Supreme Court ruling against death penalty for child rapists

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If one were to look at the murder rates with our country and countries with no death penalty, it looks as though capital punishment is not really much of a deterrent.

Hey-Have you visited Johannesburg, SA? No death penalty there-highest murder rate in the world. Go take a stroll in downton Jo'burg during the middle of the day, you'd be lucky to emerge on the other side. They are screaming for the death penalty. People have even been taking it into their own hands out of frustration. How about Brazil, San Paulo...they like to compete with Jo'burg for murder capital of the world, again no death penalty in Brazil. How about Colombia? Ever been to Bogota. No death penalty-lots of murders.

If you want to see what crime REALLY is like, take you family there on your next vacation, you might be able to see what its like to be surrounded by crime. The US is extremely safe. People who have not done much 3rd world travel in areas of South America, Africa, and Central America have no idea how safe it is here, even in the most "dangerous" of American cities.

The death penalty is not a deter nor encourage murders. Please do not try to use this weak arguement. The death penalty is a penalty, not a behavior modification tool. Please do not attribute healthy thinking to unhealthy individuals. Normal people think about the death penalty as a concequence, but murders do not.

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry your standards for "safe" are so low. You are comparing the developing world with the United States. Apples and oranges.

Look instead at Western Europe, Japan, Scandinavia, Canada (also no death penalty). Every American should be ashamed at our murder rate and the fact that the NRA controls gun policy. (granted the prevalence of guns is not the only reason for the violence)

Many people from other countries are astounded at the level of violence here in the US and the preoccupation with firearms.

I read recently about two toddlers in Baltimore swimming in a blow-up swimming pool in the yard trying to cool off b/c their homes weren't air conditioned, both shot in a spray of gurnfire. Two and three years old. Makes me so sad. And sadly, this sort of violence happens all too often in our gun culture.

[Anonymous]

Japan actually does have the death penalty, although it is very rarely used.

I think our high murder rate is most directly attributable to our gun culture...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Look instead at Western Europe, Japan, Scandinavia, Canada (also no death penalty). Every American should be ashamed at our murder rate and the fact that the NRA controls gun policy. (granted the prevalence of guns is not the only reason for the violence)

Completely different cultures, and at that EXTREMELY homogenous clutures at that.

BTW, Canada has more guns per capita than the US. Guns have nothing do do with it. It is the dertioroation of the family unit and community. How many of these offenders are from broken homes? Take a look at these countries you mention foster situation, practically non-existant. How does Japan view and esteem family and family obligation? It would be SHAMEFUL in Japan to be a criminal. Go to Japan and see if you can find much behavior that warrants the state taking children away. In America there are nothing, but excuses. As you put it, America is not ashamed, you are absoultly correct. Have you listened to any popluar music lately? Murger, drugs, unwed young mothers, and gang activity is celebrated and memorialized. This is a sick society, some real backwards values. Until people take responsiblity for their own lives and communities, then there is nothing that can be done.

BTW, the Supreme Court controls gun policy, it was reaffirmed yesterday 5-4.

[Anonymous]

It looks like we own about 3 times the amount of guns per capita, compared to Canada:

http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Lists-of-countries-by-gun-ownership

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Look instead at Western Europe, Japan, Scandinavia, Canada (also no death penalty). Every American should be ashamed at our murder rate and the fact that the NRA controls gun policy. (granted the prevalence of guns is not the only reason for the violence)

Completely different cultures, and at that EXTREMELY homogenous clutures at that.

BTW, Canada has more guns per capita than the US. Guns have nothing do do with it. It is the dertioroation of the family unit and community. How many of these offenders are from broken homes? Take a look at these countries you mention foster situation, practically non-existant. How does Japan view and esteem family and family obligation? It would be SHAMEFUL in Japan to be a criminal. Go to Japan and see if you can find much behavior that warrants the state taking children away. In America there are nothing, but excuses. As you put it, America is not ashamed, you are absoultly correct. Have you listened to any popluar music lately? Murger, drugs, unwed young mothers, and gang activity is celebrated and memorialized. This is a sick society, some real backwards values. Until people take responsiblity for their own lives and communities, then there is nothing that can be done.

