PRO LIFE: THE DEATH PENALTY
The "pro-life" term was, originally, identified with the anti-abortion movement, which still seems the most appropriate context.
Based upon biblical and theological teachings, as well as secular realities, one can, reasonably and responsibly, find that an anti-death penalty view is not pro-life.
All sanctions are given because we value that which is being taken away. Whether it be fines, freedom or lives, in every case that we take things away, as legal sanction, it is because we value that which is taken away.
How can it be a sanction, if we do not value that which is taken away? It can't.
From: Dudley Sharp, independent researcher, death penalty expert, former opponent, 832-439-2113, CV at bottom
The "pro-life" term was, originally, identified with the anti-abortion movement, which still seems the most appropriate context.
Based upon biblical and theological teachings, as well as secular realities, one can, reasonably and responsibly, find that an anti-death penalty view is not pro-life.
All sanctions are given because we value that which is being taken away. Whether it be fines, freedom or lives, in every case that we take things away, as legal sanction, it is because we value that which is taken away.
How can it be a sanction, if we do not value that which is taken away? It can't.
Death Penalty: Pro Life Since Genesis 9:6
SUMMARY
There are two types of pro-life considerations. One is religious, the other secular and both support the other, in regard to the death penalty being pro-life.
I. Religious
For 4,500 years (biblical timeline), the death penalty has had a pro-life religious position (1), staring with Genesis 9:6. Anti-death penalty teachings did not occur, in major Christian denominations, until the 1950's, with the Roman Catholic Church not joining that chorus until 2018 (2).
Did the bible or basic theology, suddenly change? Of course not (3), as reviewed, in detail (3).
Through today and for more than 2000 years, there has been Christian New Testament support for the death penalty, from Genesis to Revelation, Jesus to St. Dismas, The Holy Ghost to Popes, Saints, Doctors and Fathers of the Church, church leadership, biblical scholars and theologians that, in breadth and depth, overwhelms any teachings to the contrary (2) particularly those wrongly dependent upon secular concerns such as defense of society, the poor standards of criminal justice systems in protecting the innocent and the alleged revalation of newly found dignity, which is 4500 years old.(2).
II. Secular
The death penalty protects innocent lives, in four ways, better than life without parole (LWOP) (1,4,5):
Enhanced due process: No one doubts that innocents are more protected with the super due process of the death penalty, meaning innocents are much more likely to die in prison, serving LWOP, than there is to be an innocent executed, for which there is no proof, at least, since 1915 (1,4).
Enhanced Incapacitation: Living murderers are infinitely more likely to harm and murder, again, than are executed murderers. Obvious.
Since 1973,
(a) 20,000 ADDITIONAL innocents have been murdered by those KNOWN murderers, who we allowed to murder, again - recidivist murderers and
(b) 500,000 ADDITIONAL innocents have been murdered by those KNOWN criminals, who we have allowed to harm again - recidivist criminals.
(c) 3,5 million ADDITIONAL innocents have been raped, otherwise assaulted, kidnapped, car jacked and/or robbed by those KNOWN criminals, who we have allowed to harm again - recidivist criminals.
Where are innocents at risk?
Enhanced Probability: Enhanced Probability: 1) About 5000 persons die, annually, within US criminal custody. We execute about 30 murderers/yr. By numbers and lesser due process, we know that many more innocents will die in non-death penalty custody, than by execution, by a huge margin.
2) As some death penalty opponents, now, argue that LWOP is more cruel than execution, this takes on greater importance, as their position is to a) support the more cruel sanction, LWOP and with 2) all non-death penalty, in custody deaths with much higher numbers than by execution. Much more here (1, 4, 5).
Enhanced Deterrence:
(a) Never has a serious sanction, a potential negative outcome nor a serious negative incentive been shown to deter none. Never. It is impossible (1, 5).
(b) crimes are net fewer with police and sanction than without police and sanction, solely, based within deterrence. Imagine your city with no police, no sanction for crime. There is no doubt.
(c) Every time a criminal "cases" a potential crime location and decides not to commit crimes, because of lighting, witnesses, cameras, police, forensics, escape routes, unreliable accomplices, etc., etc., it is, solely, based within deterrence. Obvious.There is no doubt.
(d) We've had 24 US studies finding for death penalty/execution deterrence, since 1996 (2). The critics of those studies do not deny that the death penalty deters, but, only, question the studies methodology (1,4,5). The studies finding for deterrence are much stronger than their critics (1 4,5).
(e) Life is preferred over death. Death is feared more than life. What we prefer more, deters less. What we fear more, deters more. There is no doubt (1,4,5).
Would you rather "risk" saving more innocent lives or risk sacrificing more innocent lives? . . . those are your two choices.
FN
1) Pro Life: The Death Penalty
2) a) The Catholic Church & The Death Penalty
12 (14) Factual Errors: 2018 CCC 2267 amendment
b) Saint/Pope John Paul II marks the beginning of the Catholic Church's disastrous anti-death penalty run, 1995 forward, intentionally, avoiding the most basic of reason, research, fact checking and vetting, as detailed, throughout:
Pope John Paul II: His death penalty errors
3) Here are over 4000 pro death penalty philosophical, biblical and theological references, which either
a) support the death penalty or which
b) refute the biblical and theological objections to the death penalty.
Religion and The Death Penalty
4) The Death Penalty: Saving More Innocent Lives
5) Deterrence, Death Penalties & Executions
https://prodpinnc.blogspot.com/2019/04/deterrence-death-penalties-executions.html
https://prodpinnc.blogspot.com/2019/04/deterrence-death-penalties-executions.html
more
The Woman Caught in Adultery, the Death Penalty & John 8:2-11
Pre-Constantine Death Penalty Support
Judaism & the Death Penalty
New Testament Death Penalty Support Overwhelming
Quakers & The Death Penalty
A Refutation of the ELCA Social Statement on the Death Penalty
The Death Row "Exonerated"/"Innocent" Frauds
71-83% Error Rate in Death Row "Innocent" Claims, Well Known Since 2000
The Death Row "Exonerated"/"Innocent" Frauds
71-83% Error Rate in Death Row "Innocent" Claims, Well Known Since 2000
Forgiveness and Murder
"The Death Penalty: Neither Hatred nor Revenge"
many others
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600+ pro death penalty quotes from murder victims' families &
3300+ from some of the greatest thinkers in history
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Victim Services
Victims' Voices
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Research, with sources, fact checking, vetting & critical thinking, as required of anyone within a public policy debate and which rebut all anti-death penalty claims.
Most will realize that the media has been using only anti-death penalty claims and , then, failed to fact check, vet, not use critical thinking, with that research, while avoiding all pro-death penalty research and experts, for decades. How do I know most will realize this? Because they wouldn't have seen any of this, prior:
The Death Penalty: Justice & Saving More Innocents
and
Students, Academics & Journalists: Death Penalty Research
(7 pro-death penalty experts listed)
