That math doesn't work for me at all. One out of four?! That is 25%! That is crazy! I cannot believe that people are willing to let a system be wrong 25% of the time and still feel ok with letting this go on. It seems so apathetic.

__________________
lambaste me not

It's never that simple. Don't be lazy.

__________________
lambaste me not

One of the points with not having death penalty is that those wrongfully convicted can be retrived from prison at a later stage. Another one is the idea that killing is simply wrong. If you agree with at least one of thease principles then death penalty have to go.

__________________
Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he doesn't become a monster.
Friedrich Nietzsche

Has anyone here ever witnessed an execution?

-Demosthenes

__________________
"A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both."
- Dwight D. Eisenhower

Executions aren't very common anymore so I doubt anyone has.

I have, however, seen old footage of miltary executions, quite gruesome.
(Firing squad, and hanging)

I've never seen one in person either. I wonder if those who are in favor of the death penalty would still be if they had seen a person executed?

I think it's easier to condemn people to death when you don't have to deal with it personally. Choosing to take another humans life is no light decision. If you do make it, then I feel you should have to follow it to the end.

-Demosthenes

__________________
"A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both."
- Dwight D. Eisenhower

Look at the thousands of people in death row today. If DNA and Lab evidence proves they are guilty, then why not?

What about those who have witnessed a violent murder or those who have lost a loved one to the violent criminal acts of another?

What about them? Our system of punishement whether pro death penalty or con, should not be set up to satisfy the emotions of victims families. We don't kill people so that others can feel better. We do it to protect society, supposedly.

That has come under fire recently in society and in this thread because if innocent people are being put to death how much does it really protect anyone at all?

__________________
lambaste me not

Then what about the lives of the murdered? The perpetrator must have thought about that. Sure the families of the suspect will go through hard times but tough luck. Crimes like murder must be dealt with severely or else people will simply not get it. I will go one step a head and even say Murderers must be executed as an example for the rest of the community so no one in that community does something like that ever.