# Do liberals want Dylann Roof executed? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 20, 2015, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-liberals-want-dylann-roof-executed/722986 "2015-06-20T01:03:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-liberals-want-dylann-roof-executed/722986/101 "2015-06-20T20:19:50Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Why does he _deserve_ a lifetime of learning? That’s far more than he was willing to give his victims. He has nothing to offer society and there is nothing he can do that would “redeem” him or make the effort worthwhile. That could be said about a LOT of people who haven’t been convicted of any crimes. I just don’t think we, as faillible humans, should make ourselves responsible for executing anyone. And isn’t the point that we’re supposed to be better than well, the people who have been convicted? That’s why yes, it does speak well of us to take care of convicts. (And let’s not even get into the fact that the death penalty generally costs MORE than life without parole) Otherwise, what’s the point? Just throw them all in a dirt hole and forget about them? When it comes to violent criminals, I’m no bleeding heart. But I think the death penalty goes against the whole “cruel and unusual punishment”. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-liberals-want-dylann-roof-executed/722986/102 "2015-06-20T20:23:59Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Emphasis added. I know you’re rarely fully serious, but just in case this time… Oops, obviously I left the turnaround out of that train. But really, the death penalty, and the prison system and the gun ownership culture are how we avoid addressing some really complex problems in our country. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-liberals-want-dylann-roof-executed/722986/103 "2015-06-20T20:30:44Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > And isn’t the point that we’re supposed to be better than well, the people who have been convicted? That’s why yes, it does speak well of us to take care of convicts. We don’t need to take care of convicts to prove we’re better than them. They’ve already proven that for us. > [@](#): > > (And let’s not even get into the fact that the death penalty generally costs MORE than life without parole) Cost is irrelevant to justice. > [@](#): > > But I think the death penalty goes against the whole “cruel and unusual punishment”. And I don’t. It’s not as if we’re drawing and quartering people or breaking them on the wheel. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-liberals-want-dylann-roof-executed/722986/104 "2015-06-20T21:02:01Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > … there is no such thing as objective morality. > [@Smapti](#): > > Cost is irrelevant to justice. I am not convinced that you can have “justice” without framing it in terms of objective morality. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-liberals-want-dylann-roof-executed/722986/105 "2015-06-20T21:04:04Z")
I don’t see the death penalty as providing any more justice than life imprisonment, for any crime. ---
**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-liberals-want-dylann-roof-executed/722986/106 "2015-06-20T21:25:11Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > And I don’t. It’s not as if we’re drawing and quartering people or breaking them on the wheel. I agree that the death penalty isn’t cruel and unusual punishment if only because the American Early Fathers agreed with the death penalty, and they wrote the damn constitution. Jefferson, whilst proposing castration for gays, rapists and animal-molesters, felt the death penalty should only apply for treason — _an amusing thought \* — and murder. He was unhappy regarding the vile system of retaliation ( poisoning poisoners [_ in the park ?\*], slitting the faces of those who disfigured others [_not unreasonable, but personally I’d just include it in the death penalty category_] ) but put it in anyway. **[Bill 64](http://press-pubs.uchicago.edu/founders/documents/amendVIIIs10.html)** included gibbeting, the pillory, ducking for witches, and flogging all around. So ‘ **Cruel and Unusual** ’ had to be pretty out there in the Framers’ time. Whipping was in general use for petty offences, of course ( and last administered in the 1950s in America ); so old Tom wouldn’t have considered reserving it to his slaves, whilst dreaming his dreams of freedom. And they didn’t anticipate lengthy appeals: you were to be topped two days after sentence. Unless it was Sunday of course. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-liberals-want-dylann-roof-executed/722986/107 "2015-06-20T22:52:43Z")
Has the meaning of “come-uppance” changed when I wasn’t paying attention? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-liberals-want-dylann-roof-executed/722986/108 "2015-06-20T23:39:07Z")
> [@Claverhouse](#): > > I agree that the death penalty isn’t cruel and unusual punishment if only because the American Early Fathers agreed with the death penalty, and they wrote the damn constitution. They and it also endorsed slavery. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-liberals-want-dylann-roof-executed/722986/109 "2015-06-21T00:14:07Z")
One of the advantages of the word “unusual” in the Constitutional prohibition is that it can change with time. Drawing and Quartering, in addition to being cruel, is also, today, extremely unusual. Good thing… ---
**Author:** ![Honey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honey/32/5074_2.png) [@Honey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honey)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-liberals-want-dylann-roof-executed/722986/110 "2015-06-21T00:31:03Z")
I’m against the death penalty period. I don’t pick and choose who should be executed or not. People will say to me “but what about if someone killed your whole family?” I’m against it…for anyone. ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-liberals-want-dylann-roof-executed/722986/111 "2015-06-21T00:33:35Z")
> [@bup](#): > > Howzabout if we make the circumstances “the 21st century,” then? > > [Now do you see a reluctance by liberals to have those they hate executed?](http://www.examiner.com/article/a-secular-argument-against-the-death-penalty) > > The USA, which is not a liberal country, is one of the last democracies in the world to have the death penalty (where it’s state by state, of course). Why isn’t the US a liberal country? If you mean in the sense of largely accepting Enlightenment values of political liberty and egalitarianism it certainly is one-indeed in certain aspects considering we don’t have hate speech laws or bans against hijabs in public schools we are more liberal than many other countries. Of course economically we are the most liberal of any advanced liberal democracy. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-liberals-want-dylann-roof-executed/722986/112 "2015-06-21T00:49:15Z")
nm ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-liberals-want-dylann-roof-executed/722986/113 "2015-06-21T01:11:53Z")
I do not much care whether he is executed or not. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-liberals-want-dylann-roof-executed/722986/114 "2015-06-21T01:27:24Z")
> [@Claverhouse](#): > > It would have certainly have complicated giving the revolver to Col. Redl. These provisions are for civilians. Regulation of firearms for military is done under the national defence act. I’m sure the brotherhood of arms would take priority in any event for a similar case. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-liberals-want-dylann-roof-executed/722986/115 "2015-06-21T01:42:23Z")
> [@Honey](#): > > People will say to me “but what about if someone killed your whole family?” I’m against it…for anyone. That is why we have juries. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-liberals-want-dylann-roof-executed/722986/116 "2015-06-21T02:13:08Z")
It’s also why we don’t put relatives of crime victims on the trial juries of the people accused of the crimes. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-liberals-want-dylann-roof-executed/722986/117 "2015-06-21T03:01:05Z")
I oppose the death penalty in this and for all cases. Nothing about this or any other case would change my mind. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-liberals-want-dylann-roof-executed/722986/118 "2015-06-21T06:35:31Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I was sorta hoping there would be a trial first? I’m no lawyer, but, I don’t think that this thread will actually interfere with his constitutional rights. Call me crazy… ---
**Author:** ![protoboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/fbc32d/32.png) [@protoboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/protoboard)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-liberals-want-dylann-roof-executed/722986/119 "2015-06-21T07:40:04Z")
> [@Learjeff](#): > > **and I won’t cry when they’re executed.** Doesn’t that essentially mean you approve of capital punishment, you’re just relatively indifferent to the issue? ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-liberals-want-dylann-roof-executed/722986/120 "2015-06-21T08:07:14Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > We don’t need to take care of convicts to prove we’re better than them. They’ve already proven that for us. Except that killing them DISproves it. Morally wrong. Always. Everywhere. No exceptions. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-liberals-want-dylann-roof-executed/722986.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-liberals-want-dylann-roof-executed/722986.md?page=7)