Summary
Donald Trump criticized President Biden’s decision to commute the sentences of 37 federal death row inmates, calling them “violent criminals” and wishing them to go to hell.
Trump also took the opportunity to sarcastically wish a “Merry Christmas” to Chinese troops in the Panama Canal and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Trump’s post also included references to his previous attempts to purchase Greenland and his suggestion that Wayne Gretzky run for Canadian Prime Minister.
Would you be for a death penalty in cases where you can prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that the person that is accused is the perpetrator? And by shadow of a doubt, I am not referring to the very loose standards that most law enforcement relies on. I mean that the person was caught in the act.
In my case, no…for two reasons.
First, you can never be 100% sure you have the right person (especially given a lengthy history of police falsifying evidence, etc., and there can always be other factors involved). If you incorrectly put someone in jail you can attempt to make amends later, but how do you make amends to a person you murdered?
Second, given how human beings have evolved and how their brains function, life in solitary would be a far worse punishment if the goal is to punish or make them suffer for their crime. If your goal isn’t punishment or reform, but instead simple revenge, then I suppose this argument wouldn’t carry much weight for you.
I feel you are misunderstanding me. I am not asking about hypotheticals where the police lie. I am saying that in a hypothetical where YOU can prove beyond the shadow of a doubt.
It’s not about rehabilitation or punishment. It’s about logistics. If there is a dog that repeatedly attacks other people, children and dogs and rehabilitation has failed. The only recourse would be to terminate that dog as it is unsafe for society for the dog to be allowed out. Sure, you could build a secure containment facility to house your inmate dog but at what cost. At that point you are then taking resources that could be better spent to help people in need to contain a problem that will not be solved. I am actually in agreement with you that it’s a far crueler punishment to keep somebody alive in a non autonomous position that they would hate.