If someone murdered your only child, wife or your closest friend, what punishment would you want for the criminal? If you were simply asked your opinion about capital punishment, how would you respond? What reasons would you give for your answer?
Recent polls show that 75 percent of U.S. citizens favor the death penalty. Yet the U.S. Catholic bishops, along with many other Christians and Jews, have spoken out against capital punishment. Beyond polls and statements, powerful scenes dramatize opposing viewpoints: people protesting a death sentence with candlelight vigils, while others gather as if at a party shouting, "Kill the scum!"
As a Christian I am in opposition to the death penalty, as a person seeking justice I would support it. God has said that vengeance and judgments are to be reserved for Him and in several cases He has demonstrated an unwillingness to enact the death penalty; i.e. Cain murdering Abel, Paul killing Christians, David murdering Uriah - then taking his wife.
In my own country because of the high level of violent crimes that are committed here people are calling for the reintroduction of the death penalty. Do you believe that the death penalty is an effective deterrent to people who would commit senseless killings?

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...and as life's short journey continues...every little thing is gonna be alright.

Geeez Mavrick!!!! Its too late in the day for this! LOL.

I think my answer is:
If someone murdered my son or my mother, my first instinct would be to say fry the bastard. However, I don't know if my conscience could handle it if they actually DID put him to death. Its a crappy question all around because killing someone doesn't bring the other person back so what's the point? My biggest issue is my tax dollars supporting the jerk.

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Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.

I do not support the death penalty and I do believe that god holds the last judgement. I have faith in God that he will do what is right ...whatever that may be. And I personally pray that no harm will be done to my children, mother, and loved ones, but understand that there is a reason for everything.

(These thoughts really sadden me, but do understand the question since it would probably bring much hate in me if this was to ever happen )

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LOVE LOCKDOWN

I agree with you that the death penalty is wrong, but to be honest there are times when I believe that it should be used - especially when the victims are children. So many are been killed here, and the merciless criminals who do this are wickedly evil. Some times when evil is abounding the only solution is to stop the evil from spreading even if it means executing those who are intent on destroying others. I know that this may sound hard…I am seeing an out of control murder rate in Jamaica – the second highest in the world. Certainly the death penalty won’t solve the problem, I know, but it is hard to see the children ages one to seventeen… die violently. What should we do?

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...and as life's short journey continues...every little thing is gonna be alright.

I didn't realize that there wasn't a death penalty in JA! My solution seems pretty much impossible, but one we could pray for.... that would be to somehow educate and promote stronger morals and christian faith within the family. Maybe if there was something the religious orginizations could do and possibly have the goverments backing and support. There are soooo many factors that contribute to the mortality rate in JA...besides starting with the family, the need to rid of corruption within the justice and police system would be another angle. It sure would be nice to see something start somewhere though!

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LOVE LOCKDOWN

What is your understanding of these scripture verses? Is God not saying that a murderer must be given the death penalty if he or she is found to be guilty of murder?


Numbers 35 verses 9 - 34

9. Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
10. "Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: `When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan,
11. `then you shall appoint cities to be cities of refuge for you, that the manslayer who kills any person accidentally may flee there.
12. `They shall be cities of refuge for you from the avenger, that the manslayer may not die until he stands before the congregation in judgment.
13. `And of the cities which you give, you shall have six cities of refuge.
14. `You shall appoint three cities on this side of the Jordan, and three cities you shall appoint in the land of Canaan, which will be cities of refuge.
15. `These six cities shall be for refuge for the children of Israel, for the stranger, and for the sojourner among them, that anyone who kills a person accidentally may flee there.
16. `But if he strikes him with an iron implement, so that he dies, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death.
17. `And if he strikes him with a stone in the hand, by which one could die, and he does die, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death.
18. `Or if he strikes him with a wooden hand weapon, by which one could die, and he does die, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death.
19. `The avenger of blood himself shall put the murderer to death; when he meets him, he shall put him to death.
20. `If he pushes him out of hatred or, while lying in wait, hurls something at him so that he dies,
21. `or in enmity he strikes him with his hand so that he dies, the one who struck him shall surely be put to death, for he is a murderer; the avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death when he meets him.
22. `But if he pushes him suddenly without enmity, or throws anything at him without lying in wait,
23. `or uses a stone, by which a man could die, throwing it at him without seeing him, so that he dies, while he was not his enemy or seeking his harm,
24. `then the congregation shall judge between the manslayer and the avenger of blood according to these judgments.
25. `So the congregation shall deliver the manslayer from the hand of the avenger of blood, and the congregation shall return him to the city of refuge where he had fled, and he shall remain there until the death of the high priest who was anointed with the holy oil.
26. `But if the manslayer at any time goes outside the limits of the city of refuge where he fled,
27. `and the avenger of blood finds him outside the limits of his city of refuge, and the avenger of blood kills the manslayer, he shall not be guilty of blood,
28. `because he should have remained in his city of refuge until the death of the high priest. But after the death of the high priest the manslayer may return to the land of his possession.
29. `Now these things shall be a statute of judgment to you throughout your generations in all your dwellings.
30. `Whoever kills a person, the murderer shall be put to death on the testimony of witnesses; but one witness is not sufficient testimony against a person for the death penalty.
31. `Moreover you shall take no ransom for the life of a murderer who is guilty of death, but he shall surely be put to death.
32. `And you shall take no ransom for him who has fled to his city of refuge, that he may return to dwell in the land before the death of the priest.
33. `So you shall not pollute the land where you are; for blood defiles the land, and no atonement can be made for the land, for the blood that is shed on it, except by the blood of him who shed it.
34. `Therefore do not defile the land which you inhabit, in the midst of which I dwell; for I the Lord dwell among the children of Israel.' ''

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...and as life's short journey continues...every little thing is gonna be alright.

Mavrick...which bible are these verses coming from? To be honest....I don't know the bible by heart and will evaluate and form my opinion about this...that way I will be much more confident in my opinion! It is rather interesting though.

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LOVE LOCKDOWN

[quote=DiamondGirl]Mavrick...which bible are these verses coming from? To be honest....I don't know the bible by heart and will evaluate and form my opinion about this...that way I will be much more confident in my opinion! It is rather interesting though.[/QUOTE

These verses are taken from the new King James Version - also you will find the same thing in the NIV, KJV, The Amplified Version, the American Standard Version and The Living Bible.
They all say the same. See for yourself.

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...and as life's short journey continues...every little thing is gonna be alright.

[quote=Mavrick]Thanks....i will get back with you on this!

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LOVE LOCKDOWN

I say we should still have public hangings...

Sorry but if people could see the consequences of actions... then we wouldn't have so many murders, rapes, theivery.... etc...

I believe in the death penalty and I would kill anybody who touched my child without a qualm.

Just my honest opinion.

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"Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies"

Proverbs 31; 10

[quote]I cant honestly say that that your opinion is wrong - I have been just informed that the murder rate in Cuba is very very low. The death penalty exist there and is in full effect. Not just for murders only. Castro's Cuba in fact as well as Singapore has some of the most law abiding citizens in the world. Something to think about.

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...and as life's short journey continues...every little thing is gonna be alright.

si it deh....

hmmmmmm

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"Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies"

Proverbs 31; 10

Nobody's opinion is wrong....its THEIR opinion! Everyone's entitled.

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Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.

Sorry, people can have THE wrong or right opinion of something or someone - it still remains their ENTITLED opinion. A Big example, what is Geroge Bush opinion on truth?

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...and as life's short journey continues...every little thing is gonna be alright.

Who gets to decide what is right and what is wrong?

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If you've never stared off in the distance, then your life is a shame...