PUBLIC OPINION > The Death Penalty Is Necessary

by SodaHead Infographics Posted 2012/04/30 16:00:00

Related Topics: Death Penalty, Infographic, Public Opinion, Capital Punishment, California, China, SodaHead Infographic, India, Repeal, Image, Penalty

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California is getting ready to vote on whether or not to repeal capital punishment, so we took it to the broader public first, asking one basic question: Is the death penalty necessary? Though capital punishment is not practiced in most countries, it is practiced in the four most populous countries (China, India, Indonesia, and most of the U.S.), making it a complex and controversial topic. But don't worry, we broke it down for you by country, state -- and much more. Want to know how they feel about it in California? You might be surprised. Let's dive!

+15

Striker 2012/04/30 17:24:35

+14
Tell ya what. That 35% who think horrid criminals should live and stay in prison can now pay the costs of storing them and providing their care and feeding.

The rest of us will pay for a bullet.
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Christopher Kirchen 2012/05/08 14:43:00

+5
It IS necessary; in many cases if someone kills, and they get out of prison, they'll kill again. It may not be a deterrent to others killing, but it at least permanently stops one person from doing so.

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missoni to Christo... 2012/05/12 10:52:02

+1
Statistics and proof that someone who murders once will always do it again? You cannot judge all the occurrences of homicide and say they will do it again. It just doesn't make sense. You need to investigate the case, examine the person and understand if they show general signs of remorse. I'm sorry but thats the only way you can really know.

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Christo... to missoni 2012/05/12 11:26:21

+2
Even if they don't, once they've done it once, they've forfeit their life.

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Twinky to Christo... 2012/05/13 00:53:32

backtrack a bit?

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Patric to Christo... 2012/05/12 15:01:27

+1
1000% of the time it stops / deter that felon from ever committing a crime ever again..

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Child of light 2012/05/08 05:11:22

+5
The death penalty works. It is absolutely necessary for any nation that claims to be just and fair and values human life. Contrary to what people may tell you, the death penalty does NOT degrade human life, rather it shows that human life is of high value. Human life is worth so much, that the only just punishment for taking human innocent human life is to take the life of the murderer. For those of you that think that the death penalty commits the same crime to the murderers as the murder did to the innocent victim, there's a difference between punishment and crime. The death penalty is a justified, lawful killing of someone who has taken away an innocent life, while murdering is wrongly taking someone's life away who didn't deserve to die.

The death penalty does prevent crime. The fact of the matter is, humans are naturally afraid to die. They're afraid of death. I'm certainly no exception. There are those few who are willing and ready to die, but they are a minority. The vast majority of humans are afraid to die and get hurt. If the death penalty is a real possibility of punishment to the criminal, then they'd think twice before taking an innocent person's life.

And don't even compare the United States to other countries. There are many different factors that come into p...

The death penalty works. It is absolutely necessary for any nation that claims to be just and fair and values human life. Contrary to what people may tell you, the death penalty does NOT degrade human life, rather it shows that human life is of high value. Human life is worth so much, that the only just punishment for taking human innocent human life is to take the life of the murderer. For those of you that think that the death penalty commits the same crime to the murderers as the murder did to the innocent victim, there's a difference between punishment and crime. The death penalty is a justified, lawful killing of someone who has taken away an innocent life, while murdering is wrongly taking someone's life away who didn't deserve to die.

The death penalty does prevent crime. The fact of the matter is, humans are naturally afraid to die. They're afraid of death. I'm certainly no exception. There are those few who are willing and ready to die, but they are a minority. The vast majority of humans are afraid to die and get hurt. If the death penalty is a real possibility of punishment to the criminal, then they'd think twice before taking an innocent person's life.

And don't even compare the United States to other countries. There are many different factors that come into play, such as their justice system, what kind of freedoms they have, how many rights are protected, how the government treats their people, religion, populations are just few of many factors that could make all the difference in comparing between two countries.

If people want to outlaw the death penalty on the basis that it doesn't deter crime, then by the same logic, we should outlaw life without parole, or really prison in general because that doesn't seem to be doing much better. Secondly, even if it doesn't prevent other murderers or potential murderers from killing, it still stops the convicted murderer. The fact of the matter is, 100% of convicted murderers who have been executed have never killed again. If they were set free, or had a reduced sentence, or even on parole, there is no guarantee that they won't kill again. In fact, there is a very high chance that convicted criminals, once set free or on parole, will hurt another person if not kill them.
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Twinky to Child o... 2012/05/13 00:54:29

Any statistical evidence to back your claims?

