# Quite frankly, I would like the Death Penalty for many more crimes. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 20, 2008, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quite-frankly-i-would-like-the-death-penalty-for-many-more-crimes/478061 "2008-12-20T12:37:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Stan\_Shmenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/94ad74/32.png) [@Stan\_Shmenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stan_Shmenge)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quite-frankly-i-would-like-the-death-penalty-for-many-more-crimes/478061/1 "2008-12-20T12:37:31Z")
Breaking into someone’s house and stealing. Anything. I don’t care if it is a Pop-Tart. Chair for you. Authoring computer viruses/malware. Auto theft or burglary. Other stuff that should already get the chair if we had any sense, Molestation, Rape, Selling Senate Seats on E-bay. Anyone care to add? ---
**Author:** ![Stan\_Shmenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/94ad74/32.png) [@Stan\_Shmenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stan_Shmenge)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quite-frankly-i-would-like-the-death-penalty-for-many-more-crimes/478061/2 "2008-12-20T12:39:24Z")
Oh, and any cop that is caught for so much as jaywalking. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quite-frankly-i-would-like-the-death-penalty-for-many-more-crimes/478061/3 "2008-12-20T12:39:52Z")
Trolling, and/or idiotic ideas about justice. Get the rope! Daniel ---
**Author:** ![bluecanary](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bluecanary/32/3614_2.png) [@bluecanary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bluecanary)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quite-frankly-i-would-like-the-death-penalty-for-many-more-crimes/478061/4 "2008-12-20T12:45:19Z")
I’m not a great advocate of the death penalty, but (apart from the obvious i.e. serial killers, child killers) one new thing I wouldn’t object to see it used for is a situation where it might _actually_ act as a deterrent: Large-scale white-collar crime involving millions or more of dollars. ETA: As discussed in [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=498105) GD thread. ---
**Author:** ![Stan\_Shmenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/94ad74/32.png) [@Stan\_Shmenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stan_Shmenge)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quite-frankly-i-would-like-the-death-penalty-for-many-more-crimes/478061/5 "2008-12-20T12:47:03Z")
And actually, not even stealing. If you are breaking in to someone’s home or business, stealing should be presumed. Unless you are Santa, if you are in there, you are a thief. Death to you! ---
**Author:** ![Stan\_Shmenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/94ad74/32.png) [@Stan\_Shmenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stan_Shmenge)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quite-frankly-i-would-like-the-death-penalty-for-many-more-crimes/478061/6 "2008-12-20T12:48:48Z")
> [@bluecanary](#): > > Large-scale white-collar crime involving millions or more of dollars. Yep, I could go for that too. ---
**Author:** ![Stan\_Shmenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/94ad74/32.png) [@Stan\_Shmenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stan_Shmenge)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quite-frankly-i-would-like-the-death-penalty-for-many-more-crimes/478061/7 "2008-12-20T12:51:07Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Trolling, and/or idiotic ideas about justice. Get the rope! > > Daniel I just feel that if some scum is coming into my house to steal, that should constitute an admission that they have no place in civilized society. Have you ever had your home burglarized? ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quite-frankly-i-would-like-the-death-penalty-for-many-more-crimes/478061/8 "2008-12-20T12:55:15Z")
> [@Stan\_Shmenge](#): > > I just feel that if some scum is coming into my house to steal, that should constitute an admission that they have no place in civilized society. > > Have you ever had your home burglarized? By asking this question, are you admitting that your view is irrational, based wholly on emotions and not remotely on logic, practicality, Constiutionality, or modern ethics? Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Stan\_Shmenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/94ad74/32.png) [@Stan\_Shmenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stan_Shmenge)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quite-frankly-i-would-like-the-death-penalty-for-many-more-crimes/478061/9 "2008-12-20T13:15:08Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > By asking this question, are you admitting that your view is irrational, based wholly on emotions and not remotely on logic, practicality, Constiutionality, or modern ethics? > > Daniel I am afraid my logic is uncertain, where the sanctity of my home is concerned. Perhaps if your home was robbed of irreplaceable family heirlooms, of no actual value, for no apparent reason, you might feel differently. What if my girlfriend had been home? Would they have harmed her, raped her, killed her? They did come back, and I rounded them up for the police. They all did minimal jail time, and are now out trying YOUR door. Next time, I will not bother to call the Sheriff. I tied those bastards up with a bow for them, and their penalty was minimal. In the future, do not enter my home. I WILL make you very done. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quite-frankly-i-would-like-the-death-penalty-for-many-more-crimes/478061/10 "2008-12-20T13:16:08Z")
