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Hi Sally

Quite honest of you to admit that you have not made up your mind yet about the question. It is important to ponder all arguments and fully explore the debate of ideas surrounding the death penalty. Few people really bother to do it, regardless of their stance on the issue. This video is good, but it is essential to refer to other sources for a more in-depth analysis of the question.

It is wise not to reason as taxpayers when discussing human rights. Let us also be wary of not letting what we feel about crime dictate how we should think about the death penalty. Opponents to the death penalty have always been confronted with examples of particularly revolting crimes. The gut-feeling of the individual and the instinct of revenge are one thing, but it is a different matter for a society to decide on rational collective rules and deal with crime through its administration of justice.

Historically, the current of ideas opposing the death penalty has gathered much more solid arguments than its proponents. Opponents to the death penalty have thought the matter through, and already answered your questions about it.

For further analysis, there are essential texts about the death penalty such as political speeches and essays by Victor Hugo, in particular *his introduction* to "The last day of a condemned man". Another enlightening book on the question is "Abolition: One Man's Battle Against the Death Penalty", by Robert Badinter.

Thank you for lighting the way for other men and women to be honest
with themselves first and with society second. You were not and are not alone in this experience, your voice will definitely keep on inspiring many
to think about it and put it out in the open. Dirty laundry needs to be washed not hidden, once the dirt is washed out the clothes can make
us feel cozy again.

To be completely honest I can't quite decide how I feel about the death penalty.
Of course I agree that the waiting and the inhumane way it is carried out should be defined as torture and is therefore wrong but I can also see where taxpayers are coming from when they say they don't want to pay for murderers and rapists to live.
I would like to be able to say that I am against the death penalty but I know that if someone were to rape or murder someone close to me I would not be able to help myself wishing them dead so I don't feel I can.

My mum saw a lot of violence, as a child, her father against her mother. She didn't tell me anything about it until I was well into my thirties. She still hasn't told me all about it. Like Patrick said, she told me people on her street must have known, even my great grandparents used to say that grandma had to go back to grandad when she sought safety in their house. Mum said she used to see grandad ,her father , cry like a baby and beg her mum for forgiveness after he had attacked her, but he'd do it again . Mum said that they had nowhere to go in those days. Grandad died recently at the age of 99, grandma died years ago at the age of 53. She had a hard life, but mum said she was always singing despite the life she had, that always puzzled her as a child.

A very personal point of view. I was luckier in having 2 very loving parents and find it horrific that so many women are put in this position. What I find horrific is learning how many women stay in this position. Is it because they know no better or are they so lacking in confidence ? So many women are frightened to be on their own. Why? I have heard some women say they would rather be in a violent relationship than no relationship at all! Why? What makes some children grow up in such a relationship repeat the violence (because they know no better?) whilst others want to make sure they never repeat it? I am sure some psychologists think they have the answers but why is nothing ever done about it?

Excellent. I do not 'want to join them'. Instead of spending money executing often innocent people, we should be trying to find out why people do what they do and try to prevent the problems that cause it. It is said that the majority of such crimes is within families, why? What makes children kill? It is horrendous that we torture people and their families by keeping people on death row often for decades. Are we any better than them for allowing it?

A very simple and yet powerful argument for the abolition of the death penalty. I would like to see that broadcast around the world on all television stations and shown the leaders of every country.