[Skybird]

there is a difference in understanding in legal penalties in America and Europe, or Germany, it seems to me from this discussion. In Germay penatlies are given to save the community from a danger, or change someone by giving him "some time in the cooling box" to think things over. If this ideal really always works can be discussed, but in many cases individuals are given a second chance for rehabilitation. But when hearing August say that death penalty should not be given because becaue it is not as painful as living in a box for the rest of one'
s life, I can only shake my head about this craving for cruelty and the hunger for revenge and payback that is on display here. "Bread and games" - I think if theirt would be Collosseums in Amnerica, some people would like to see sentences beeing taken care of by lions and beasts and gladiators.

Stastistics have shown time and again that many, many death sentences were given by mistake. Sometimes they read 14%, sometimes they read 30%. No matter what, the message is: the system does not work reliable. Even this does not make people stop and think it over. If you were the one beeing sentenced for nothing, you certainly would think different. But so it is only about "tough American justice". there are plenty of less flattery terms I can think of to describe what it is. And also, statistics also fail to give the smallest proof that death sentence has a deterrent effect. There is not a single murder or rape or drug deal that has been prevented by it.

Can you give back a life you have taken by mistake? Does killing another one change things? No? Then be more hesitant to kill.