NEWS: George Bush Strongly Supports Death Penalty

One problem with the death penalty is that it is a permanent penalty that cannot be reversed. Until the system can be perfected by not allowing any wrongful convictions and sentencing of the death penalty there will be people doubting the death penalty and asking for it's removal.

There are some people who are completely disjointed from morality that they firmly believe there is nothing wrong with killing.

OTOH the governors of Texas often BRAG about how many criminals they offed during their term. There is even evidence to suggest that Gonzalas wrote memo's about criminals who were about to face their death sentence, and spin it so that George Bush could condom a person with a
clear conscious. Since Bush only surronds himself with yes-men, and people who agree with him he really has no clue what is wrong about condeming a person who is innocent, becasue he doesn't want to know, or believe it can happen.

BTW, the Bible says "THou shall not murder" murder is a lot differant then killing, and I know former military who read that with graet relief, knowing that they could kill if called to do it, and not sin, as long as it wasn't murder

Only those who wield the power of physical life and death can be oppressors. If an individual takes this decision on themself and commits cold-blooded murder with 'special allegations', is it right that said individual be put to death?

The Old Testament says yes.

I believe the teachings of Jesus say no.

I believe in the supremacy of the teachings of Jesus because I believe in a just and peaceful God. Not that His wrath isn't visited on murderers, I'm sure it is, and rightly so.

Those who take the choice of another's life or death into their hands take that judgment out of God's hands. That is an enourmous risk and reponsibility to accept. Fallible human judgment is a poor substitute for God's infinite wisdom.

Originally posted by Jehosephat


There are some people who are completely disjointed from morality that they firmly believe there is nothing wrong with killing.

Whats wrong with that? todays polls on CNN said rougly 2/3 (64 to 70 percent depending on which poll you use) of the US favor the death penalty, it is not Bush alone.

The main point many miss is the fact that many of those sentenced to death are repeat offenders so why not put them to death? I mean those people they killed again after getting out died and they would have lived if it were not for the killers repeated killings.

I do not know what the statistics are but I have heard some prisoners serving life for killing in states with no death peanlty have killed several other prisoners, yet they cannot get death because there is no death penalty and that is wrong. I say put them to death in situations like that no ifs and or buts about it.

Originally posted by Icarus Rising

I believe the teachings of Jesus say no.

But how do you explain that Jesus (in the Christian bible John 8:7) said : “Whoever among you is guiltless may be the first to throw a stone at her.”

In my opinion, this is no religious opposition to death penalty teached by Jesus.

Originally posted by Icarus Rising

Those who take the choice of another's life or death into their hands take that judgment out of God's hands.

Hm.

Do you mean in general nobody is allowed to kill an other person?

I disagree.

One of the Aseret haDibrot (Ten Commandments) is: "lo tirtzach" - "You shall not murder",
it is not: " You shall not kill" (to kill = "harag" or "hemit" in hebrew)

So - If someone approaches you to murder you (or your partner, children, neighbour, etc.) and there is no other way to stop this person, don't you have the right to kill that person first in self-defence..... since G-d told us it is our duty to save lives?


[edit on 4-12-2005 by Riwka]

You make some interesting points.

The weakest argument you put forth, imo, is the John 8:7 one. That passage is widely and correctly interpreted to be Jesus pointing out that no man is without sin, therefore not worthy to condemn another to death. That one, imo, actually argues against man having the death penalty over man.

Matthew 7 is an even better look at the NT view of man judging man.

No, I didn't say nobody is allowed to kill, the beauty of being an individual is the ability to make choices. That one, the killing of another, is best left up to God whenever possible, imo.

Choices can involve great consequences. Remember that Moses led the Jews out of Egypt, but was denied entry to the Promised Land because he had killed the Egyptian he had seen strike a Hebrew slave. (Exodus 2:12)

Your last scenario is really the crux of the matter, isn't it? At what point is a personal threat to the safety of one's self or loved ones great enough to justify the taking of the life of the immediate antagonist, or oppressor?

It takes the highest level of immediate threat to personal safety, or the equivalent of the conditions of hand to hand combat to the death, with the lives of your children resting on the outcome, to resort to the taking of the life of another, imo. Personally, given this scenario, I would still try not to kill, instead seeking to immobilize or temporarily disable my attacker.

Originally posted by shots
The main point many miss is the fact that many of those sentenced to death are repeat offenders so why not put them to death? I mean those people they killed again after getting out died and they would have lived if it were not for the killers repeated killings.

In these cases, I'd say that the problem is that they are offending again, not that they are breathing and that their hearts are beating.

Zip