11-20-2013, 04:49 PM
(11-20-2013, 02:33 PM)Maggot Wrote: IDK it seems to make a big difference to them the closer they get to the noose. Maybe a show on the days leading up to it, something that sticks in the brain, discussed on social media and the daily media vitriol.
That would probably cause the convict's family a hell of a lot of grief and safety concerns and give the defense attorneys and other enablers a big platform to make more excuses and lobby against the death penalty, but I don't think it would be any kind of deterrent for violent criminals.
If the possible "death" sentence doesn't deter them from committing the crime, the terrible impacts of their crimes on their own families doesn't deter them from committing the crime, and the fact that they will likely be the subject of media coverage when they're arrested and go to court doesn't deter them from committing the crime, it doesn't seem likely to me that the extra exposure via tv or social media would deter them from committing the crime. Like I said, I think the extra attention and the spotlight would be more of an attraction than a deterrent for some violent criminals.
I think public executions would really only serve one purpose - entertainment for blood thirsty viewers.
Having said that, I would go to a pay-for-view televised execution party with you any time and drink Bloody Marys and stuff. I'd probably just go climb a tree or something for the couple of minutes it takes to carry out the killing. It wouldn't offend or shock me, just wouldn't find it entertaining.