I'm against the death penalty, honestly.

It's not for any practical reason like "how much money it takes to house people in jail or not". I think using practical reasons on either side of this is a little weird. It's human life. I'm for reforming people, bringing them to the light. and showing them a better way.

I believe in killing in self defence. I don't believe in killing after someone is already subdued and behind bars. I DO believe in forms of exile that more or less mean someone's fate in probably to die. Taking life systematically tho? Can't really condone it, even tho I want to. Again, i'm talking about after people are already subdued.

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ViciDraco · 41-45, M

I have mixed feelings on the death penalty. Mainly surrounding the question of whether it is more humane to keep someone incarcerated for the rest of their life if they pose such a danger as to warrant permanent separation from society. At that point, I think it might be best to ask the person which sentence they prefer. I personally would probably choose death over life in prison without parole. But I would not want to make that decision for someone else.

I like your focus on reformation and rehabilitation though. Not everyone can be reformed, but I think most stand a chance. Unfortunately, the US Justice system is Punitive rather Rehabilitative. Worse, we've started added profit motive through the use of private prisons (I could give a whole separate tirade about the damage of private prisons).

Stats tend to show that nations that focus on Rehabilitation and Re-Integration with society have much lower incidence of repeat offense when compared to the Punitive system we use. In fact, all of the negative fallout that comes with having a record makes it more difficult to live even after having served your time, which tends to drive people back into crime.

So I am with you in the sense of being against the Death Penalty as a mandated sentence. But I believe people who are Life Without Parole could be given a choice.

SatanBurger · 36-40, F

@ViciDraco There's a prison in Europe with the lowest reoffending rates, ironically it has the most controversy. They actually stated that some people literally can't be reformed but most can however no one is under any illusions that everyone can be and even then it depends on what rehab means. Corporations were taking advantage of this and forced drug addicts to work in factories where they routinely threatened them like Coca Cola and chicken plants but this isn't the kind of rehab that this European prison offers, they do it different and has one of the lowest reoffending rates.

And that's the reason I don't believe in the death penalty.

I also hate touching on this subject but there's people out there who have done horrible stuff but also had horrible childhoods. Sometimes, they do get help, change their names and have families etc. That's kind of why I would be torn like you, I understand the sentiment but at the end of it all, I choose to not believe in the death penalty for that reason. If you want for a better society, you HAVE to be able to either bend a little bit or be willing to "allow others to change." But that's not what our society does.

ViciDraco · 41-45, M

@SatanBurger don't get me wrong. I think the number of people who are unredeemable are very small.

SatanBurger · 36-40, F

@ViciDraco Oh yeah I agree and didn't get you wrong, I just wanted to add thoughts because it reminded me of a prison who has the lowest reoffending rates in Europe but is ironically one of the most controversial.

BRUUH · VIP

@ViciDraco I have time to reply right now but I'll say that if you struggle with what's more humane between killing and imprisonment, there is the option of advocating more humane prisons geared more to reform.

ViciDraco · 41-45, M

@BRUUH I'm speaking in the case where reform is not possible. It's rare, but it exists.