The Death Penalty
Jun 5th, 2007 by Stephen
Stronzo wrote:
Arizona just executed a man that had been on death row since the early 80’s…at his request. What do you think of the death penalty?
The death penalty is a funny thing. On the one hand, there are those who are wrongfully convicted of a crime they did not commit; and subsequently executed.
On the other hand, there are those out there who did in fact commit those crimes, and leave little to question their right and privilege as a living individual was excused by the committing of said crime(s).
On another note entirely; you mention this was done on his request.
I think it’s ironic that one cannot (in a legal manner) willfully end their time on this earth. As far as I am aware, suicide is illegal in the United States, and as such those who attempt to or succeed in suicide are criminal. Unless the person is proven to be insane; but this can be challenging in some cases, as the subject is dead.
In essence, what occurred here was suicide. But it was not, because it can only properly be labeled as suicide if administered by the inmates own hands. However, because he requested his own death, one might argue that it was suicide, or a quasi-suicide in the least.
I feel that the death penalty has its place in society. As to whether or not we are currently handling it appropriately, or in the best way, I am undecided.
————————
Submit your own Ponderment requests HERE.
But can you say by his requesting his sentence to be carried out he committed suicide? It wasn’t his decision to give himself the death penalty. That was decided on by the courts of Arizona so by his requesting that his sentence be carried out that would mean that this was not suicide because the ultimate decision was in the hands of the court.
To me, it was ultimately the inmates decision, but the decision was made in the moments before the crime was committed. If he had chosen to not commit the crime. He would then not placed himself on the course we know he took.
In the second to last paragraph of my response. I note that it is in essence suicide, but falls short of qualifying for the label. Which leaves us with a quasi-suicide situation.