Juvenile Death Penalty

Shattered Soul · 02-24-2004, 02:17 PM

Ok, everyone, just to make this clear, and much easier:

When I ask if you think that a "child" should be eligible for the death penalty, I'm talking about a child over age 10 and under age 21, who is in full possession of his/her faculties, and knew that the CAPITAL crime they committed was wrong (we're talking strictly capital crimes. Crimes that, for an adult, would be eligible for the death penalty)..

We're talking about kids who've admitted it. We're talking about kids who've been convicted. We're talking about kids who aren't in the least bit retarded, mentally ill (and "mentally ill" in reference to the law is NOT the same thing as "mentally ill" in reference to psych/ology/iatry) or otherwise "unable to assist in their defense."

And while we're at it, we all know adults who act and think like children. Nothing's wrong with them, they just never "grew up." Should we start holding people responsible by mental age rather than physical age? At what point does the danger posed to society by "children" outweigh the fact that they haven't hit 21 yet? What is it about the magic number 21 that makes someone an "adult" and therefore responsible, all of the sudden?

Just a thought....

View Poll Results: Juvenile Death Penalty
Yes. Juveniles who commit capital crimes should be tried as adults, and their records should not be sealed	10	43.48%
Yes, juveniles should be tried as adults, but only after a certain age.	2	8.70%
No. Juveniles should not be tried as adults. They can still be rehabilitated due to their age.	5	21.74%
I don't agree with any of these. I have my own opinion of how it should be done. (DO tell...)	6	26.09%
Voters: 23. You may not vote on this poll

02-24-2004, 02:17 PM	#28
Shattered Soul Shuttered and locked Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 97	Ok, everyone, just to make this clear, and much easier: When I ask if you think that a "child" should be eligible for the death penalty, I'm talking about a child over age 10 and under age 21, who is in full possession of his/her faculties, and knew that the CAPITAL crime they committed was wrong (we're talking strictly capital crimes. Crimes that, for an adult, would be eligible for the death penalty).. We're talking about kids who've admitted it. We're talking about kids who've been convicted. We're talking about kids who aren't in the least bit retarded, mentally ill (and "mentally ill" in reference to the law is NOT the same thing as "mentally ill" in reference to psych/ology/iatry) or otherwise "unable to assist in their defense." And while we're at it, we all know adults who act and think like children. Nothing's wrong with them, they just never "grew up." Should we start holding people responsible by mental age rather than physical age? At what point does the danger posed to society by "children" outweigh the fact that they haven't hit 21 yet? What is it about the magic number 21 that makes someone an "adult" and therefore responsible, all of the sudden? Just a thought.... __________________ I find it kinda funny, I find it kinda sad...the dreams in which I'm dying are the best I've ever had.... Last edited by Shattered Soul; 02-24-2004 at 02:19 PM.

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