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Elf01
Guest
Nor does someone on death row.
Why does the US and so many of its citizens continue to support the death penalty?
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TK421
Guest
Some of both.
USA historically has a poor record for turning criminals around, which means lots of repeat offenders, which means a stronger call for the death penalty, which means less emphasis on reform, and so on and so forth. There has been resistance to change because the individualistic culture includes taking gratification in another person’s death. It’s about resolution for the family of the victim(s), not about what is good for society as a whole.
We have an entire plantation system of indentured servants wrapped up in our large prison system.
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JimR-OCDS
Guest
Except when they’re executed, their threat to others ends
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Irishmom2
Guest
Again, and this is my last comment as it is slightly off topic. If prisons were built better, less crowding, with more security and safety for all involved, and inmates treated as human beings by those that work there, I think there would be less problems.
Not every murderer is in prison looking to kill their next victim. Some are remorseful and some “find God.” Some knew God going in and had a moment of passion or anger or revenge, or whatever causes people to kill.
We can agree that the system is not working the way it is right now, can’t we?
Not every murderer is in prison looking to kill their next victim. Some are remorseful and some “find God.” Some knew God going in and had a moment of passion or anger or revenge, or whatever causes people to kill.
We can agree that the system is not working the way it is right now, can’t we?
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JimR-OCDS
Guest
Has nothing to do with it.
A violent person will take advantage of the situation and the more freedom they have to assault or kill, they’ll do so
A violent person will take advantage of the situation and the more freedom they have to assault or kill, they’ll do so
Emeraldlady
New member
Yes, just for it’s positive effect for the common good. It is not inherently just. Aquinas taught the purpose of human law.
Whatever is for an end should be proportionate to that end. Now the end of law is the common good; because, as Isidore says (Etym. v, 21) that “law should be framed, not for any private benefit, but for the common good of all the citizens.” Hence human laws should be proportionate to the common good. Now the common good comprises many things. Wherefore law should take account of many things, as to persons, as to matters, and as to times. - Summa Theologica I II 96 1
As a nation judges that capital punishment is having a negative effect on it’s society, as the Church has described as contributing to the general ‘culture of death’… the death penalty has been abolished as more harmful than good.
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Irishmom2
Guest
Who said anything about freedom? I think prisons are in some ways too lax.
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TK421
Guest
And, in fact, the overwhelming majority do not. But this is how the hardliners treat prisoners: that they are supposedly non-human and devoid of any conscience, and this is false.
The reason a criminal probably won’t attack a nurse or other person is because it is against their conscience to do so. There are plenty of people behind bars with a better formed conscience than people who are walking free.
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Canvas
Guest
I am American and I am against the death penalty.
I am also for a radical reform of the criminal justice system in general.
I am also for a radical reform of the criminal justice system in general.
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Canvas
Guest
This is a national tragedy and embarrassment. The social cost is staggering. Because people snagged in our criminal justice system become “damaged goods” in the eyes of many, ex-convicts are often unable to get gainful employment even if they are trying very hard to turn their life around.
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nfinke
Guest
It’s also pretty weird the Democrat party claims executing a serial murderer is horrible but support a woman’s “right” to murder their unborn babies.
But hey.
But hey.
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TK421
Guest
The Republican Party is not pro-life. There is a large bloc of GOP politicians who support abortion, albeit with more restrictions than the average Democrat.
Abortion is gravely immoral 100% of the time.
Abortion is gravely immoral 100% of the time.
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Irishmom2
Guest
People should be consistent in their beliefs.
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Dolphin
Guest
Because it is horrible. Recognizing the worth in a baby and not a murderer is evil. We all have worth. It is just as evil as abortion. You are not pro-life if you support death penalty
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nfinke
Guest
So do you think it’s wrong to kill in self defense?
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Aquinas11
Guest
“The rest of the world is doing it” is never an excuse to do something or we’d never have been one of first countries to outlaw slavery. Pro slavery people would have been using your argument to keep slavery legal
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Crocus
Guest
The positive outlook is that actual execution numbers are trending downward in this past decade, indicating a lessening of support.
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TK421
Guest
We were not one of the first countries to outlaw slavery.do_justly_love_mercy:
“The rest of the world is doing it” is never an excuse to do something or we’d never have been one of first countries to outlaw slavery. Pro slavery people would have been using your argument to keep slavery legal
Timeline of abolition of slavery and serfdom - Wikipedia
Looking at other countries with more successful criminal justice systems is indeed a useful thing to do. Yes, each country is different and inherits its own set of problems and its own set of privileges, but some things are universal, such as human behavior.
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Dolphin
Guest
No I do not but the death penalty is not and never will be done for self-defense. It is done out of spite and rage and revenge and hatred. It is done out of racism and ethnocentrism and xenophobia and Islamophobia. Self-defense would be to imprison someone for life
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Aquinas11
Guest
No current Church theology is not against it. In Roman Catechism of Trent there are two justifications for it
(1) Primary : retributive
(2) Secondary: protect society
Pope Francis change to CCC only affects (2) thus does not abrogate (1). Also (2) isn’t even a valid justification since employs utilitarianism (it’s ok to kill 100 murderers to make sure the % of the 100 who will endanger public are eliminated)
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