So what is your opinion on the death penalty?

against

 

Can't you put into some other options, such as "leaning against" and "tend to favor"?

 

Murderisits, rapists, Middle Easterners and North Koreans all deserve the death penalty.

 

I'm okay with the idea of the death penalty. IMO, in a perfect world, the criminal actually chooses it because all criminals know (in Texas at least!) that if you kill someone and you get caught, you could be put to death for it. So, you kill someone and get caught you shouldn't complaign.

However, it's not a perfect world. It's expensive, the appeals process is too long and we can't always be 100% sure that the perp commited the crime. So, given the above, I have no problems with repealing the death penalty in favor of life in prison.

Now, if we could always know for sure that the suspect is guilty.... hang 'em (becuase, as I mentioned above, they chose the risk of getting executed when they chose to commit the murder).

 

this guy says it better than me:


His Holiness, Tenzin Gyatso, The Fourteenth Dalai Lama: Message Supporting the Moratorium on the Death Penalty

In general, death is something none of us wants, in fact it is something we don't even like to think about. When death takes place naturally, it is a process beyond our control to stop, but where death is wilfully and deliberately brought about, it is very unfortunate. Of course, within our legal systems there are said to be certain reasons and purposes for employing the death penalty. It is used to punish offenders, to prevent them ever repeating their misdeed and to deter others.

However, if we examine the situation more carefully, we will find that these are not real solutions.

Harmful actions and their tragic consequences all have their origin in disturbing emotions and negative thoughts, and these are a state of mind, whose potential we find within all human beings. From this point of view, every one of us has the potential to commit crimes, because we are all subject to negative disturbing emotions and negative mental qualities. And we will not overcome these by executing other people.

What is deemed criminal can vary greatly from country to country. In some countries, for example, speaking out for human rights is considered criminal, whereas in other countries preventing free speech is a crime. The punishments for crimes are also very different, but usually include various forms of imprisonment or hardship, financial penalties and, in a number of countries, physical pain. In some countries, crimes that the government considers very serious are punished by executing the person who committed the crime.

The death penalty fulfills a preventive function, but it is also very clearly a form of revenge. It is an especially severe form of punishment because it is so final. The human life is ended and the executed person is deprived of the opportunity to change, to restore the harm done or compensate for it. Before advocating execution we should consider whether criminals are intrinsically negative and harmful people or whether they will remain perpetually in the same state of mind in which the committed their crime or not. The answer, i believe, is definitely not.

However horrible the act they have committed, I believe that everyone has the potential to improve and correct themselves. Therefore, i am optimistic that it remains possible to deter criminal activity, and prevent such harmful consequences of such acts in society, without having to resort to the death penalty.

My overriding belief is that is is always possible for criminals to improve and that by its very finality the death penalty contradicts this. therefore, I support those organizations and individuals who are trying to bring an end to the use of the death penalty.

Today, in many societies very little importance is placed on education or the development of human values through social programs and entertainment. In fact, if we take television programming as an example, violence, including killing, is regarded as having a high entertainment value. This is indicative of how misguided we have become.

I believe human beings are not violent by nature. Unlike lions and tigers, we are not naturally equipped to kill with sharp teeth and claws. From a Buddhist viewpoint, I believe that the basic nature of every sentient being is pure, that the deeper nature of mind is something pure. Human beings become violent because of negative thoughts which arise as a result of their environment and circumstance.

I wholeheartedly support an appeal to those countries who at present employ the death penalty to observe an unconditional moratorium. At the same time we should give more support to education and encourage a greater sense of universal responsibility. We need to explain the importance of the practice of love and compassion for our own survival and to try to minimize those conditions which foster murderous tendencies, such as the proliferation of weapons in our societies. These are things even private individual can work towards.

http://www.deathpenaltyreligious.org/education/perspectives/dalailama.html

 

[off topic]

MR. MEOWGI, just curious, what is Buddist's position on some other contentious issues in this country, like abortion and gay?

[/off topic]

 

In the Buddhist frame of mind, those who commit crimes can undergo a hell while living. But then again, sexual offenders, such as violent pedophiles, are usually repeat offenders even after long terms of incarceration. I think the hardest aspect of abolition for our nation to cope with is the possibility of a repeat offender showing up on the news report about murdering/raping more people.

The death penalty is the extreme symptom of a penal system that doesn't seem to work.

For in theory, against in reality.

 

Punish or Rehailitate
Which one does our Prison system do again?
cause I generally cannot tell

I am against the Death penalty
because the cost of being wrong is too too high

Rocket River

 

also
the human Bias of the courts on who gets it
and who doesn't is quite disturbing as well

Rocket River
if you minority . . .or murdered a non minority . .you more likely to get death

 

This is why I oppose it. In principal, I agree with it but as usual, dealing with reality is not that simple.. Our legal system (while generally pretty decent) is too skewed towards the rich. Since many of the poor are often minorities and they can't afford the same legal defense, they disproportionately get an unfair shake.

Besides, what ever happened to right-wing's rhetoric about error on the side of life?

 

yooooo hooooo!!!! hey!!!! right here!!! HEY!!! OVER HERE!!!

you'd be surprised...i believe Pat Robertson is anti-death penalty now. that guy's picture is under the dictionary for "right wing." however, i also heard he's very involved in the One Campaign.

 

Oh MadMax, you are special right-wing.

As such, will you please have a word with your leader.

 

Without the death penalty there is no Christian Religion (please note the following news release)


Jerusalem Post
AD- 30

There is a report out of the office of Governor Pontious Pilate this morning that Jesus of Nazareth has been given the death penalty for crimes against religious traditions. Anti-death penalty groups were noticibly absent as angry crowds were heard shouting, "Crucify him, crucify him."
Reportedly this quick sentence was handed down after hearing testimony that Jesus claimed to be Christ a religious figure in the Jewish faith. The death penalty has drawn some criticism from Jewish leaders in the past but in this case there seems to be unanimous approval of its use.

 

I know the bible mentions many Jews were not in favor using the death penalty on Christ. It seems that in the bible there some corrupt jewish leaders who were in favor of its use. Certainly Jesus' family, the apostles, and other jews that were believers in Jesus were no in favor of its use.

 

I thought about this response...

Did in no way intend to provoke or come across anti-Jew.
Jesus was a Jew
And the other believers were Jewish
I was just adding a thought and a light one

Jesus wasn't crucified because of Jews the Bible makes it clear He died for the sins of the entire world (all people).

Trouble with using the word Jewish leaders or Jewish faith is that it is sensitive to many Jews because of hate and mistreatment. That is not my heart or motive, I love those of Jewish descent.

To the death penalty-

If it was used as God instructed (I can elaborate) it would be wisely used and justly carried out.

As it is used today leaves many problems (many abuses).

So I am for God's instructions and against all abuse whether by law or verdict.

I would have to research my Bible but I am pretty sure God demanded two actual witnesses before the use of the death penalty... maybe one of the Bible scholars could look that up?

 

I didn't mean to say that you were, and I didn't think you intended the post to come off as such. It was just the line:

that made it seem that way. Particularly the use of the word unanimous.

 

I am for it in certain cases but against it in others.

 

Thanks, 'unanimous' as a figure of speach to depict the perceived reaction of the council and the crowd.

Back to the death penalty. One thing I learned about punishment from a Bible context is that its first use is not rehabilitation but justice.

Rehabilitation may be a by product of punishment but not a first cause.

Justice is always the first cause. For instance if a thief is caught and ordered to pay back what was stolen this is justice at work not necessarily rehabilitation.