While I agree with your sentiment, I don’t think that’s how it would work in the real world. The people who really ought to be watching wouldn’t, and vice-versa.
I also feel that it would encourage attention-seeking sickos to commit capital crimes.
And they’ve always been wrong.
I agree. Pay per view is way too expensive. Better to wait for the DVD and get a year’s worth. 
I wouldn’t watch just because I’m a wuss. If I were forced to watch, I’d keep a bucket within arm’s reach.
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OK, then, Canada. 
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Hey, we don’t have the death penalty either. If you want to do it, own up to it and be honest about it, and do it on your own territory. Don’t try to sweep it under the rug by hiding it in other jurisdictions.
Are there any countries where televised executions are normal? Iran and Saudi Arabia do have public executions, but do they broadcast them? What about Iraq? Are Iraqi TV netorks going to air Saddam’s hanging?
I don’t want to watch people having surgery, either. I very nearly vomited during the scene in Master and Commander when Maturin performed surgery on himself, and I do feel that I was traumatized by that experience. Should we outlaw surgery, then? I am upset by the sight of a hypodermic needle going into someone’s skin. That’s a common phobia- do we outlaw hypodermic needles?
Actually, who says death rings have to be a penalty of some kind? The gladiators could sign an extensive waiver, freely acknowledging the risk and indemnifying anyone from prosecution, and then suit up and start hacking. No crime or punishment need be involved.
And I’m serious when I predict that the stands for such an event would be packed.
I’ve heard arguments in favor of televising it, from BOTH sides of the debate, with the rational boiling down to one thing…horror value.
The pro-death side, saying that seeing executions will scare people into not commiting crimes. And the anti-death people saying that seeing someone die will horrify the public into outlawing the practice. I suppose, by that logic, the anti-death people have more to gain by supporting televised executions—worst case, if it turns out their opponents were right, society still benefits from the crime deterrance. If they’re right, society turns against the death penalty.
Actually, I suppose that’s not the worst case scenario. The worst outcome I can imagine stems from the efforts to make American executions more humane—the fact that most(?) executions are carried out via lethal injection. From quite a few witness reports I’ve heard, these executions tend to be pretty “anticlimactic.” (You bring the prisoner in, strap him down, stick an IV in his arm, and a couple of minutes later, a doc pronounces him head. No flashing lights, sudden jolts, or wild thrashing. The prisoner just…fades away.)
Now, worst case, this won’t be horrifying enough to make people want to outlaw the death penalty (“That’s it? That was like when I had my dog euthenized…no, that was worse, because I actually liked Fido, and he didn’t murder anyone!”), or, by the same token, be scary enough to deter crime (“That’s it? If I kill somebody, IF they catch me, and if I get convicted, I spend 20 years in prison on appeal, and IF that doesn’t pan out…they put me to sleep like a dog?”). End result: neither side wins.
On the edges of my mind, I have some pithy comment forming…but I’m dead tired, and I can’t make it come out more good.
For the record, I suppose I’m for it.
They are currently discussing whether to air them or not. People in favor of airing the execution argue that people won’t believe it if they don’t see it.
Like China, you mean?
Well said!
Guillotining?
Bring back the coliseum and throw them in the lion pit.
Thanks. If Iraq airs it I wonder if any US news channels will pick up the feed.