maybe its time to go back to harsher penalties for horrible crimes?

Well that is logical... who would want a 3 week old decomposed body landing on you car as you are driving along?...It's going to come down sometime.

 

IMO, that would cause some serious emotional damage. Rarely does revenge as such provide closure.

 

You missed the point of my post. Reread it and let me know if you’d like further explanation.

 

I don't think the drippage would be kind to my car's paintjob.

Whatever happened to the classic head-on-a-pike? Drinking from your enemies skull? I miss the good old days..... (for those that need to be told, that is humor, folks)

 

I read your post. I did not miss anything.

The sociological impact of separating your two examples does not change those inclined to commit violent crime. They don't analyze why they do it to any useful level. Trying to decipher another's violent actions doesn't gain any useful information in society repeating those actions.

To use minutia for justifying harm to another human is pretty weak.

 

I say we give it a try.....it would be a selectable option for the family . I'm sure some dad whose daughter was raped and killed may get closure from it.

 

Are you familiar with false and coerced confessions? I don’t like the idea of the state having the ability to kill people when we have the means to remove them from society in other ways; especially when these people could be, and in many cases are, innocent.

 

When did I justify doing harm to another person?

It seems you’re confusing an explanation for behavior as a justification or an endorsement of said behavior. I believe that is a logical fallacy.

 

We shouldn’t base our system of justice on the feelings of individuals.

 

I don't think under any western civilization concept of justice you could do that.

The idea of the state punishing someone (even by execution) is that the state is seeking "justice" on behalf of the victim...so the victim doesn't get to seek it on their own.

 

I understand what false and coerced confessions are. Perhaps it's the methods used that need correction, and not the acceptance of a confession given.

A year provides time to recant. It also provides time to offer alternative answers, and other questions that might arise. I'm not talking shoplifters here, I'm talking those who have cause great harm to other people.

 

As long as there is room for innocent people to be executed I can not support the death penalty for anyone. I don’t care what they did or if they confessed.

 

Your post included cause for the actions. I'm not the one applying, or not as the case may be, an attempt at reasoning behavior.

 

I think we need to just start training people to swarm mass shooters instead of trying to get away.

Then once the mob has the mass shooter subdued, they are free peel their skin off and teabag the corpse or whatever they want while the police are filling out a report or something.

 

Our biggest problem is that we have known dangerous people running around loose and we don't keep them locked up when we should. I mean NOBODY should have a long arrest record. Nobody. I'm all for giving people a chance but if all they can do is prove they are career criminals then why let them roam free?

 

Do you not see any value in understanding the reason why someone commits a crime?

 

Great point! They have a loooooong criminal record because the punishment doesn't fit the crime and its more worth it to them to keep committing crimes.

 

Minor crimes are common in totalitarian states. There is no certainty of being caught.
Totalitarian law enforcement focused on catching political opponents not criminals, but once caught the punishment tended to be very severe. Siberia killed.

Virtually all human beings try to avoid pain, suffering and death.

 

Progressive caning?

 

Non violent, sure. Physical harm to another person, not so much.

If you are poor and hungry, then steal the food. Jack your neighbors electric and water. Mug them? Nope.

 

It isn't about revenge. Its about making sure it happens as little as possible (or not at all).
No amount of revenge and justice will bring back dead people so of course that won't solve the problems of the victims' families. nothing can

 

Making sure what happens as little as possible - the crime, or the family throwing the switch?

 

The crime

 

Then why does it matter who gets to 'throw the switch'? The criminal doesn't care who does it.

 

That was never a point of mine. Someone else said the family should make the call. That was not in my OP