The Death Penalty

[basildestiny]

Well I'm much more focused today. Yesterday I passed on my personal opinion on the death penalty. I will probably pass again on it.

However, as I pass, I will tell you why I pass. The ethical questions which arise are questions for which I do not have answers. I haven't been given any reason to think that someone should die.

Here is a slate.com article which addresses torture, but can shed the same light on the death penalty.

The article starts by asking "What if you knew for sure that the cute little baby burbling and smiling at you from his stroller in the park was going to grow up to be another Hitler, responsible for a global cataclysm and millions of deaths? Would you be justified in picking up a rock and bashing his adorable head in? Wouldn't you be morally depraved if you didn't?"

Oh sure, the Tookie williams' case is different because he was a Nobel Prize winner. But let us not forget Roman Polanksi.

Granted we are talking about two different crimes. So let's shift gears to get to the questions. Pulanski's crime doesn't have any death penalty associated. Child molestation is a few years in jail in this country. Maybe Jessica's law will change that.

I could go down the path of the punishment should fit the crime. Or start on some plea for negative consequences for negative behaviors. As though the death penalty might be a deterrant. But in a time in history when the Al Quaeda are seen as justified by some, I find it hard to believe it would be a penalty. Not to mention that some people just have rough childhoods and were misunderstood. I won't go down this path because it isn't logical. Not for today's entry.

Instead we'll travel down this path. How many people should we keep in jails for life? Do we invest more into the penal system? The answer is going to be yes. We invest more into the penal system. We keep people there for life. If you can't make it in this world of capitalism and venturing, then we'll be glad to stick you in jail for a free ride.

Oh but is it really that simple? Of course not. You think that over and see if it really makes sense. Is there even an answer?

Tookie williams says he was innocent. Said he never killed anyone. Witnesses from 26 years ago say that he bragged about the murders. No new evidence ever surfaced to show he was innocent. I am unfamilar with the specifics of the case. But one thing is certain, there really wasn't any closure on early Tuesday for any of the families involved.

Clifford was a big red dog.
~Bas

Comments

[alchemy]

I thought Roman Polanski was charged with statutory rape, not molestation.

[basildestiny]

Child molestation is an umbrella that encompasses all sexual activity between children and adults, including incest and extrafamilial sexual contact. "Child molesters" as a group are extremely heterogeneous and require informed subclassification to improve the accuracy and reliability of decision- making within the criminal justice system.

Statutory rape is nonforcible sexual intercourse with a person who is under the statutory age of consent. (From Princeton online dictionary)

So it appears that statutory rape would be included in the umbrella of child molestation.

He was convicted of the statutory rape of a 13-year old girl.

[alchemy]

Ah, okay. I thought maybe it was, but wasn't sure and was too lazy to look it up.

[basildestiny]

I just wanted to use this icon on you. :P ;)

[bloominglotus.livejournal.com]

Good post.

[nikgirl.livejournal.com]

I think all criminals should be put on a deserted island. When the population becomes a threat, we can just bomb it. That's enough incentive to not murder Hitler babies!!

[basildestiny]

LOL That's probably reason #1, you will never be elected. But on the bright side, maybe you can run for evil dictator! ;)

PS ^_________________________^