So I was on facebook checking out pictures of my exes from years gone (it's ace for that), and I came across a "Group" that was entitled


Petition to bring back capital punishment and had load sof pictures and information about this Baby Peter thing thats flying around everywhere at the moment (considering I don't even have a TV licence and I still know all about it, it goes to show how big this is right now).

Now I went skitz. I signed up and typed 3 posts about how it's wrong, and taking someone's life is wrong but it dosn't justify taking THEIR life etc etc. But I got some flack back from some chavvy sounding people, "O ur sticking up 4 the parents u sicko nah nah nah" even though I specifically said they should never ever be released from prison. I had to reply saying "Whatever luv, Lrn2spell" in a Blokey-esque....

Anyway I just wanted to know what everyone else thought, and whether I was wrong for reporting the group and getting the ball rolling to get the group deleted. We all seem like a (fairly) intelligent bunch on here, so your opinions matter that little bit more than facebook freaks.

Wow.... quite a thoughtful discussion from you dude....

I agree that it is completely wrong to take a life, and it is also wrong to justify taking life by taking another. It solves nothing.

However, since becoming a parent, I've discovered feelings I never had before, and I think I speak for people like Sypher and Fanboy, who also have kids, that should anyone even think about hurting my kid, then their last breath will be through the hole that I just ripped from their throats.

The "Baby P" incident, which for the Americans and other foreign types who may not know much about it, can read about Baby P and his injuries here, but I warn you you may not like it. Its an horrific tale of systematic abuse, torture, and the eventual painful death of a 17 month old boy.

For people like those who did this, a death sentence is not the answer. It is quick, more often painless, and essentially renders them unaccountable for their actions. But at the same time, do people like this really deserve the luxury of being placed into a prison, protected from everyone else, given three meals a day, free housing, and the guarantee that no-one will know who they are when they get released in 12 years time?

The answer is not a death sentence. No, I propose something better.

Ever seen the "Saw" films? The contraptions that require the victims to carry out the most awful torture to themselves to survive, or to sit back and let themselves die? Yeah, that. Those fuckers need to pay one way or the other, and while I don't agree with taking lives, I have no problem with those bastards giving their own up.

My only problem is that this is from an outsiders point of view. What if this were my kid? What then? I do believe that you can never ever state for definate what you would do in a situation unless you're in it. You can have a pre-concieved idea, but never know for sure.

My state still allows capital punishment. We're the Wild West, son.

That said, I take no hard stance on the issue, because I honestly just don't know.

Are there some people who I think don't deserve to live? Sure. Would I condone actually killing them? I dunno.

I'm a big fan of 'prison justice' though. A lot of times in the states I heard about child molestors and stuff like that getting dominated and possibly killed in prison 'cause the inmates just don't tolerate that shit.

The problem I have is that the prison system sometimes doesn't feel like it's much of a punishment. In the UK at least.

We've all heard stories about how prisoners get tvs, games consoles - there was a news story the other month about some pimp who was having prostitutes climb over the prison walls to service prisoners. I think if you commit a crime there has to be a proper punishment - maybe not the death sentence but our current prison system just doesn't seem to punish anybody.

The offenders seem to get more rights than the victims. It annoys me whenever they say that an offender "can't be named for legal reasons". What legal reasons? How can somebody rape his teenage daughters, impregnate them numerous times and then not be named for it? Or a rapist/murderer can't be named even though his victim can?

It makes no sense!

I suggest the next best thing: http://www.rte.ie/arts/2008/1125/manilowb.html

Or this: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7754756.stm

I'm sure I edited my previous post and added that. I remember doing it. I think I'm going mad.

but if you have to
do it with elephants

Yeah, that'll do it.

Surely there are easier ways though?

but would you commit rape if you were gunna get crushed by an elephant?

It serves its purpose. A death sentence is not mainly about punishing the prisoner, it sets an example so that people are afraid to repeat the crime and also gets rid of a dangerous person/a burden to the state. Not saying I agree with death sentences though, for I do not. Your talk about torture is just ridiculous and I hope you're not serious.. A lot of the time, I actually sympathize a lot with the people who get punished. Rough childhoods is a common theme. So now you propose that not only did they have to endure a heartbreaking childhood, but they shall also be put to torture for the damage that came of it?

The best solution imo is probably a Swedish sissified/socialist prison system with relatively high standards where prisoners can live pretty decent lives with some decent furniture and a telly on their room. It's still a pretty horrible punishment never to be able to go anywhere or see anyone, and it keeps them away from society.

I understand what you're saying but I'm fed up of people defending offenders and wanting to give them the best facilities possible. Consider what the victim and the victim's family goes through. Personally I think that human rights are incredibly important but if somebody murders or rapes then they have forfeited their human rights and should face some sort of punishment. I just don't think our current prison system is much of a punishment.

It's easy to be objective right now but what if one of your family members or close friends was the victim?

I'd be enraged, but then I'd hardly be in a state to objectively decide another person's fate, would I?

Which is why the fate of the offender isn't put in the hands of the victim or his/her family.

My point is that it must be awful for a victim of rape to go to court, see the whole thing through, and then see his or her rapist get sentenced to spend 5 years or something stupid in a prison where s/he gets free meals, a free tv, games consoles, computers and all the rest of it.

That's the fucking truth. That's why I believe the death penalty should be used. You act like an inhuman monster, you should not be treated like a human. You're a rabid dog that needs to be put down.