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Child o... to Twinky 2012/05/13 02:34:26

I could point out statistical evidence, but then you'd probably make up some excuse to try and debunk it, and present your own statistics, which would render putting statistics up useless. Also, presenting statistics based on individual view points doesn't mean anything.

I don't need to bring up statistics to know that the vast majority of the people are afraid to die, or to get hurt.

I don't need statistic to know that there are different factors in the United States and some other country to know that each factor could make all the difference in a nation's crime rates

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Twinky to Child o... 2012/05/13 13:49:51

Nice... I ask you a simple question, have not stated whether I disagree or agree and you go off on a self-defensive rant.
You stated things as FACT, I was asking for evidence. You provided none.

I am quite happy to believe there is evidence to suggest that the death penalty can be a deterrence.

You however seem to doubt your own basis in fact thus going of on one.
Nevermind.

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Child o... to Twinky 2012/05/17 20:39:36 (edited)

Statistics for what? Most of what I said is common knowledge.

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Username? What's that? 2012/05/06 21:26:35

+2

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Patric to Usernam... 2012/05/12 15:05:01

hmmm,,, it may or may not deter others from killing some one..

but it sure as hell deter's that person that is being executed from ever committ a crime again.

one felon at a time, sooner or later we will get rid of them all...

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bigdogg62 to Patric 2012/05/13 10:56:22

lets hope you don't get a felony for excessive speeding and get the death penalty for being a felon........remember there are non violate felony's too genius

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Patric to bigdogg62 2012/05/14 02:50:39

hmmm,, and these non " violate " felons ,, does the justice system sentence them to the death penalty ? genius ???

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bigdogg62 to Patric 2012/05/14 12:28:42

no genius if you read carefully what i said and what you wrote you would get what i am saying ......but closed minded i guess not.

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bigdogg62 to Usernam... 2012/05/13 10:51:38

you have to be kidding me!........she is typical of a texan, she agree until one of her loved ones end up on it then she will come up with exceptions to the rule.

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kobidob... to Usernam... 2012/08/22 05:14:03 (edited)

You die. Therefore you are under a death penalty. Had Jesus advocated the death penalty we would not be here to talk about it. He did not advocate the deathly penalty or jailing either. That is because he wanted to save his soul so his perfect soul can save whosoever being like he is.,

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Maxine 2012/05/06 00:18:19

+4
At one time I thought that it was necessary--do the crime--pay the time. I know longer believe in the death penalty. There have been too many Innocent men released lately because of DNA. I can't help but wonder if they executed any innocent men? Give them life.

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erin 2012/05/05 14:08:52

+8
The death penalty makes killers of us all.

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stevegtexas@aol.com 2012/05/04 16:08:24

I wonder how the rest of the world views the United States views on DEATH PENALTY.... would make another great poll i think........

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missoni to stevegt... 2012/05/12 10:53:47

+1
We view America and all other accompanying countries who still enforce the death penalty as barbaric and violent.

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Twinky to missoni 2012/05/13 00:55:24

+1
pretty much!

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rogerkatrina 2012/05/04 00:16:40

+5
With almost 19k on death row, you have to ask yourself "What's the hold up on the executions?"

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stevegt... to rogerka... 2012/05/04 16:12:13

probably because in some limited cases, people have been exhonerated?

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rogerka... to stevegt... 2012/05/04 20:51:46

+6
The justice system is not perfect, but a trial is all the law provides for. I understand it sometimes fails to deliver that justice, but keeping convicted criminals on death row for such a long time costs taxpayers too much money and should not be done. Capital punishment is a necessity and should be carried out more swiftly, I believe. All appeals and motions to the court should be handled within a reasonable amount of time and then the sentence should be carried out. I guess the appeals process would have to be given preference on the appellate court dockets in order to make this work, but it should be done.

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Patric to rogerka... 2012/05/12 15:07:23

damn, did you see how long Iraq hold their death row prisoners ?

1 week and off with their heads..

now there is some swift and final justice...

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rogerka... to Patric 2012/05/19 14:56:37

+1
I can deal with that speed once the expedited appeals process has run its course. Why keep 'em around and blow money feeding them?

