Illinois drops death penalty

[infinite monkey]

We spend the money we do to be careful about how we do it. For those who say death is no deterrent, I reply "Then why do the condemned use, well, every appeal avenue open to them between sentencing and a date with the executioner?" And is it not remarkable how few of the condemned waive any of their appeals process and hasten to their deaths? Should it happen, it is material for headlines, is it not?

Saying that capital punishment is not a deterrent has nothing to do with the fact that most on death row would prefer to live. The crack head who shot up a neighborhood, the crazy wife who kills her husband and kids, the jealous boyfriend who strangles his estranged for leaving him: these folks weren't thinking "gee, I'm really mad but you know what? I sure don't want to be gassed. I think I'll just watch TV." They may, however, wish they hadn't done it...when all has passed. That they want to appeal and keep on living when the deed is done and the punishment is before them is irrelevant to the crime of 'passion' (read: rage, despair, crackheadedness) that occurred. The comparison is laughable. It's intellectually lazy to not make the distinction.

Whether one is for or against capital punishment one has to be cognizant that it is NOT a deterrent, it is retribution. One's feelings on whether this retribution serves society are what is up for debate; anyone without their head in the sand (for which one should feel the shame you bat about like so many fuzzy mice) knows that the death penalty has never served as a deterrent. This is common sense. Maybe this kind of sense is really only reserved for us common folk.

[Spexxvet]

Originally Posted by infinite monkey

They may, however, wish they hadn't done it...when all has passed.

Whether one is for or against capital punishment one has to be cognizant that it is NOT a deterrent, it is retribution. .

Exactly. The threat of capital punishment did not deter them from doing the deed in the first place.