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Post by moretoasts on Aug 6, 2012 11:14:53 GMT -6
In 2002 the Supreme Court of United States ruled that 8th amendment prevents the mentally retarded persons from getting executed.
Do you support this decision? And why?
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Post by Kay on Aug 6, 2012 11:31:39 GMT -6
Since I personally oppose the death penalty, it naturally follows that I support the courts decision.
If you are going to execute retarded murderers, those with a diminished mental capacity, then would it follow that you would also execute children, because they also have limited conceptions of morality and responsibility.
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Post by josephdphillips on Aug 6, 2012 12:13:22 GMT -6
Since I personally oppose the death penalty, it naturally follows that I support the courts decision. If you are going to execute retarded murderers, those with a diminished mental capacity, then would it follow that you would also execute children, because they also have limited conceptions of morality and responsibility. It doesn't take much moral capacity to refrain from murder. Plus there's every reason to believe that sociopathy can be innate. A person could be born evil.
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Post by suppenhuhn on Aug 6, 2012 20:31:40 GMT -6
I think the decision is wrong because basic moral concepts like not murdering other people do not require a high IQ to grasp and thus being an idiot should not get one of the hook unless that murderer was talked into doing it by someone else in which case that person should be charged with the murder.
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Post by The Tipsy Broker on Aug 7, 2012 3:23:45 GMT -6
Hang them all....
Even the retards!
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Post by selene71 on Aug 7, 2012 12:05:14 GMT -6
My discomfort lies with the line that separates the mentally retared and those that have adequate mental capabilities. Where do you draw it? I disagree with the ruling....same reason as suppenhuhn.
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Post by The Tipsy Broker on Aug 7, 2012 12:10:59 GMT -6
I know a local company who trains and employs people with 'mental challenges' and have way more difficulties than these scumbags trying it on with these scurrilous claims.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 12, 2012 13:41:40 GMT -6
Some people think that the purpose of capital punishment is to deter crime. So, they don't see the point in executing someone with diminished capacity to consider the consequences.
I tend to doubt that it is a deterrent, except for potential future crimes that won't be committed by a killer because he's dead.
So, from my point of view, execution of mentally-retarded killers gets the job done. The purpose is not to deter crime among people who haven't committed one yet, but to eliminate criminals who have.
I think there is also an issue of punishment, but I can't see diminished capacity being an excuse to avoid it. Everything has a cause. Offenders who are not mentally retarded and not mentally ill still have some reason they commit their crimes. Whatever that reason is, is a reason to eliminate them, not keep them.
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Post by Felix2 on Aug 13, 2012 6:55:19 GMT -6
Some people think that the purpose of capital punishment is to deter crime. So, they don't see the point in executing someone with diminished capacity to consider the consequences. I tend to doubt that it is a deterrent, except for potential future crimes that won't be committed by a killer because he's dead. So, from my point of view, execution of mentally-retarded killers gets the job done. The purpose is not to deter crime among people who haven't committed one yet, but to eliminate criminals who have. I think there is also an issue of punishment, but I can't see diminished capacity being an excuse to avoid it. Everything has a cause. Offenders who are not mentally retarded and not mentally ill still have some reason they commit their crimes. Whatever that reason is, is a reason to eliminate them, not keep them. Waht a deficient arguement. "whatever the reason is, - its still a good reason to kill them"? Stop talking self contradictory nonsense.
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Post by Potassium_Pixie on Aug 13, 2012 8:38:53 GMT -6
As long as the suspect in question is proven to be mentally retarded by several points, not just one or two, I'm all for it.
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