The death penalty scores!

[albed]

A series of academic studies show that executing a murderer deters at least several other murders so the stupid opponents of the death penalty are actually supporting more homicide.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070611/...lty_deterrence

There is no question about it," said Naci Mocan, an economics professor at the University of Colorado at Denver. "The conclusion is there is a deterrent effect."

A 2003 study he co-authored, and a 2006 study that re-examined the data, found that each execution results in five fewer homicides, and commuting a death sentence means five more homicides. "The results are robust, they don't really go away," he said. "I oppose the death penalty. But my results show that the death penalty (deters) — what am I going to do, hide them?"

Statistical studies like his are among a dozen papers since 2001 that [show] capital punishment has deterrent effects.

People with common sense really don't need studies to tell them the obvious but with mass stupidity becoming the fad of the times it's good to have formal proof.


Now we have to start prosecuting all the moronic death penalty opponents as accessories to murder.

[malvachat]

Always a hard one this.
If mistakes are made,you can't go back.
We have had a number of cases here in the UK,
where years later after massive campaigns people
were found to be innocent.
In some of the IRA cases they were fitted up by the police.
Now,at least then they can still get a life after release.
If your point is that it acts as a deterrent,maybe.
I think maybe to proper people,but to scum bags,I'm not sure.
Maybe each time an execution takes place,it has a short term effect.
My only worry is you've got the right person and the verdict is correct.
As to executing scum,much as it's against my gentle nature I say yes.

[Mazer]

When innocent people go into prison they never come out innocent.

I'll tell you this, if I was falsely convicted of murder I'd rather not spend the rest of my life in prison. Put me to death even if I am innocent, unless there's a chance the conviction will be overturned on appeal.

[pisser]

It is first and foremost about revenge and 'justice' for the victim's family, then about deterrence.

[albed]

Originally Posted by Mazer

When innocent people go into prison they never come out innocent.

Rhetorical nonsense unless you're interchanging legal status with moral state then it's just a phoney allegory.

Originally Posted by Mazer

I'll tell you this, if I was falsely convicted of murder I'd rather not spend the rest of my life in prison. Put me to death even if I am innocent, unless there's a chance the conviction will be overturned on appeal.

Suicidal cowardice doesn't become you. A lot of people in the world live their whole lives under conditions that make a U.S. prison seem luxurious. Why do you fear it so much you'd rather die?

[Mazer]

Yeah, you're right. If I actually was sentenced to life in prison I'd probably have second thoughts about it. However, I am trying to make the point that the death of a few wrongfully convicted individuals is worth it to execute the thousands who really deserve it. So if that's how the system worked and I ended up convicted of a murder I didn't commit, I wouldn't hold it against the justice system for executing me, just for convicting me in the first place. I guess I fear injustice more than death, but that's just me.

[theknife]

execute 'em. use a higher standard of proof than just "reasonable doubt", but if that can be established, go ahead and execute 'em. dunno about the deterrent factor - and the validity of the conclusions of the study appear debatable - but i do know the recidivismn rate among executed felons is zero. so if the punishment fits the crime and the proof is indisputable, off with thier heads.