Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jaume on January 7, 2011 at 9:07am

You'd need unanimous approval by all 192 states in the UN. Good luck.

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Permalink Reply by Radu Andreiu on January 7, 2011 at 9:43am

The EU has long gotten rid of the death penalty, so, in that respect, Americans still live in the past. Anyway, only the US, China, Japan, the Islamic countries and some other Asian states still have this primitive form of punishment. Most civilized countries don't practice the death penalty and for good reason, I'd say.

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Permalink Reply by Jaume on January 7, 2011 at 9:48am

Use of capital punishment by nation

 

Legend

  Abolished for all crimes

  Abolished for crimes not committed in exceptional circumstances (such as crimes committed in time of war)

  Abolished in practice

  Legal form of punishment

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Permalink Reply by Radu Andreiu on January 7, 2011 at 10:00am

Nice map, Jaume! But as I've said, most western, developed, "civilized" societies are not practicing death penalty. What I see on the map is a lot of Islam and tyranny among the "red" countries. For once, it's nice to realize my country is in the better part of the World.

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Permalink Reply by Jaume on January 7, 2011 at 10:14am

Depending on the country, it can apply to war crimes, genocide, mutiny, espionage,  desertion, or even terrorism (some jurisdictions consider it as 'a criminal act of war' rather than just 'a crime'.)

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Permalink Reply by Gaytor on January 8, 2011 at 2:48am

Seconded. Being from the US and coming from a relatively politically conservative family, I grew up with blood thirst. I no longer understand it as a form of punishment. I get assassination, but maybe that's a hold over that will fade into the future waste bin as well.

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Permalink Reply by Michael Sizer-Watt on January 7, 2011 at 9:51am

I don't want it to happen to me.

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Permalink Reply by Radu Andreiu on January 7, 2011 at 10:05am

Exactly, Michael. The problem is that in the real, imperfect world, even if we could agree that some acts are deserving of the capital punishment, innocent people would still receive this punishment. This case should be so inadmissible that no one would ever be executed for the fear of actually being an innocent man, wrongly convicted.

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Permalink Reply by Dustin on January 7, 2011 at 6:54pm

I would much rather be killed than spend the rest of my life in prison with no chance of parole. 

 

 

 

 

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Permalink Reply by Julien on January 7, 2011 at 7:09pm

Even if you're innocent?

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Permalink Reply by Dustin on January 7, 2011 at 8:54pm

Not sure.  I'm just saying hypothetically - If I was given the option of death or life in prison, I would choose death.  

 

If I was innocent I guess I would want to fight and try to prove my innocence.  But no Jury would think an Atheist didn't commit the crime : (

 

 

 

 

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Permalink Reply by Keith J. on January 7, 2011 at 9:25pm

There is certainly a debate to be had over whether life imprisonment is a harsher punishment then the death penalty.  I myself have read many testimonies of family members of victims involved in capital cases where a death penalty was not reached who still felt "satisfied" with life imprisonment as opposed to execution for the defendant.

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