em, I don't feel like supporting them.