> [@Stan\_Shmenge](#): > > Other stuff that should already get the chair if we had any sense, Molestation, Rape… I’ve gone over this before, but I’m going to repeat it slowly just for you. If the penalty for molestation and rape is the same one as for murder, then there is a huge incentive for the rapist to kill his victim - that way there will be nobody alive who was a witness to his crime. Maybe you should give this some thought. ---
**Author:** ![Stan\_Shmenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/94ad74/32.png) [@Stan\_Shmenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stan_Shmenge)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quite-frankly-i-would-like-the-death-penalty-for-many-more-crimes/478061/11 "2008-12-20T13:24:42Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > or modern ethics? > > Daniel Yah. Modern ethics. Where when the burglar trips on your doormat and skins his elbow, then he turns around an sues you for creating an unsafe condition on your property. Are you a lawyer by any chance? Maybe a trial lawyer? AKA, a paid professional liar? Anyway, we are adding to the list of crimes here, not apologizing to criminals. Let me add another: The inventor of “Autotune”. Yes, I do believe he should be sent to the chair. ---
**Author:** ![brazil84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quite-frankly-i-would-like-the-death-penalty-for-many-more-crimes/478061/12 "2008-12-20T13:25:23Z")
As I recall, there was a Greek dude named Dracos who advocated huge penalties for even minor crimes. Thus the modern phrase “Draconian Punishment” > [@Mr.Moto](#): > > I’ve gone over this before, but I’m going to repeat it slowly just for you. > > If the penalty for molestation and rape is the same one as for murder, then there is a huge incentive for the rapist to kill his victim - that way there will be nobody alive who was a witness to his crime. I totally agree. ---
**Author:** ![Stan\_Shmenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/94ad74/32.png) [@Stan\_Shmenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stan_Shmenge)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quite-frankly-i-would-like-the-death-penalty-for-many-more-crimes/478061/13 "2008-12-20T13:25:42Z")
> [@Mr.Moto](#): > > I’ve gone over this before, but I’m going to repeat it slowly just for you. > > If the penalty for molestation and rape is the same one as for murder, then there is a huge incentive for the rapist to kill his victim - that way there will be nobody alive who was a witness to his crime. > > Maybe you should give this some thought. They usually do anyway. Some deterrent! ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quite-frankly-i-would-like-the-death-penalty-for-many-more-crimes/478061/14 "2008-12-20T13:34:10Z")
> [@Stan\_Shmenge](#): > > They usually do anyway. Some deterrent! Add ignorance to your list of faults; this is demonstrably untrue. And while we’re at it, I’m a schoolteacher, not a lawyer. Yeah, I teach a population of kids that means some of my kids are likely to commit B&E at some point, maybe steal a car. But I thought your approach to law enforcement was incredibly idiotic before I ever considered becoming a teacher. **Mr. Moto’s** point is one reason. Another reason is that historically societies that have had such an approach tend to execute a lot of innocent folks; the only way we could avoid that would be to **increase** the appeals process from where it currently is, and if you think prisons are crowded now… Another reason is that people **do** commit such crimes and then later find their way back into civil society. There are plenty of reasons. If you just want to vent about a home break-in, do that. But your OP didn’t make it clear that that had just happened. I understand that you’re enraged about it. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Stan\_Shmenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/94ad74/32.png) [@Stan\_Shmenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stan_Shmenge)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quite-frankly-i-would-like-the-death-penalty-for-many-more-crimes/478061/15 "2008-12-20T13:42:22Z")
> [@brazil84](#): > > As I recall, there was a Greek dude named Dracos who advocated huge penalties for even minor crimes. Thus the modern phrase “Draconian Punishment” Sounds like my kind of dude! Anyway, maybe I belong over in the Joe Arapio thread. (thinks for 1/1000000th of a second) Nah, I can’t stand to hear people whine and sympathize because thugs that victimize the weak are made to wear pink, and illegal aliens are arrested because the committed a crime. Oh, the humanity! ---
