tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19963266.post423895342920272795..comments2022-12-24T20:04:15.057-05:00Comments on The Cybernetic Atheist: Let's talk death. Penalties, that is...electric chairs, lethal drugs.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05578145425454731854noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19963266.post-8331342695140942062013-03-20T20:49:18.557-04:002013-03-20T20:49:18.557-04:00I have been opposed to capital punishment for many... I have been opposed to capital punishment for many years. Ever since I spent an evening with a friend (Byron Eschelman) who was the chaplain on San Quentin's death row. The reasons for my opposition included my opposition to violence in general, lack of certainty that the person to be executed actually did the crime, and others.<br /> More recently, I have changed my mind about the entire concept of punishment for crimes. I see little to be gained from punishing criminals. Corporal punishment has little effect on children and their conduct, why would we expect it to have effect on adults who are fully developed?<br /> I believe that all citizens are entitled to full freedom within the constraints of applicable laws. When a citizen is found not able to use that freedom in a responsible manner, we need to take steps limiting his/her freedom in such a manner as to prevent his abuse of freedom. For example, a inebriated driver should lose his permit to drive (license). If that fails to limit the undesirable activity, more stringent limitation should be taken. The limitation can be increased until such time as the malefactor no longer misbehaves or is unable to do so. Incarceration in a prison should be limited to those who are found to be a danger to other citizens. Duration of incarceration should be determined on the basis of whether that person is still a danger to other citizens. In any event, the incarceration should always be humane and should include food, shelter, education and other actions that might serve to rehabilitate that person. Violent murderers (whatever their motivation) should be permanently incarcerated with no parole.<br /> I should add that there are innumerable "crimes" on our books at this point in which the perpetrators pose no threat to other citizens and should not be arrested nor restricted in any manner. Examples of this are use of marijuana, polygamy, prostitution, pornography (other than child involved pornography), and a host of related actions. <br /> Bottom line, we do not need to punish criminals, we need to protect the rest of society from their actions. Edward Haineshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03517210017922490438noreply@blogger.com