The Death Penalty or Life Meaning Life

[MMI]

First of all, Thorne, I don't agree with your suggestion that cold-blooded killers should be treated in the same way as vicious dogs: they have rights which must be respected, notwithstanding their disregard for other people's rights. Executing them demeans not only them, but us as well, and it accomplishes nothing. I acknowledge that killing them removes them from society and prevents them killing again, but there are other, more humane, ways of doing that.

With regard to the point you make about surviving relatives, their loss is sad and the consequences are regrettable. But I don't believe any of the people in the situations you describe would feel adequately compensated by the death of the murderer, and, frankly, if that was all it took to put matters right for them, one must question how seriously affected by the death they truly were .

[Thorne]

First of all, Thorne, I don't agree with your suggestion that cold-blooded killers should be treated in the same way as vicious dogs: they have rights which must be respected, notwithstanding their disregard for other people's rights. Executing them demeans not only them, but us as well, and it accomplishes nothing. I acknowledge that killing them removes them from society and prevents them killing again, but there are other, more humane, ways of doing that.

I will partly agree with one thing you say: the process can be demeaning. But only when we allow our court systems to treat criminals lightly and not hand out the harshest penalties permitted by law to those who deserve it. Yes, the accused do have certain rights, and they must be protected. But once convicted, those rights are reduced to bare minimum, or at least should be. I, for one, have never felt demeaned by any execution.

With regard to the point you make about surviving relatives, their loss is sad and the consequences are regrettable. But I don't believe any of the people in the situations you describe would feel adequately compensated by the death of the murderer, and, frankly, if that was all it took to put matters right for them, one must question how seriously affected by the death they truly were .

Something else we can agree on, at least partly. (Will wonders never cease?) I don't feel the relatives would feel adequately compensated, either. But they might feel that justice had been done. They can know that the killer won't be permitted to gain even the meager amount of pleasure that might be found in a prison environment. And while I have thankfully never been in the position of such relatives, perhaps they can gain a bit of satisfaction from knowing that the person who killed their loved one will know his end is coming, know the very day and hour, and will have to deal with that knowledge. I don't say it would bring them joy. At least, I hope not. But maybe some closure. So they may grieve for their loved one without the constant knowledge that her killer is still alive.