After living for a decade in Texas I've grown a distaste for Capital Punishment. I've always been the indifferent guy, who says "The law is the law". But on the issue of Capital Punishment, I think it's uncivilized, indecent, and probably too easy of an out for some criminals. That said...
American prisons are cramped and crowded and many tax dollars go forth every year to preserving the lives of "life sentence criminals" who in some cases have done murder, rapes, torture, etc. Executing violent criminals with nothing to provide to society would be an efficient way to clear bed space and lower living expenses.
Then there is the part of me that was brought up to believe that every human being has some sort of worth, not matter what they've done or who they are. No matter how much I try to heed my parents words, I read about all the terrible things in the world done by terrible people and have come to the conclusion that this ideal just isn't so.
As much as I would like it to be true, some people just have no place in civilized society. It's something genetic that makes them enjoy doing terrible things or leaves them the uncanny ability to bad things and feel no responsibility, remorse, or sadness for what they've done. Those people do not belong in the world. Now there are those who do bad, realize that and show sadness, remorse, and a wish for redemption. Those people should live.
Given this hasty analysis. My conclusion, for the U.S., is that Capital Punishment should be handled on a strictly case by case basis. Not taking into account other similar cases past the verdict trial. Each case should go to sentencing as an individual, not lumped into a group of other similar cases. During the process, variables such as heinousness of the crime, motive, morality of the criminal (does he/she feel remorse toward the crime, joy? indifference?), as well as his or her prior lifestyle and worth to the community should be taken into account.*
I think a fairly similar process happens today, but for some reason many people with psychological disorders and mental disabilities as well as people caught up in a misguided moment of passion find themselves on a bed, in front of an audience, with a needle in their arm a feeling of burning, then warmth, then sleep.
*Side note: We really shouldn't kill people who suffer from mental retardation or psychological disorders. That's just messed up.
American prisons are cramped and crowded and many tax dollars go forth every year to preserving the lives of "life sentence criminals" who in some cases have done murder, rapes, torture, etc. Executing violent criminals with nothing to provide to society would be an efficient way to clear bed space and lower living expenses.
Then there is the part of me that was brought up to believe that every human being has some sort of worth, not matter what they've done or who they are. No matter how much I try to heed my parents words, I read about all the terrible things in the world done by terrible people and have come to the conclusion that this ideal just isn't so.
As much as I would like it to be true, some people just have no place in civilized society. It's something genetic that makes them enjoy doing terrible things or leaves them the uncanny ability to bad things and feel no responsibility, remorse, or sadness for what they've done. Those people do not belong in the world. Now there are those who do bad, realize that and show sadness, remorse, and a wish for redemption. Those people should live.
Given this hasty analysis. My conclusion, for the U.S., is that Capital Punishment should be handled on a strictly case by case basis. Not taking into account other similar cases past the verdict trial. Each case should go to sentencing as an individual, not lumped into a group of other similar cases. During the process, variables such as heinousness of the crime, motive, morality of the criminal (does he/she feel remorse toward the crime, joy? indifference?), as well as his or her prior lifestyle and worth to the community should be taken into account.*
I think a fairly similar process happens today, but for some reason many people with psychological disorders and mental disabilities as well as people caught up in a misguided moment of passion find themselves on a bed, in front of an audience, with a needle in their arm a feeling of burning, then warmth, then sleep.
*Side note: We really shouldn't kill people who suffer from mental retardation or psychological disorders. That's just messed up.
