Australian Politics Forum - Abbott puts death penalty on the table

freediver

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Abbott puts death penalty on the table
Feb 20^th, 2010 at 3:49pm

I wonder if this applies to Sea Shepherd also.

Tony Abbott says death penalty fitting for terrorists

http://www.news.com.au/national/tony-abbott-says-death-penalty-fitting-for-terrorists/story-e6frfkvr-1225832403086

TONY Abbott has said that in some cases execution is the only fitting sentence for mass killers.

The Opposition Leader said he has no plan to reintroduce the death penalty should he become prime minister but if the death penalty issue was to come before Parliament he would ensure it was a conscience vote.

"I have always been against the death penalty," Mr Abbott said.

"I sometimes find myself thinking, though, that there are some crimes so horrific that maybe that's the only way to adequately convey the horror of what's been done.

"But look, it's not my policy to reintroduce the death penalty. If the matter ever came before the Federal Parliament it would be a conscience vote."

Mr Abbott said jailing people who caused mass deaths caused by acts of terrorism seemed an inadequate response.

"Well, you know, what would you do with someone who cold-bloodedly brought about the deaths of hundreds or thousands of innocent people? I mean, you've got to ask yourself, what punishment would fit that crime?

"That's when you do start to think that maybe the only appropriate punishment is death.

"But as I said, the Coalition has no plans to reopen this and if the matter was to come before the Parliament it would be a conscience vote."

Mr Abbott said at this moment the Coalition is not quite a 50-50 chance of winning the election but the next eight months were crucial. "Things can definitely get worse for Labor."

He said while Australians had a history of giving governments a second chance, it didn't for James Scullin or Gough Whitlam.

"So let's wait and see. I think people are starting to get pretty browned off with Kevin Rudd.

"His incapacity to understand that his Environment Minister really ought to do the honourable thing and take responsibility for the disasters and tragedies that have taken place under the Government's insulation program suggests that the Prime Minister has lost his sense of proportion, has lost his instinct of what the public thinks is a fair thing."

Rudd, God and women - according to Abbott: an indepth interview with the Opposition Leader.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/the-pm-god-and-women-according-to-tony-abbott/story-e6frf7jo-1225832347689

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aikmann4

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Re: Abbott puts death penalty on the table
Reply #1 - Feb 20^th, 2010 at 4:02pm

Quote:

I wonder if this applies to Sea Shepherd also.

Clearly not. Sad

I'm more in favour of treating Sea Shepherd and organizations similar to good old fashioned Saxon Tribal Law -- whereby the laws and processes of justice applied to ordinary citizens are simply ignored and the offenders in question are treated like a hostile paramilitary force.

I don't particularly care about the death penalty eitherway, though I don't see what is so barbaric and inhumane about it. We're really letting the squeamish dictate what is right and wrong far too much lately; those people who complain about whaling being wrong because its gory and the whales are big and "majestic" come to mind.

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« Last Edit: Feb 20^th, 2010 at 4:19pm by aikmann4 »

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Annie Anthrax

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Re: Abbott puts death penalty on the table
Reply #2 - Feb 21^st, 2010 at 11:02pm

I fully support the death penalty for crimes where a guilty verdict is established through evidence like DNA. Long prison sentences are a drain on the economy and life is a reward for the criminal, even when spent somewhere as relatively unpleasant as prison. There are chances for early release on good behavior and the like that just don't sit well with me.

Peadophilia, pre-mediated murder etc should have the death penalty.

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freediver Gold Member Offline www.ozpolitic.com Posts: 53201 At my desk.	Re: Abbott puts death penalty on the table Reply #3 - Feb 22^nd, 2010 at 7:35am Plenty of DNA convictions have been overturned. Forensic evidence only ever supports a case. It makes makes a case alone.
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fawkes

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Re: Abbott puts death penalty on the table
Reply #4 - Feb 22^nd, 2010 at 7:46am

Annie Anthrax wrote on Feb 21^st, 2010 at 11:02pm:

Long prison sentences are a drain on the economy

They are, a point rarely mentioned by those calling for more and more draconian penalties for classes of criminal they dislike.

