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(Continued …)

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It will be a long time before mentalities change in order for justice to be seen simply as the rightful enforcement of the terms and conditions of the social contract to which we all voluntarily subscribe through the democratic process, and not just some cruel form of punishment.

Intentional murder is an act by which the murderer clearly demonstrates his refusal to recognise and respect life and death as the fundamental rights of every human being, including himself. By his act, he forfeits his own fundamental human right to life and death.

Criminal court decisions of legal euthanasia should, however, be limited to crimes such as child murder, serial killing, torture murder, mass murder, terrorism, and premeditated murder that is carefully planned and executed.

Capital punishment, as it continues to be practised in many countries today, belongs to another age. It is a barbaric concept that finds its roots in the development of retributive or punitive justice which has historically been largely favoured and influenced by the Abrahamic religions :

“Show no pity; life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot”. The Book of Deuteronomy is the fifth book of the Hebrew bible (the Old Testament) and is thought by modern scholars to date from the 8th century BC.

The barbary of capital punishment as it has been practised down the ages and continues to be practised in some countries has no place in a modern civilised democracy respectful of today’s universal humanitarian values.

I do not advocate the reintroduction of capital punishment as it was previously practised in Australia. I propose that we amend our legislation to allow our justice to fulfil its purpose and arrive at its logical conclusion as defined by our eminent forebears, John Locke and company cited earlier.

Those persons found guilty of particularly atrocious, cold-blooded crimes should be euthanised with full respect for their human dignity, calmly, peacefully and as painlessly as modern science can allow, preferably in a warm, cosy environment.

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Being executed does not guarantee a person a fresh start.
davidf,
Nor does being robbed, raped, disabled, deformed, broken marriages, constant fear of a repeat attack, loss of social life etc etc.
I totally agree that wrongful sentencing is horrible but being in a motel come gym, come Uni study etc etc with steel bars is not exactly deserved penalty either. Twenty years in conditions reflecting the crime/offence to a close as possible degree & a cyanide pill in a glass cabinet that can be accessed by the prisoner by braking the glass would be the best crime rate slower. If, after twenty years they haven't taken advantage of the cyanide, the execution should go ahead.
The decision for either extending the jail term or execute should rest on the families of the victims.
The main reason crime is on the rise instead decline is the absence of penalty !

I don't like the idea of a state having the right to kill anyone,
shadowminister,
Nobody does or should like it ! Nor should anyone like the idea where the State does not protect its citizens from criminal elements simply because people living in safe enclaves are not affected yet voice their opinions over those who have experienced being victims !
Bureaucrats, lawyers etc get wealthy on this softly, softly approach !

Herr Goebbels,
Still pushing your lies.
Boy it really must have affected you when your firearms license was cancelled.
Get over it we can’t all be recognised as responsible citizens.

Hi BP,

Agree, justice must be served, but that can be so without the death penalty. I agree with Locke, Mill's, Rawls and Russell, but none of what they say is dependent on capital punishment, the simple, "life for a life" is not an absolute necessity to satisfy society that justice has been served.

Question; Why does execution have to be humane? Can it not be barbaric. The 'guillotine' was considered so humane that during the French Revolution they could not but stop using it. BTW, most who were guillotined at the time had murdered no one. I see capital punishment as nothing more than a political weapon, and has never been generally used to mete out justice.

I see capital punishment as nothing more than a political weapon,
Paul1405,
That is the way we're heading by not having at least the threat of appropriate punishment. Just having a Death row would put a dent into criminal activities & if 100% certain of guilt is established, carry out an execution after twenty years of confinement.!
If not 100% certain of guilt, have the threat of execution ! One thing is certain, jails as we have them are definitely not a deterrent. We have to move towards a National service scheme to re-introduce common sense & sense of responsibility & respect ! There's no getting around it.
Do not for one moment believe crime will reduce under present laws !
That's why you & I are always at each other because I believe in responsibility to society for individuals & you believe in society being responsible for individuals ! We have tried your way for over five decades now & look where we find ourselves. Let's give my way a go & see how things will work !