Terror in the US – Shock and Awe

[Dieval]

Jeez, Dieval, you belong to the Taliban? Sounds like it.

Although my statement was made half jokingly, I wasn't talking about changing the rules we as a society are supposed to follow now, but rather the punishment that goes along with those rules. Stealing from Walmart(or any company) is not a right - it's a crime - and with a punishment like that, it would make for a huge deterrant.

[tinybear]

The deterrent effect of the death penalty is still unclear. Numerous studies have not produced an answer to the question "does the death penalty deter".

[PatrickHenry]

Beat and release. Especially juveniles and first timers. Shame and pain will be an effective deterrent and punishment. Then they can get back to living it down and making restitution.

Incarceration has negative effects on the underclass and actually teaches the criminal element their trade. Eliminate the crime gangsters with lethal injection.

Decriminalize victimless so-called crimes.

[Dieval]

The deterrent effect of the death penalty is still unclear. Numerous studies have not produced an answer to the question "does the death penalty deter".

That is true, but only certain crimes carry the death penalty. If stealing a DVD from Walmart came with the death penalty, there would be far fewer people stealing DVD's.

[grandpa]

That is true, but only certain crimes carry the death penalty. If stealing a DVD from Walmart came with the death penalty, there would be far fewer people stealing DVD's.

But that would be a case where the punishment is infinitely worse than the crime.

Grandpa h.

[Dieval]

But that would be a case where the punishment is infinitely worse than the crime.

Grandpa h.

Which would make the crime infinitely less likely occur, don't you think?

[grandpa]

Which would make the crime infinitely less likely occur, don't you think?

That's besides the point, you don't just kill petty thieves. That would make our justice system identical to that of Nigeria or Afghanistan/Kuwait/Saudi Arabia.

Grandpa h.

[IndieC]

Rape, violent crime, child "abuse", or as i like to call it, child rape, all of these happen too often. I'm willing to bet that almost everyone knows someone who's been raped, or abused as a child, even if they don't know they have been. I do, i know someone very close who has been, and in my opinion, if the death penalty were still in force around the world, it should be a crime worthy of using the injection. But i'm against that anyway, so i will just say that the injuries are so profound, that some commit suicide, because they can't cope, while others wish they had the strength to, while yet others learn to cope, and get on with life. But in all cases, its just like murder, the psychological damage is just given to the victim as well.

It happens far too often, and people should do something about it, as i plan to when i'm older. It is simply unacceptable, given the quantity of cases.

[Dieval]

That's besides the point

Actually, that was my point..raise the punishment of the crime considerably and the crime will cease to happen.

[belverron]

In holding the Amendment inapplicable to the infliction
of corporal punishment upon schoolchildren for disciplinary purposes,
the Court explained that the cruel and unusual punishments clause
"circumscribes the criminal process in three ways: First, it limits the
kinds of punishment that can be imposed on those convicted of crimes;
second, it proscribes punishment grossly disproportionate to the
severity of the crime; and third, it imposes substantive limits on what
can be made criminal and punished as such" (emphasis added).

This seems pretty clear....

[IndieC]

Uh huh... and what kind of punishment would be proportionate to the crime?

Given the psychological damage, the physical battery, the invasion of privacy, in some cases the loss of virginity, what kind of punishment is proportionate? I ask everyone posting on this thread: can you imagine that happening to you? What would you think of the person who did it to you?

I have heard numerous offers to kill the person who did it to a friend of mine, so even friends of people its happened to have a hate for such a person. Granted, a hate that can cloud judgment, but to be quite honest, a hate deserved. I would probably lose control if someone did such a thing to my little brother or sister. So, imagine yourself in that situation, and then make the judgment, chose the punishment, because in my opinion, its worse than murder, because you're creating psychological trauma that is there all your life, torturing you.

In the UK i think its a maximum of 7 years for serial child abuse. 7 years! For having tortured numerous people for life. For having quite frankly ruined numerous people's lives, in a way not possible anywhere else. In the UK, about 10% of reported rape cases end in a conviction. 10%! That's nothing, its insignificant, and its not enough.

I think that if awareness were created about such cases, and about their implications, then the punishment would get worse, and people wouldn't do it anymore, because of the consequences. That is, in my opinion, the solution to all crime, making it look bad, and making it unacceptable to society, thus making the punishment worse, that is, of course, if people can be mobilized to make a fuss about it.

[ibm]

stealing – cut off the hand or both hands;
rape or abuse – chop off the manhood;
murder or manslaughter – death penalty;
trespassing – shoot ‘em;
speeding – take away the car;

adultery – burn ‘em with fire;
cheating and lying – cut off the tongue;
not being patriotic (or “hate america”) – ship ‘em to mexico or some place;
don’t believe in god – send ‘em to a camp sponsored by churches and wash their brains.

etc.

is that what some want get going? will these measures more effectively prevent crimes or “bad things”?