[Morgeruat]

It depends of course, It needs to be a "just" punishment, ie drug trafficking as seen recently in the Van Tuong case, he was a lackey, and a mule, nothing more, it was not a just punishment, for serial rapists, murderers (I'm thinking typically first degree murders, or those which are absolutely reprehensible) etc perhaps a few other cases (not sedition, desertion, treason, etc those can be handled with lengthy prison terms, though desertion and treason are still legally punishable by capitol punishment)

The movie The Shawshank Redemption (one of the best movies ever) shows pretty well the result of a lifelong imprisonment, the ability to function in the world is stripped away and the knowledge and skills of many longtime inmates is virtually nill for them (at least as far as those skills lead to being able to function in society productively). which is arguably a more cruel punishment than a release from life which will give them a chance to attone for their wrongs to the person they killed, which is largely how I view the death penalty in regards to murderers.

[ 12-02-2005, 11:19 AM: Message edited by: Morgeruat ]