Nine months after Kenneth Smith’s botched lethal injection, state attorney general has asked for approval to kill him with nitrogen

  • GiddyGap@lemm.ee
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    1 year ago

    Capital punishment is government sanctioned killing. Outside of war, the government should not have the power to kill anyone.

    Let them rot in prison. It’s cheaper anyway.

    Abolish capital punishment.

    • derf82@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Except them rotting in prison is cruel and unusual punishment. No, they get shelter, 3 meals a day, healthcare when they need it, and even recreation.

      And I’m anti-war. It’s ok for innocents to fight and kill each other, but not to kill murderers?

      • GiddyGap@lemm.ee
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        1 year ago

        The government shouldn’t be sanctioning killing. Period.

        Other than Japan, the US is the only Western country left with this primitive, revenge-based way of looking at crime and punishment. Yet, the US continues to be the most violent country of them all and the murder capital of the Western world.

        Usually, when something doesn’t work, we try something else. Time for the US to try something else.

        • derf82@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          The US is likely more violent due to a combination of corrupt capitalism and lead poisoning.

          We do need to try something else, but that something else is in terms of economics, infrastructure, and healthcare, not punishment.

          • GiddyGap@lemm.ee
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            1 year ago

            do need to try something else, but that something else is in terms of economics, infrastructure, and healthcare

            I definitely agree there, especially in healthcare. What an awful mess in the US when you look at how successful other countries are with universal healthcare.

            But I will just never accept capital punishment. It’s such an awful way to seek revenge. It’s especially surprising that conservatives love the concept of government power extending to killing its own citizens. And evangelicals who are commanded by Jesus himself to turn the other cheek and seek forgiveness. I know they are backward on many things, but this seems particularly egregious.

            • derf82@lemmy.world
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              1 year ago

              See, you are assuming it’s about revenge. No, it is just acknowledging that what is done is so awful, you have to take the consequence to the next level.

              And while I get wanting to call out evangelical hypocrisy, the Bible should have nothing to do with policy. Besides, the most famous supposedly anti-death penalty account was likely added years later: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_and_the_woman_taken_in_adultery

              • GiddyGap@lemm.ee
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                1 year ago

                Yes, I definitely assume it’s about revenge, because, to most people, it’s about revenge. You might call is “justice.” I call it revenge. It’s an eye for an eye. It’s old testament, and Jesus specifically pointed it out as wrong many times. Not only in the story you mentioned. Yet, here we are.

                • derf82@lemmy.world
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                  1 year ago

                  It is a punishment to fit the crime, as it should be.

                  When else does Jesus talk specifically about the death penalty? He was talking about getting hit with turn the other cheek. You can’t turn the other cheek when you are dead.

                  • GiddyGap@lemm.ee
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                    1 year ago

                    It’s society seeking revenge. The dead don’t care.

                    The bible talks about not seeking revenge on so many occasions.

                    One example:

                    Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

                    Romans 12:17‭-‬21 NIV

                    Many other examples. Yet, evangelicals are some of the biggest proponents of this type of government-sanctioned revenge.