Peter,

I could care less if the death penalty deters crime.

If it does I see that as a fortunate extra benefit. I see the death penalty as punishment for crimes committed. After we've gone through all available measures and we are absolutely sure someone is guilty if the crime calls for capital punishment we should simply execute the individual.

That individual will never again commit a crime and I suspect they will be deterred... <g>

Look.. Let's say you see a small dog running through your neighborhood - foaming at the mouth. You know that the dog will eventually die but if it bites a child that child might not survive the treatment.

You kill the dog. There is no hope for the dog and very sadly in the case of some humans there is simply no hope. It should certainly be a last resort and should be administered only after being sure of guilt but at that point it should be a part of our justice system.

The so-called 'enlightened' Europeans who have outlawed the death penalty will see nothing but an increase in crimes of a death-penalty-worth nature. Just watch the numbers.

Look at the fellow a few years back who was let out on parole and who then chopped off the arms of that poor girl. Then they moved him to Florida where he did something else?? I say give him a dose of the big sleep.

Many of the 'lifers' continue to commit murder in prison as they have nothing to lose as they are certain they will not lose their lives since no death penalty will be administered on them.


>In the third debate, a man asked GW if he was proud of the fact that Texas is number one in the nation in executions. He said, "No, I'm not proud of that."
>
>http://cbsnews.com/now/story/0,1597,242069-412,00.shtml
>
>Lehrer then asked:
>
>LEHRER: Do both of you believe that the death penalty actually deters crime?
>Governor?
>
>BUSH: I do, that's the only reason to be for it. Let me finish that, I don't think you should support the death penalty to seek revenge. I don't think that's right. I think the reason to support the death penalty is because it saves other people's lives.
>
>LEHRER: Vice President Gore?
>
>GORE: I think it is a deterrence. I know that's a controversial view, but I do believe it's a deterrence.
>
>
>To reiterate, Bush says that deterrence is the only reason to be for the death penalty.
>
>So I would like to ask the thread participants if they agree that the death penalty, over and above a penalty of life without parole, has a deterrent effect on individuals driven to commit murder?
>
>Are you aware of statistics that examine this question?
>
>Peter