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Scott to stevegt... 2012/05/07 19:45:58

Think about that Steve. Why would they be on death row if they were exonerated?

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rogerka... to Scott 2012/05/09 19:50:29

+1
He's talking about those who were ON death row when new evidence was discovered and because of this evidence they were exonerated. He has a valid point, but... I still say, that although some rare cases may exist where people are wrongfully convicted and then fall through the cracks during the appeals system, the best policy for a nation is to follow it's moral and fiscal obligation of ending the lives of capital criminals quickly and as painlessly as possible. A short drop and a quick stop is probably the most humane method existing. (It's fairly inexpensive too.)

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Scott to rogerka... 2012/05/10 12:32:03

+1
I agree completely! I think they should allow the electric couch!

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rogerka... to Scott 2012/05/19 14:57:51

I say a line of buses off a high cliff would be faster...

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Scott to rogerka... 2012/05/21 16:45:06

+1
Good plan as long as the buses are ready for the junk yard. No sense in wasting a good bus. But, yes, 60-70 at a crack? Now we're talking!

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Katherine to rogerka... 2012/05/09 07:06:06

The people pushing for a repeal.

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rogerka... to Katherine 2012/05/09 19:47:05

+1
Well yes, I get that, but look at the facts. People say that it's wrong to kill people as a punishment for a crime. I would like to correct that misconception. It's wrong for a person to kill another person in retaliation for a crime they have committed. However, it is essential that criminals having committed what we consider to be capital offenses, (there are probably more crimes that should be considered for that status), never be released back into society and it is a heavy waste of government funds that are already very limited if we keep them and care for them for the rest of their lives. Putting them to work for the state would be an option, but the liberals would be screaming at the gates were we to do that. I seriously think that a nation is obligated, although it would be wrong for an individual to make the same decision to do so, to put these criminals to death.
All violent and most other sex offenders, (pedophiles, etc...) premeditated or aggravated murder or murder of another inmate while serving a life sentence, perjury resulting in a death sentence, sabotage resulting in death, terrorism, treason... I'm sure there are more. We would probably have a much lower rate of crime and would spend much less on incarceration were we to enact a nationwide policy of quick appeal for capital cases and speedy execution after the appeals process. Just get it over with and move on...

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Patric to rogerka... 2012/05/12 15:06:02

30 days in the hole, and then to the hang man they should go..

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rogerka... to Patric 2012/05/19 14:59:47

+1
that's much too many "three squares and a cot" for my way of thinking...I say finish the appeals process and then give 'em a week to say their goodbyes...

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DanC 2012/05/03 12:43:29 (edited)

+8
The death penalty is favored by savage, violent and stupid people. It's an absolute certainty the fact that the death penalty is completely unnecessary, there are lots of countries out there that don't have it and are perfectly fine without it. Those who believe that it has even the slightest deterrent effect, are unbelievably stupid. Most people who commit murder, don't really realize what they're doing, maybe except for paid assassins. No one is thinking "I'm going to commit this murder because I'll "only" get 20-30 years in prison and then I'll get out" - NO, no criminal thinks like that.

A quick glance at a map like this:
should make things pretty clear: the death penalty is a third world thing and the cultures that use it/find it acceptable the most, are among the most savage, violent and uncivilized.
Top 10 countries with the death penalty:

Rank Country Number executed in 2010[49] per 10M
1 People's Republic of China Officially not released.[51][52] In the thousands,[49] may be up to 5,000.[53] 37.3 or less[54]
2 Iran 252+ 33.5+
3 North Korea 60+ 24.9+
4 Yemen 53+ 22.5+
5 United States 46 1.5
6 Saudi Arabia 27+ 9.9+
7 Libya 18+ 27.3+
8 Syria 17+ 7.6+
9 Bangladesh 9+ 0.6+
10 Somalia 8+

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littleb... to DanC 2012/05/06 04:40:02

Why the discrepancy? In the poll outline India & Indonesia are listed and not here on yours.

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Scott to DanC 2012/05/07 19:55:24

+1
You sound a little judgmental there Dan. Your opening line kind of lays it all out - "People that favor the death penalty are savage, violent and stupid." I favor the death penalty and I am none of those things. So guess what Dan; You Are Wrong!

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Boomer to DanC 2012/05/09 13:28:02

+1
We are not looking for deterant, we are seeking justice!!!!!!!!!!!!! You take the life of a human being during a crime you forfeit yours. Justice served!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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