1000 people since gilmore

[Strike For The South]

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/11/24/tho....ap/index.html

Since Gilmore The USA has executed a person every ten days 58% are white 34% are black. some intresting stuff in the article a good read

[BDC]

"Since 1999, we've had 100,000 innocent people murdered in the U.S., but nobody is planning on commemorating all those people killed," said Michael Paranzino, president of Throw Away the Key, a group that supports the death penalty.

Seems pretty good proof there that the current system is a failure. He should really think through his statements before making them.

[Kaiser of Arabia]

Race also is a key question in the debate. Since 1976, 58 percent of those executed in the U.S. were white while 34 percent were black, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. But non-Latino whites make up 75 percent of the U.S. population, while non-Latino blacks comprise just over 12 percent, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

So, it's racist that a black is more likely to commit a crime than a white?

[rasoforos]

1000 ppl dead, some of them innocent, and still the US has a murder rate 10 times higher than any other developed country...

...and still, instead of acknowledging the serious social problems that lead to this, people are beating around the bush...

...Capital Punishment is America's version of the Collosseum, it doesnt serve any purpose but the bible belt ( mostly, not only ) crowds love it. When they dont have a chance to see troops killing people in far away countries ( for a good reason ), they see the authorities killing people in their own country...its not as good but it is still fun eh?

[Strike For The South]

It just shows your lack of understanding for the issue. The death penalty in Americas can only be used for 2 things murder & treason. The death penalty is necesary. Its not pretty and no body likes it but no bdy likes crime and murder ethier. Not to menton other devolped countries have just as bad pf a crime rate

[solypsist]

if you haven't read The Executioner's Song by Norman Mailer, now you have a reason to.

[BDC]

It just shows your lack of understanding for the issue. The death penalty in Americas can only be used for 2 things murder & treason. The death penalty is necesary. Its not pretty and no body likes it but no bdy likes crime and murder ethier. Not to menton other devolped countries have just as bad pf a crime rate

But the crime rate in America is still really quite staggeringly high. Clearly it doesn't help. Same for guns.

All just issues to make people sleep safer at night even though the underlying social issues haven't been sorted out at all.

Kind of cannibalising Rasoforus's post there...

if you haven't read The Executioner's Song by Norman Mailer, now you have a reason to.

What's the gist of it?

[Seamus Fermanagh]

While it does stop recidivism by the individual in question, the death penalty has never served as an effective deterrent to homicide in the USA.

Though rare, especially in our dna-id capable world, some individuals who were innocent of the crime for which they were sentenced to die have been executed.

In recent decades, a clear majority of all non-family homicides have been connected to the trade in illegal drugs -- which continues because nothing can make (or at least has made) a lasting dent in the market for such substances.

Gun ownership and use by individuals, though responsible for the prevention of more harm than any other aspect of the community, also means the presence of lethal weapons in homes dealing with domestic disputes etc. -- no right is exercised without cost.

I would prefer a system that locks violent criminals away for long periods of time -- or permanently. Society must protect itself, but the use of the death penalty in effecting that protection is not necessary. Since killing should be a matter of necessity and not convenience, the death penalty should be phased out. Vengeance may have emotional appeal, but society should move beyond that -- vendetta is a self-defeating protocol for social organization.

[rasoforos]

It just shows your lack of understanding for the issue. The death penalty in Americas can only be used for 2 things murder & treason. The death penalty is necesary. Its not pretty and no body likes it but no bdy likes crime and murder ethier. Not to menton other devolped countries have just as bad pf a crime rate

No they do not. Go and check murder, rape, total crime and incarceration rates for US and EU member states. If you indeed do not know then you will be surprised.


If there is a correllation between crime and capital punishment then it must be a positive one.

[yesdachi]

Our crime rate is pretty high but comparing it to other countries is a bit unfair as the US has many laws that are actually enforced and we keep an accurate record of our crimes. I don’t know if all “developed” countries do.

One reason our crime rate is high might be because we are much more liberal now than in the past, allowing our kids to have what they want and do what they want has lead to a self centered and uncaring population who demand immediate satisfaction with little regard for others wellbeing. I think the crime rate was lower when America was more conservative. Another reason could be the growing % of poor.

[Idaho]

So, it's racist that a black is more likely to commit a crime than a white?

No that wouldn't be racist, were it true. If that were true it would be a fact. However your statement is tangental to the debate.