OP
trev
So in such a system as practiced in the USA you're far more likely to be on death row after killing someone if you're black, poor, poorly educated or a combination of all three.You must be a forgiving man Trev, to feel that way. I don’t think I could be the same if it was one of mine, but as you say, hopefully we will never know.
It’s an emotive argument yes, much more so for the thousands of relatives of victims, who I imagine would be mostly pro death penalty advocates themselves were the option to be given at trial, I can’t say I’ve read any articles in which the victim’s families have said that they would reject the death penalty if it were available, in these days of political correctness they are highly unlikely to appear in print or on TV saying ‘We really wanted the B…… Dead, it’s just not done. But in private?
The rights of the above should be the priority issue in this debate, people with real involvement, if they want ‘Revenge’ payback, justice, call it what you want, why should they not have it? Why should the rights of a killer be put first.
I can’t agree with you that people are either for or against, quite a few posters in this thread have implied that they would consider change under certain conditions, i.e. Conviction beyond ANY doubt for the killing of Children, or the abduction, rape and Murder of young women, acts of Terrorism etc. and I would put myself in that group.
Every crime brought to court is treated on it’s own merits, the circumstances, evidence, mitigating factors etc. The punishment should fit the crime. And some people would get the death sentence, some would not, think of O.J. and Pistorius, killers who got away with it.
Is that justice?