**Author:** ![Stan\_Shmenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/94ad74/32.png) [@Stan\_Shmenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stan_Shmenge)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quite-frankly-i-would-like-the-death-penalty-for-many-more-crimes/478061/16 "2008-12-20T13:51:45Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Add ignorance to your list of faults; this is demonstrably untrue. > > And while we’re at it, I’m a schoolteacher, not a lawyer. Yeah, I teach a population of kids that means some of my kids are likely to commit B&E at some point, maybe steal a car. But I thought your approach to law enforcement was incredibly idiotic before I ever considered becoming a teacher. **Mr. Moto’s** point is one reason. Another reason is that historically societies that have had such an approach tend to execute a lot of innocent folks; the only way we could avoid that would be to **increase** the appeals process from where it currently is, and if you think prisons are crowded now… Another reason is that people **do** commit such crimes and then later find their way back into civil society. > > There are plenty of reasons. > > If you just want to vent about a home break-in, do that. But your OP didn’t make it clear that that had just happened. I understand that you’re enraged about it. > > Daniel Yah, I don’t really agree with the DP as enacted either. Don’t trust the state, etc. I would be more satisfied if I had the right to blow the sucker away myself, just because they are trespassing. Come past the “No Trespassing” sign, and you are skeet. As far as people finding their way back into civil society, talk about a lotto! Maybe one in one thousand. Quite frankly, again, if you are out robbing people, breaking homes, etc. you have lost my sympathy. I am not concerned about that. I have been through a lot of tough times, and I have never stolen so much as a breath mint, somehow. People that steal and rob, or create software that breaks into your computer, or corrects bad singing, are sociopaths, by and large, and need more sanctions. Sociopaths only care for their own worthless skin, so maybe that is what we need to put on the line. “Oh, gee, I might lose my precious skin if I burglarize this guy’s house? Never though about it THAT way!” ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quite-frankly-i-would-like-the-death-penalty-for-many-more-crimes/478061/17 "2008-12-20T13:56:06Z")
> [@Mr.Moto](#): > > I’ve gone over this before, but I’m going to repeat it slowly just for you. > > If the penalty for molestation and rape is the same one as for murder, then there is a huge incentive for the rapist to kill his victim - that way there will be nobody alive who was a witness to his crime. > > Maybe you should give this some thought. Same as if you sentence a person to life with no chance of parole EVER. Do you want to be the guard in a jail full of men(usually) who have no incentive to behave whatsoever? ---
**Author:** ![Stan\_Shmenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/94ad74/32.png) [@Stan\_Shmenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stan_Shmenge)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quite-frankly-i-would-like-the-death-penalty-for-many-more-crimes/478061/18 "2008-12-20T14:10:19Z")
> [@ivan\_astikov](#): > > Same as if you sentence a person to life with no chance of parole EVER. Do you want to be the guard in a jail full of men(usually) who have no incentive to behave whatsoever? Well, the jail wouldn’t be nearly as full. 😉 Mainly pot smokers and such. Gotta protect society from THOSE PEOPLE! And, I thought life without parole was the preferred nostrum of the anti DP crowd for the worst of the worst. Rationally, I understand the anti DP arguments, and agree with them. It does seem that every time some guy is up for it, he richly deserves it though. Mu (cough) mia. So, what ARE we to do with the garden variety sociopath? It is an INCURABLE personality disorder having to do with the very wiring of the brain itself. They can’t all find “legitimate” work selling cars or real estate, and there are only so many seats in Congress… They contribute nothing to society and leave a wake of tears and sorrow. They are expensive to cage and feed. I say, put them down like the rabid animals they are. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quite-frankly-i-would-like-the-death-penalty-for-many-more-crimes/478061/19 "2008-12-20T14:15:12Z")
**Stan** , imagine if the robber broke into your house when your girlfriend was there. What would you say would be her chance of surviving the encounter? Be honest. Now suppose the robbers knew that if they were convicted, they’d be executed, and your girlfriend saw them. What would you say would be her chance of surviving the encounter? Be honest. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quite-frankly-i-would-like-the-death-penalty-for-many-more-crimes/478061/20 "2008-12-20T14:40:39Z")
> [@Left Hand of Dorkness](#): > > Trolling, and/or idiotic ideas about justice. Get the rope! I feel like several minutes of my time have been stolen from me. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quite-frankly-i-would-like-the-death-penalty-for-many-more-crimes/478061.md?page=2)