Dear Is Mise,

There is no credible scientific evidence that
the death penalty deters criminal behaviour.
There are many sites on the web that confirm
this fact - you can Google them.

The ABC Fact-Check is one such site and they
tell us that there is not enough
evidence to conclude that the death penalty deters.

This makes sense as greed for easy money perverts
some people's mental
processes - and they are prepared to take the risks.
That's human nature.

We're told that smoking causes lung cancer - yet
people continue to smoke. We're told about the
effects of alcohol - yet people continue to drink.
We're told not to go into shark-infested waters -
yet people still do. And, so it goes.

People assume that they will be ok - that bad things
will not happen to them.

Capital punishment
has done zilch to stem the spread of drugs into
Indonesian communities - drug statistics have not
dropped, and the trade continues as the Indonesian
attorney-general has confirmed.

Foxy, I think you wil, find that the execution of these two convicted criminals will have a detrimental effect on drug trafficking as they were still executed despite showing sings of being rehabilitated, which essentially sends out a message that says, 'no amount of remorse shown will repeal your sentence' and I see this as a clear message to future would be druggies.

As for alcohol, the majority of users, including myself, can satisfy their urge with less than $30 each time whereas drugs the likes of heroine cost thousands and have huge negative impacts on society.

Furthermore, there is no Mr Bigs in the alcohol world as it is a totally transparent industry, except for the odd home brewer, and it also generates much needed millions to the public purse. The fact that the 2% or so of users can't control themselves should not be reason for the remaining 98% to suffer the consequences, as we often do. I'm a responsible drinker, so too are my wife and adult kids.

But the underlying fact in the case if these two convicted ciminals that they KNOWINGLY traded in drugs in a country that put them to death if caught.

Essentially, they rolled the dice and then cried wolf?

The millions wasted on these two could have been far better spent.

Foxy: I was merely questioning those who support the execution of small-time dealers like the Bali 9.

These were not "small-time drug dealers" These two were in the big time with tentacles that were spread from China to Europe & Australia. Now I see the Media is making out Sukamaran was a hero for staying behind with the other 8. The "They are bringing Our Boys home" Headline is an absolute disgrace & to the memory of Servicemen who have died in Wars for Australia.

The Tobacco & Alcohol argument is a diversion. As Is Mise says, "the 98% who don't abuse should not be punished for the 2% who do." Those that do should have to pay for their folly. That means they must pay the full Expense for all Medical, Police & Emergency Services. It's their choice to abuse let them also pay.

Foxy,

Don't get it do you?
The number of people deterred by the death penalty cannot be calculated; I could say that 372 people in Australia were deterred from smuggling drugs in Indonesia by the fear of being caught and sentenced to death and that figure and claim would be totally wrong or right, there is simply no way of knowing.

I'll ask again, would the death penalty deter you from an illegal action?

Is Mise,

There are a ton of ways to measure the deterrent effect that the death penalty has had or not. A precise number of those deterred is not necessary.

Talk of "the number of people deterred by the death penalty" is a useless red herring.

Gentlemen,

The execution of these two men will not give
a deterrent effect to drug trafficking or stop the
others from becoming victims of drug abuse.
Attorney-general Prasetyo speaking from Indonesia's
experience describes the tentacles of crime-syndicates
spreading beyond major cities to rural ones saying
45% of SE Asia's narcotics market is in Indonesia
and those involved with these syndicates are Indonesia's
police force and the military. Rampant drug use in the
prison population also needs to be addressed.
Many drug dealers continue to organise their networks
on the outside.

You can chose to believe whatever you want.
I have no control over that. Nor any inclination to
continue to argue with you. I see no further point
in doing that.

Dear Is Mise,

As for your question to me,
whether capital punishment would deter me if
I was a drug trafficker?
No. if I was a drug trafficker - it would not.
Because drug traffickers like gamblers, like
addicts, are prepared to take the gamble.
To them - it's worth the risk - as the continuation
of the drug trade in Indonesia clearly shows.

See you all on another discussion.