Public Executions? (good or bad)

[Epidemic]

For the sake of argument assume actual guilt is absolute and determined beyond (any possible doubt).

That the crime is beyond a crime of passion i.e. serial killer, Serial child molester and killer...

Under the above condtions, anyone who is an adult is allowed to visit the execution center where R rating rules are in place.




Other than general inkiness and scariness why should public execution not happen?

How does it harm society at large?


If your answer is it cheapens life? Please detail how that is negative. Is it possible to not cheapen life in general if one considers the nature of the thing being killed?

[GroundZero3]

I think only those who are involved should with the case be able to witness the death (which I believe how it is)

This isn't a spectacle this is a human being still no matter what he/she has done. Plus this isnt the medieval times, we are above that.

I guess the question Ep, what value would it add to society for being able to view this??

[nickslick74]

Jebus GZ, get outta my head!

[Epidemic]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GroundZero3

I think only those who are involved should with the case be able to witness the death (which I believe how it is)

This isn't a spectacle this is a human being still no matter what he/she has done. Plus this isnt the medieval times, we are above that.

I guess the question Ep, what value would it add to society for being able to do this?

Deterrent
Closure for the community
Public education (allowing the public to understand the ramification of the sentence.)

[nickslick74]

It's already been proven that the death penalty does not deter individuals from commiting a crime. I doubt it had any impact back when they were done in public.

[GroundZero3]

Well that didnt deter people back in the day did it? People were still murdering all its gonna do is allow some nuts to get their rocks off watching it happen.

[Epidemic]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GroundZero3

Well that didnt deter people back in the day did it? People were still murdering all its gonna do is allow some nuts to get their rocks off watching it happen.

Actually the deterrent value of it is difficlult to quantify now don't you think.


Lets do a little mind exercise here.

If murder were not illegal and punished with jail time would it be comitted more frequently? if the penalty for murder was a 1,000 dollar fine would less people do it? So now that we have determined that penalty is a deterrent now the question is... if pentalty is greater or more scary would it not have a greater deterrent value?

[GroundZero3]

How can anyone answer your mind exercises when murder is one of the most violent things a person can do to another?

No offense, but going to jail for murder would stop me from doing it over a fine. But again murder has been around since the dawn of man. How is publicly killing someone going to deter anyone? And then you get into the question, well the person that we are executing, is he really guilty? Because im sure it happens, and many of those will be witnessing the dealth of an innocent man

[Epidemic]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GroundZero3

How can anyone answer your mind exercises when murder is one of the most violent things a person can do to another?

I am not sure what you mean.

Simply put I know people who I suspect would kill you for taking their parking space were it not for the fear of penalty.


are you honestly saying you feel that if murder were legal that you truely believe the murder rate would remain the same as is is today?

[Epidemic]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GroundZero3

How can anyone answer your mind exercises when murder is one of the most violent things a person can do to another?

No offense, but going to jail for murder would stop me from doing it over a fine. But again murder has been around since the dawn of man. How is publicly killing someone going to deter anyone? And then you get into the question, well the person that we are executing, is he really guilty? Because im sure it happens, and many of those will be witnessing the dealth of an innocent man

Reinforced fear of the outcome of murder being a grotesque end to yourself. Much the same as a fine would scare those who could easily be controlled by a fine. Much the same as those who fear jail. There are those who when presented with the reality of execution may well remember that when it came time for them to choose beween killing and not.

Yes there are those who lose their mind in a moment of passion, those who are just plain nutz who can not be deterred. But every level of deterrent removes someone from the pool of would be murderers.