Worth considering is allowing prisoners to voluntarily choose death instead of lengthy imprisonment. If administered painlessly and without the media hooha currently associated with death penalties, death might seem quite acceptable to a lot of prisoners, thereby eliminating any chance of them re-offending and saving society a lot of money at the same time.

You will be waiting a long time before politicians implement such a suggestion though. Forums such as this are littered with good ideas that never seem to get implemented under the political system we are saddled with, run by the self seeking vermin who populate it.

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Hlysnan

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Re: Abbott puts death penalty on the table
Reply #5 - Feb 22^nd, 2010 at 8:00am

Since most criminals that populate our prisons are low-risk, I think we should sell their labour to factories or farms who need cheap workers. This way we can make some money out of them, maybe even break even, and they'll be doing a service to the community.

As for death penalty, I'd rather not have it. I'm a bit paranoid of someone using me as a scapegoat for a serious crime, and with death penalty, there's no going back.

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Annie Anthrax

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Re: Abbott puts death penalty on the table
Reply #6 - Feb 22^nd, 2010 at 8:23am

Quote:

Plenty of DNA convictions have been overturned. Forensic evidence only ever supports a case. It makes makes a case alone.

Okay then. I support the death penalty when there is absolute no doubt of guilt.

Quote:

Worth considering is allowing prisoners to voluntarily choose death instead of lengthy imprisonment. If administered painlessly and without the media hooha currently associated with death penalties, death might seem quite acceptable to a lot of prisoners

That could be a good idea. Look at the trouble the prison system goes to to keep men like Martin Bryant alive. Like you say though, I can't foresee an Australian government implementing anything like that in the near future. They won't even allow the terminally ill to make the decision for themselves.

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Sprintcyclist Gold Member Offline OzPolitic Posts: 41824 Gender:	Re: Abbott puts death penalty on the table Reply #7 - Feb 22^nd, 2010 at 8:59am I don't agree with the death sentence. it does not reduce crime. giving the life sentenced prisoner the option is an idea.
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freediver Gold Member Offline www.ozpolitic.com Posts: 53201 At my desk.	Re: Abbott puts death penalty on the table Reply #8 - Feb 22^nd, 2010 at 9:49pm Quote: Okay then. I support the death penalty when there is absolute no doubt of guilt. There is never souch a thing. The most tragic cases in the US are when incredibly stupid people (some probably qualify as clinicly retarded) end up admitting to something they didn't do.
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Annie Anthrax Gold Member Offline Posts: 7062 Gender:	Re: Abbott puts death penalty on the table Reply #9 - Feb 22^nd, 2010 at 11:03pm I don't count a confession as absolute proof, but of course there are cases where guilt can be established without doubt. What about mass shootings with multiple eye witnesses or crimes that are caught on camera?
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abu_rashid

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Re: Abbott puts death penalty on the table
Reply #10 - Feb 22^nd, 2010 at 11:29pm

Quote:

"Well, you know, what would you do with someone who cold-bloodedly brought about the deaths of hundreds or thousands of innocent people? I mean, you've got to ask yourself, what punishment would fit that crime?

And what of those who cause the deaths of hundreds OF thousands??

Quote:

There is never souch a thing. The most tragic cases in the US are when incredibly stupid people (some probably qualify as clinicly retarded) end up admitting to something they didn't do.

And then some reject clemency also.

And people say Islam is harsh. Islam removed the death penalty for the insane over 1400 years ago.

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Amadd Gold Member Offline Mo Posts: 6217	Re: Abbott puts death penalty on the table Reply #11 - Feb 23^rd, 2010 at 5:24am Quote: Islam removed the death penalty for the insane over 1400 years ago. You mean when Islam was invented? They wouldn't want any conflicts of interest now would they?
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Soren Gold Member Offline Posts: 25654 Gender:	Re: Abbott puts death penalty on the table Reply #12 - Feb 23^rd, 2010 at 6:59am Indeed. You are a mind reader!! When everyone is insane, no-one is.
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