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Originally Posted by irateplatypus
there is a large part of the rationale that pertains to punitive measures, but it is nowhere near as simple as "you did this, therefore you'll get the same". I know you immediately discount the effectiveness of the death penalty as a deterrent, but many many many people do not.
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Well, the vast majority of studies agree with me. The death penalty does not act as a deterrant. I'm not making this up, but basing my opinion on reams of verified studies.
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Whether this is a lack of education or a lack of definitive evidence is irrelevant, the debate continues and it nowhere as near a conclusion as you seem to assume.
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I don't assume anything. I stated an opinion, and
repeatedly said that I accept others may not agree with me. The simple fact that there are many anti
and pro death penalty organisations, web sites and supporters show that the debate is not near conclusion. Why do you think I "assume" otherwise?
My opposition to the death penalty is one based upon moral grounds. Nothing else.
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Also, I'm completely baffled by your equating the original act of murder with the measure of capital punishment. How can you compare the two?
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They are both the taking of a human life. Logically, you can't get more fundamentally "black and white" as that.
Do they result from different actions and/or string of events? Yes.
Is the end result the same? Yes.
What is the end result? The unnatural termination of human life.
Quite simple.
The associating justification or actions are different, as I state in the first question above. But, once again, if one has a moral opposition to the premeditated taking of a human life, then no distinction should be made.
You may not have such a moral opposition. Whilst I disagree, the fact that you have such a different opinion is fine. The only "problem" I would have with it is if it is based on erroneous data (like the common misconception that the death penalty is a deterrant or cheaper than life in prison).
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The first is often an act of greed, of lust, of jealousy, or cold-blooded twisted perversion. The second is the result of a fair trial by peers, subject to public review, apportioned according to established standards and only prosecuted after a process of appeal has been exhausted.
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Quite. And I never stated otherwise.
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While the result is the same (a person is killed), the methods and motivations are radically different. To equate the two is to ignore the realities of two very distinct actions.
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Well, I disagree. The end result of a death sentence is, in some ways,
more chilling, as it is a calculated end result of a long string of deliberate actions.
Listen, I oppose the death penalty. Many others don't. But as my opposition is based upon moral grounds, you are almost certainly not going to convince me otherwise. I don't really expect to convince you of my position either, but I do feel entitled to point out mistakes of assumption by some supporters and make moral judgements on industrialized "production line" death machines such as that being introduced in China.
No offense intended or taken.
Mr Mephisto