GUEST COLUMN
By Dudley Sharp
Justice Matters
76% of Americans find that we should impose the death penalty more or that we impose it about right - only 21% that it is imposed too often. (Gallup, May 2006 - 51% that we should impose it more, 25% that we impose it about right)
71% find capital punishment morally acceptable - that was the highest percentage answer for all questions (Gallup, April 2006, moral values poll). In May, 2007, the percentage dropped to 66%, still the highest percentage answer, with 27% opposed. (Gallup, 5/29/07) (Full Article)
By Dudley Sharp
Justice Matters
76% of Americans find that we should impose the death penalty more or that we impose it about right - only 21% that it is imposed too often. (Gallup, May 2006 - 51% that we should impose it more, 25% that we impose it about right)
71% find capital punishment morally acceptable - that was the highest percentage answer for all questions (Gallup, April 2006, moral values poll). In May, 2007, the percentage dropped to 66%, still the highest percentage answer, with 27% opposed. (Gallup, 5/29/07) (Full Article)
5 comments:
That's so very in line with y'alls belief that the Declaration of Independence "Established a nation on Christian principles under God". Cause Jesus, he was all about vengeance. Oh wait, not true. He was the "turn the other cheek" guy. Never mind.....
You mean that Jesus who is the son of the God who said "Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man." (Genesis 9:6)
You mean that Jesus who himself said "All who draw the sword will die by the sword." (Matthew 26:52)
You mean that Jesus whose apostle Paul said "For he (government) is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer." (Romans 13:4)
You mean that Jesus? Yes, the same one.
Mr. Sharp is wrong in his analysis of public opinion and the law. Capital trials have two phases -guilt and penalty.Once a person has been convicted of capital murder in the guilt phase, the only two possible sentence are death and life. If the jury cannot agree, the sentence is life. Therefore the question on preference between life and death is the more valid form of assessing public opinion. Mr, Sharp also fails to point out that Gallup polls have shown a decline in public support since 2000.One final observation, the U.S. is part of a rapidly shrinking minority of countries that retain capital punishment.
Mr. Sharp is wrong about the law and in his assessment of public opinion. Capital trials have two phases - guilt and penalty. Once a person is convicted of capital murder in the guilt phase, the only two possible sentences are life or death in the penalty phase. If the jury cannot agree on death, the sentence is life. Therefore, the question that askes respondents to select between life or death is the more accurate form of measurement. Mr. Sharp also fails to mention that public support has been declining since 2000 according to Gallup.
One final observation - 128 countires have abolished the death penalty. The U.S. and 68 countries still retain it. Several of the 38 death penalty states in the U.S. have a moritorium. Clearly the tide is turning both internationally and at home.
I think Mr. Sharp realizes that trials have two phases. I believe what he's saying is that the poll question cited asked which option respondents thought was "better": execution or life without possibility of parole. That is not to say they opposed the death penalty, just that some respondents who chose "life" thought it was "better."
Polls are only as reliable as those who take them. Some polls show higher support where others show lower. Part of the results depends on the wording of the question and how the question was asked. In the end, polls don't determine right or wrong, just provide an indication--if asked in an unbiased manner--of public support or opposition.
And as for what other countries are doing, the United States has always been in the minority in many areas--justice, freedom, morality, etc. That's part of why we're the best country on earth--we're different than all the rest. Besides, right and wrong aren't determined by a majority.
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