Death Penalty for Minors

[Talsek]

There was a show run on the History Channel a while back about the evolution of execution. Much of the innovation in execution methods had to do with assuaging the conscience of the executioner(s). Some of the methods used over the years:

- In a firing squad, having one rifle loaded with blanks
- Setting up hangings so the victim's own body weight triggers the drop
- Employing multiple executioners for lethal injections, with only one actually delivering a lethal dose of a drug

No one wants to pull that trigger :P

[Kraxe]

I think they should raffle off the right to perform individual executions to the other inmates.

[Rosuav]

In Israel, executions for such crimes as rape were performed collectively - by stoning. That is, the entire community is involved (for practical purposes it would be a subset of, but it's like saying that city council meetings are open to the whole city - you won't get everyone, but you could get anyone). Nobody actually killed the person alone, it was the entire town.

But who is it who kills the criminal? Is it "the dignified judge who condems a man to die" or is it "the industrious mechanic who carries out the sentence"? In Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado, the Emperor of Japan (the Mikado for whom the show is named) found no moral difference between those two, and rolled the two offices into one, making Lord High Executioner the title of a dignified judge. However, it is very risky giving all the decisionmaking to one person. When one man sets himself up as judge, jury, and executioner, even if he is within the law, the possibility is too great for mistakes. (Actually, that's what the jury's for, really. Twelve people not clever enough to get themselves out of jury duty.)

Originally posted by Salimar
I think the fairest system is "eye by eye". Even if the person didn't mean it... the victim is not coming back... all we can do to release the victim's family pain is to kill someone else... and promptly before anybody changes their mind.

I think you mean "eye for eye, tooth for tooth, life for life" - the principle that you inflict on someone whatever he inflicted on someone else. This is treating the law as a vengeful reaction against the pain caused by the crime, which is not its primary purpose. However, I do agree that it should be prompt. Consider carefully whether or not to execute a person, but once a man is condemned to death, execute the sentence promptly. Ever since the guillotine was invented, society has sought swift and civilised punishments for criminals - but keeping someone on Death Row for years is cruel.

[Belaraiya]

but keeping someone on Death Row for years is cruel.

Cruel to who? The victims and their families who have to watch on TV when the crim gets to parade around and beg for his/her life?

Personally, I think that death row inmates should be locked up in solitary confinement, no privilages and not given any details of how long they have left. That, or just give me a gun and a target.

I can't shoot accurately, but you get that

[Rosuav]

Originally posted by Belaraiya
That, or just give me a gun and a target.

I can't shoot accurately, but you get that

No matter, we'll put you in the firing squad along with a dozen others who can't shoot for nuts. One of you will hit.

[Salimar]

Everybody likes a good execution. As Rosuav said, all town used to go to stone the rapist. However, when we have jury duty, how many of us try to get away with it? Aaah! but in a collective execution everybody wants to put their little grain. It is not about law or being righteous, it is about a morbid feelings of blood as part of a mob. I think we should come back to the stoning times.

Executioners do not want to feel guilty? why would someone become an executioner? Ok, in war a soldier might not have a choice. But what about these other countries with death penalty!. I am sure exercutioners are a very special kind of character? or is the money so good? anybody knows how much money these people make? Has anybody thought about the type of c.v. an executioner might have? what about the job interview? I think the reason why they try to hide who was the killer is to give it a feeling of "the hand of god". Why are you guys paying 3 or 4 guys per execution when you could get one only. As Kraxe said, I am sure you can sell tickets to do the job.

Salimar