[Jamestown1630]

I read a book many years ago, written by a physician who had to oversee executions at Sing Sing in the early-to-mid-20th Century. I’ve never been able to find that book again, but the doctor made a very good case for his opinion that the death penalty was NOT a deterrent.

The book affected me profoundly - still trying to find it again - but I’m affected even more by my spiritual beliefs, and my belief in the possibility of salvation.

If we keep a man alive, he may still be in jail for the rest of his life, but he has time to understand, atone, reconcile, and perhaps redeem himself. If you just kill him, you’ve done nothing for him, for God, for anyone or anything except your primitive need for Revenge - and the Lord has already told us of His prerogative regarding Vengeance.

(And God help us when we accidentally kill innocent men for the sake of such a small and backward ‘need’ as revenge.)

[House Atreides]

I read a book many years ago, written by a physician who had to oversee executions at Sing Sing in the early-to-mid-20th Century. I’ve never been able to find that book again, but the doctor made a very good case for his opinion that the death penalty was NOT a deterrent.
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It may or may not be a deterrent but it sure is an effective punishment.

[Bommer]

I read a book many years ago, written by a physician who had to oversee executions at Sing Sing in the early-to-mid-20th Century. I’ve never been able to find that book again, but the doctor made a very good case for his opinion that the death penalty was NOT a deterrent.

I disagree. There has yet to be one case where an executed criminal kills again. Trust me, it's a deterrent. It works 100% its carried out.

[missthethunder]

You must have a real problem with war then.

[onedoug]

It’s not a deterrent, but punishment for murder.