BTW, the Supreme Court controls gun policy, it was reaffirmed yesterday 5-4.

Yes, right on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Japan actually does have the death penalty, although it is very rarely used.

I think our high murder rate is most directly attributable to our gun culture...

So, guns kill people, people don't make desicions on their own? How about drunk drivers in cars? Should we ban cars because drunk drivers have taken many lives? Who's fault is the accident? With your logic and other people who are not of the induvidual responsiblity mindset, the problem is the car.

Again, this goes back to people, families, and communities NOT taking RESPONSIBLITY for themselves and their behavior and lack of values. Why is this never the discussion? Why can't we take a hard look at ourselves as a society and realize that deep down there is something seriously wrong in certain pockets of the collective community? Murder, drugs, violence, and crime are celebrated every where. Going to prison for some is a right of passage into toughness and gunshot wounds are worn like a badge of honor. Sad.

BTW, I don't own a gun and do not feel the need to. However, I take issue with people who simplify the crime in the US down to guns. The crime here always has been and always will be a complex social issue, not a gun issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Japan actually does have the death penalty, although it is very rarely used.

I think our high murder rate is most directly attributable to our gun culture...

So, guns kill people, people don't make desicions on their own? How about drunk drivers in cars? Should we ban cars because drunk drivers have taken many lives? Who's fault is the accident? With your logic and other people who are not of the induvidual responsiblity mindset, the problem is the car.

Again, this goes back to people, families, and communities NOT taking RESPONSIBLITY for themselves and their behavior and lack of values. Why is this never the discussion? Why can't we take a hard look at ourselves as a society and realize that deep down there is something seriously wrong in certain pockets of the collective community? Murder, drugs, violence, and crime are celebrated every where. Going to prison for some is a right of passage into toughness and gunshot wounds are worn like a badge of honor. Sad.

BTW, I don't own a gun and do not feel the need to. However, I take issue with people who simplify the crime in the US down to guns. The crime here always has been and always will be a complex social issue, not a gun issue.

It's both (gun control, AND social issues). By way of example, how many people do you think Seung Hui Cho would've been able to kill in a similar rampage with a knife? Do you think those two toddlers who got shot in the pool in Baltimore would've been injured if the perpetrator had no gun?

The comparison to drunk driving doesn't hold much water IMO. A car has a useful and non-threatening purpose when used correctly. A gun's sole purpose (even when used correctly) is to inflict injury and death.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Look instead at Western Europe, Japan, Scandinavia, Canada (also no death penalty). Every American should be ashamed at our murder rate and the fact that the NRA controls gun policy. (granted the prevalence of guns is not the only reason for the violence)

BTW, the Supreme Court controls gun policy, it was reaffirmed yesterday 5-4.

Are you kidding? Lobbyists heavily influence policy; that goes for everything, not just gun control.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Japan actually does have the death penalty, although it is very rarely used.

I think our high murder rate is most directly attributable to our gun culture...

So, guns kill people, people don't make desicions on their own? How about drunk drivers in cars? Should we ban cars because drunk drivers have taken many lives? Who's fault is the accident? With your logic and other people who are not of the induvidual responsiblity mindset, the problem is the car.

Again, this goes back to people, families, and communities NOT taking RESPONSIBLITY for themselves and their behavior and lack of values. Why is this never the discussion? Why can't we take a hard look at ourselves as a society and realize that deep down there is something seriously wrong in certain pockets of the collective community? Murder, drugs, violence, and crime are celebrated every where. Going to prison for some is a right of passage into toughness and gunshot wounds are worn like a badge of honor. Sad.

BTW, I don't own a gun and do not feel the need to. However, I take issue with people who simplify the crime in the US down to guns. The crime here always has been and always will be a complex social issue, not a gun issue.

It's both (gun control, AND social issues). By way of example, how many people do you think Seung Hui Cho would've been able to kill in a similar rampage with a knife? Do you think those two toddlers who got shot in the pool in Baltimore would've been injured if the perpetrator had no gun?

The comparison to drunk driving doesn't hold much water IMO. A car has a useful and non-threatening purpose when used correctly. A gun's sole purpose (even when used correctly) is to inflict injury and death.

In the case of Seung Hui Cho, it was more of the way the mental health system failed him.