Should the death penalty be applied to murderers of all ages?

I don't believe the death penalty should be applied to anyone regardless of age! However, what this topic really seems to be about is whether children should be tried as adults for their crimes. I would say no. Perhaps a 'child' in their mid-teens as they should have learned better by then, but a younger child is still learning his/her morals from his/her parents. If a child commits a crime, it is down to the failings of their parents and that child should be placed in a better learning environment. TBH, I think mutilation is a far better punishment than the death penalty, which only punishes friends and family of the condemned, or the prison system, which spreads its punishment to the taxpayer.

i disagree with you gaynorvader, why should their parents pay for that, when you were 5 years old i could bet you never had killing in mind, might als never at your present age. you shouldnt blame the parents because a parent could try all they can but when they go out or to school they get entrapted into bad company due to jealousy and orther stuff. some children are so stubborn they rule their parents. some parents arnt able with their children.i say that the child should face the death penalty because its not the age that matter its the life they have taken matters. and instead of leaving it to the family of the dead to deal with matters in their own hands the government should take over and serve the death penalty.

People experience different things that affect them in different way, not because you havent been through those stuff means you have the right to judge

royj · #42i disagree with you gaynorvader, why should their parents pay for that, when you were 5 years old i could bet you never had killing in mind, might als never at your present age. you shouldnt blame the parents because a parent could try all they can but when they go out or to school they get entrapted into bad company due to jealousy and orther stuff. some children are so stubborn they rule their parents. some parents arnt able with their children.i say that the child should face the death penalty because its not the age that matter its the life they have taken matters. and instead of leaving it to the family of the dead to deal with matters in their own hands the government should take over and serve the death penalty.

I agree with you to a point. But are you saying that a child of 5 is 'ruling' their parents? Even if a child of 12-13 is 'ruling' their parents, that is a sure indicator of bad parenting. At no point did I say that the parents should be imprisoned, put to death, etc. (and I apologise if I implied it in any way) I stated that the parents were clearly unfit to raise children if, at a young age, they are committing crimes. I should clarify at this point that I realise everyone makes mistakes and that a child caught shoplifting should not be immediately removed from their parent's care, but that a repeat offender should.
Who does the death penalty punish? Not the convict, once he/she is dead, that's it, they go to whatever afterlife awaits them. It's the family, the parents in particular, who have to carry the shame, loss and pain for the rest of their lives. There's no way in my mind that the state should, premeditatively, in sound mind, kill a person. But that's a whole other argument.

In the UK, the state itself is part of the problem. We have such broad and heavy-handed child abuse laws that it is in effect impossible for a parents to discipline a wayward child, without being accused of child abuse (often by the child themselves). Social services are far too ready to stick their oar in when its not necessary (and in doing so allow the real vulnerable children to slip through the net). Children are in a position of power and they know it. We have cases in city centres of kids as young as 8 committing crimes such as criminal damage or public intimidation, then taunting the police because they know they're under the age of criminal responsibility and the police can't do anything about it.Adding on to the problem are all the chavs who have no interest in looking after their kids or bringing them up properly; their sole reason for having children was so they could claim extra benefits (childcare allowance/child tax credits).

Replying to #45

I agree with you loonylion but also if death penalty is allowed to murderers of ALL ages, then what about the people who are forced to kill innocents otherwise they die. Is that really going to be worth enforcing to people who were forced to kill against their own will. In my opinion, only willfull murderers should be killed regardless of any age. Manslaughter should be a life sentence or something comparable to that and people who are forced to kill involutarily should be given a prison sentence or community service for killing someone but should not be properly punished.

that is what Juvenal is for

GideonB · #46I agree with you loonylion but also if death penalty is allowed to murderers of ALL ages, then what about the people who are forced to kill innocents otherwise they die. Is that really going to be worth enforcing to people who were forced to kill against their own will. In my opinion, only willfull murderers should be killed regardless of any age. Manslaughter should be a life sentence or something comparable to that and people who are forced to kill involutarily should be given a prison sentence or community service for killing someone but should not be properly punished.

Replying to #47

Imprisonment isn't really much of a punishment anymore in the so-called 'developed' countries. :(

why do you say that?

because of repeat offenders, you don't actually searve the whole sentance, just 80-95% of it. the prison system fails

dhanash · #49why do you say that?

I think this is a question aimed at my post. It's because life in prison isn't much harder than life outside prison. In fact in some cases life in prison is better than life outside.

Well not in my country

gaynorvader · #51I think this is a question aimed at my post. It's because life in prison isn't much harder than life outside prison. In fact in some cases life in prison is better than life outside.

I have to agree with this. I watch a lot of documentaries about this. Criminals have access to free food and other necessities while their in prison. Homeless people have a harder lives outside of prison so they sometimes intentionally commit small crimes and to get send to prison.Concerning death penalty charges to offenders of all ages, I think it depends on the situation. For instance the motive behind the crime whether it is human nature, self defense or phychological problem. I think people who kill another person for no reason whatsoever should receive death penalty no matter what their ages.

well i dont think it should be given at all if you had to give the sentence to a 12 year old child how would you feel?

GAVING SUM 1 THE DEATH SENTENCE IS JUS LIKE GAVING THEM LEFE IN PRISON. ONLY THING PRISON IS MORE HORRIBLE

and the death penalty is more inhumane!

Replying to #56

dont forget about the inhumanities prevallent in jail.. i think it would be better off dead than getting life in prison

I think it depends on the crime, if the kid has been mental-looked at... and how the kid react to the crimes...Also for older... again the crime...

royj · #57dont forget about the inhumanities prevallent in jail.. i think it would be better off dead than getting life in prison

The criminal might be, but what about his/her spouse, children, siblings, parents, etc. Who does the death penalty really penalise?

good point norvader
maybe they should change up the jailing system, in order for them to get food and stuff they must work....
they could build a whole new system on some abandoned island