I don't know what the exact position is in the US with regard to the death penalty for murder, (I guess its abolished in most states?), but in Britain it was abolished in the mid-late 1960's. The last survey in British showed that it was evenly split between those wanting it to return (48%) and those who supported it being abolished (49%). Of course in our case the European Human Rights Act, which looks after the interests of the criminal rather than the victim, ensures that the return of the death penalty could never happen without Britain renouncing the act, which is an ill-thought out piece of legislation that is outdated and needs amending.
The British time-line on the death penalty can be viewed on:
Timeline of capital punishment in the UK
I happen to believe that the death penalty, in our case, its by hanging, should be re-introduced for certain specific heinous crimes such as:
- serial killers
- murder of women and children
- murder of Police or Prison officers
- serial rapists
- acts of terrorism
What are the thoughts of my American cousins on the forum?