Originally Posted by
Charlie Boy II
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I am against the death penalty on principle because I think it degrades the dignity of the society itself, rather than out of sympathy for the criminals themselves. Just because an "eye for an eye" is satisfying on some instinctive desire for revenge, that does not mean it is conducive to a stable society.
Perhaps it is also a cultural difference. We have not had the death penalty for decades. To me it seems barbaric and alien to a developed society, not really any different to public whipping for more minor offences.
I am also against the death penalty in practice because:
a) it does not deter criminals or have any impact on crime
b) the justice system is far from infallible, innocent people would be executed.
c) the mentaly unsound, poor, and society's cast-offs are the ones that end up being put to death.
d) the appeals process inevitably strings out for decades, it costs the state a fortune and in the end an old man goes to the gallows.