Who watches execution videos?

[Oblivion437]

Originally posted by shadowhound: I think that it would deter other crimes if they did. As much as I would love to say that I would not watch... I honestly think that I would, out of pure morbid curiosity.

Don't be ashamed, you're only human, and there's no shame in that. You'd be surprised, but there was a hell of a turnout for the execution of William Wallace, which for all intents and purposes, was probably more brutal than the crucifixion of Christ.

The thing about deterrance is, they beat the stuffing out of people with some damn horrid implements of pain infliction, then they nailed them to crosses, one man every mile from Rome to Sicily...Guess what, that didn't stop Alleric, or the Huns, from turning Rome into a nice looking scrap pile.

I'm beginning to suspect deterrance just plain doesn't work.

[Cerek]

I have not and will not watch ANY execution videos. I also would not watch any state executions.

Though I have vigorously supported the Death Penalty in the past, Yorick was able to provide me with some Biblical Scripture that has forced me to re-think my entire position.

As for deterrence, statistics prove that the D.P. is not effective in that respect.

[Dirty Meg]

Harsh punishments don't work as a deterent for one very good reason. Criminals don't intend to get caught. I don't suppose anyone who commits murder in Britain, where there is no capital punishment, relishes the idea of 25 years in HM's guesthouse Saughton.
People who commit serious crimes either don't think they will get caught, or just don't think. For that reason, the death penalty doesn't deter them, because they don't think it will happen to them.

[Oblivion437]

Well, there is one statistic I can point out:

Over 2/3 of convicted felons released will go on to commit further felonies, likely the same one they were incarcerated for.

0% of convicted felons executed will go on to commit further felonies, likely because they're too dead to try.

This dose of black comedy brought to you by the department of morbid jokes.

[Gnarf]

As everyone on death row would get released the moment you got rid of death penalty, that's a very good point.