Why we should enforce the death penalty

[Lady Sidhe]

"There is something of a difference between wishing the murderer dead and wishing the murderer to experience the maximum available pain and mortal terror and/or relishing the details of that pain and terror and/or finding it appropriate material for casual humour. Wishing the murderer dead may be a responsible and reasonable answer to the problem...delighting in their suffering is sadism, taking pleasure in the manner of their death is sadism."



Maybe. But after all the crime accounts I've read of the murderers "relishing the details of the pain and terror" of their victims (ie, serial murders who visit crime scenes to relive the murder, and/or who kill their victims over a period of time, murderers who torture before they kill), I'm really not that concerned with whether or not the punishment they recieve is "cruel and unusual." What they did to the victim was cruel and unusual, so why should they be spared the same? Why do they deserve better treatment than they gave the victim? I agree with TS in that punishment should be such that it is never forgotten, and serves as a deterrent. At the very least, we should strive for "like for like."

If they're a serial rapist, give 'em to a guy named Bubba who hasn't seen a woman in twenty years.

If they cut off a body part, do the same to them.

..and so on...

If wanting the penalty to fit the crime is sadism, then yes, I'm the biggest sadist you'll ever meet.

(Incidentally, "sadism" actually refers to one who receives sexual pleasure from intentionally inflicting (generally unnecessary) pain to another person. I wouldn't say that fits me.)


Sidhe