[Angus]

Originally Posted by Dezzy

I wasn't aware you had an encyclopaedic knowledge of all our lives. Who are you to say if we've lived or suffered loss? I lost my uncle to a knifing in a churchyard yet did I want the murderer dead? NO. I felt incredible anger I won't deny that I still do now but the killer's death wouldn't have brought my uncle back and it wouldn't have eased my family's pain. He's still dead and we would still grieve.

How dare you make such assumptions on our lives, acting all superior to us when you know nothing of adversity we've faced in our lives.

I know how the law works and I know what it is to lose someone so don't you DARE tell me otherwise just because I don't believe in capital punishment.

And yet you presumed to understand how I felt and you seem to think you havethe right to tell me that the way I think about this issue is wrong and you are right. And no I don't think I would feel as you did, I would want justice, and yes it would make me feel better to know that the perpetrator was no longer living or breathing or able to hurt anyone else. The thought of them still enjoying life after depriving another of theirs would be repugnant and unjust to me. The problem I have with people who oppose capital punishment is that they don't really have any viable or effective alternatives to put on the table since statistics show that rehabilitation has a poor success rate and criminals are free to re-offend and destroy others' lives after a paltry few years in prison.

The fact you reacted differently to how I would have does not give you the moral high ground or entitle you to lecture me on how I ought to react. This whole argument started because I stated what I personally would do if anyone hurt my child and immediately I was jumped on and criticised for feeling that way. It seems a fair few share my view and a fair few support yours - but that's the nature of debate is it not?

The fact that I would want to see proper justice served does not make me an immoral person. I would be satisfied if the Judicial system was, in fact, based on justice and equity, but it is not. I have no problem if you are prepared to accept the pitiful justice meted out to murderers, that is your choice. But I will never feel that way - it goes against all notions of right and wrong and natural justice.