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Capital Punishment


Bernard Gui

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We LDS, generally, believe in the justice of capital punishment. Sometimes our critics mock the

Church by bringing up "blood atonement" or pointing out the fact that capital punishment in

Utah used to include death by firing squad.

Yet today, I hear many lauding the death of Osama bin Laden as a final step of justice for those

killed on 9/11. Some of these who nod their heads in agreement are opposed to capital

punishment for heinous crimes in our country.

Is this consistent?

Not to speak up for OBL, may he not rest in peace, but he had no trial and no conviction by a jury,

yet was given the death sentence.

Can one oppose the death penalty in all other cases except this one?

Bernard

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We LDS, generally, believe in the justice of capital punishment. Sometimes our critics mock the

Church by bringing up "blood atonement" or pointing out the fact that capital punishment in

Utah used to include death by firing squad.

Yet today, I hear many lauding the death of Osama bin Laden as a final step of justice for those

killed on 9/11. Some of these who nod their heads in agreement are opposed to capital

punishment for heinous crimes in our country.

Is this consistent?

Not to speak up for OBL, may he not rest in peace, but he had no trial and no conviction by a jury,

yet was given the death sentence.

Can one oppose the death penalty in all other cases except this one?

Bernard

shouldn't you be asking this of those who oppose the death penalty.

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shouldn't you be asking this of those who oppose the death penalty.

I thnk there are 2 types of people you are describing.

1. Those who are against capital punishment in any form including killing Bin Laden.

2. Those who are pro capital punishment and mock Mormons not for their belief in capital punishment, but the flawed concept of blood atonement which goes against the basic tenants of Christianity and Christ's sacrifice. The church no longer teaches blood atonement as doctrine.

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shouldn't you be asking this of those who oppose the death penalty.

There are some here who have voiced opposition to the death penalty. I'm hoping

they will respond.

Bernard

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I thnk there are 2 types of people you are describing.

1. Those who are against capital punishment in any form including killing Bin Laden.

2. Those who are pro capital punishment and mock Mormons not for their belief in capital punishment, but the flawed concept of blood atonement which goes against the basic tenants of Christianity and Christ's sacrifice. The church no longer teaches blood atonement as doctrine.

I haven't heard anything from the 1st group yet, and the 2nd group does not interest me in any way.

Actually, I'm describing a 3rd kind....those who oppose the death penalty in this country

yet cheer the death of Bin Laden by firing squad. Is that a consistent position to take? If so,

explain.

Bernard

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Yet today, I hear many lauding the death of Osama bin Laden as a final step of justice for those

killed on 9/11. Some of these who nod their heads in agreement are opposed to capital

punishment for heinous crimes in our country.

Is this consistent?

No. It's also not consistent with the Gospel to be opposed to capital punishment for murder.

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I noticed this too.

Have you heard anything from the anti-death penalty crowd?

Bernard

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No. It's also not consistent with the Gospel to be opposed to capital punishment for murder.

Explain...

Bernard

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I haven't heard anything from the 1st group yet, and the 2nd group does not interest me in any way.

Actually, I'm describing a 3rd kind....those who oppose the death penalty in this country

yet cheer the death of Bin Laden by firing squad. Is that a consistent position to take? If so,

explain.

Bernard

The 3rd kind you speak of may seem a littly hypocritical, but in many viewpoints there are always exceptions to the rule. OBL caused a lot of blood shed and strife and naturally people have strong emotions about him. Even hippies.

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The 3rd kind you speak of may seem a littly hypocritical, but in many viewpoints there are always exceptions to the rule. OBL caused a lot of blood shed and strife and naturally people have strong emotions about him. Even hippies.

Is there an "evil" quotient that must be exceeded for, say, hippies to approve of the death penalty? It seems OBL has passed the

threshold.

Bernard

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No. It's also not consistent with the Gospel to be opposed to capital punishment for murder.

Explain...

Simple. At some point, there are somehow enough heinous killings to finally rouse one's jaded mind to make one a convert of the death penalty for a particular case. Where does one draw the line? Why not draw it at one or two?

For the second, Genesis 9:6 is part of the Gospel law, being outside the law of Moses. Reaffirmed in modern scripture.

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Simple. At some point, there are somehow enough heinous killings to finally rouse one's jaded mind to make one a convert of the death penalty for a particular case. Where does one draw the line? Why not draw it at one or two?

For the second, Genesis 9:6 is part of the Gospel law, being outside the law of Moses. Reaffirmed in modern scripture.

That's what has me puzzled. There is such vehement opposition to the death penalty in some quarters. Even Charles Manson's

depravities didn't get him the needle. But no one has taken up OBL's cause. Seems strangely inconsistent to me.

Bernard

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I'm iffy on capital punishment... some cases yes, some cases no. I'm sad people are celebrating for a death though. Yeah, maybe he did deserve it, but it doesn't mean you celebrate it =/.

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I am opposed to the death penalty and I have a Temple recommend so naner-naner.

As for OBL, did he go for a gun and whoever (Navy Seal) was defending himself...I don't know, that seems to be the story being stuck too. Is a person who is unarmed but wages a constant violent war always fair game during a "war", regardless of where that person may be found I think so.

So I don't think this is really a death penalty issue. He was killed in a military action during wartime.

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That's what has me puzzled. There is such vehement opposition to the death penalty in some quarters. Even Charles Manson's

depravities didn't get him the needle. But no one has taken up OBL's cause. Seems strangely inconsistent to me.

Bernard

Manson was scheduled but then the death penalty was ruled unconstitutional so is Manson really a fair example to use?

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Manson was scheduled but then the death penalty was ruled unconstitutional so is Manson really a fair example to use?

But then it was ruled constitutional....where are the opponents and how do they stand with OBL?

Bernard

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Manson was scheduled but then the death penalty was ruled unconstitutional so is Manson really a fair example to use?

Of course it is. The ruling was orchestrated by the anti death penalty crowd so we are still talking about the same kinds of people.

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Exactly. It's apples and oranges.

Was there any intention of taking him alive if the opportunity presented itself? Any attempt to use weapons that would disable or give them a chance to surrender?

If not, it seems more of an assassination than a typical military action.

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Osama bin Laden was a rabid animal, his very existence a threat of death to millions. To find him and take him down was a mercy and justice. In such cases death of the killer is fully justified, without trial or compunction. His crimes were known to the entire Western World. that world has moved far away from the justified killing ethic. You don't wait, you go in and take the killer down. If in the process he happens to survive, then you put him on trial, find him guilty as charged then take him out.

Injustice is when a killer is granted a stay of venue, such that he could possibly escape and wreak more mayhem. Injustice is making his victims (those surviving his earlier assaults) live in constant anguish over the injustice and fear of the future.

How is sparing a killer more just than putting an end to the horrified suspense of his victims?...

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Actually, I'm describing a 3rd kind....those who oppose the death penalty in this country

yet cheer the death of Bin Laden by firing squad. Is that a consistent position to take? If so,

explain.

Bernard

This is pretty much the same group that oppose the death penalty and are pro abortion. Their inconsistancies baffle me.

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Osama bin Laden was a rabid animal, his very existence a threat of death to millions. To find him and take him down was a mercy and justice. In such cases death of the killer is fully justified, without trial or compunction. His crimes were known to the entire Western World. that world has moved far away from the justified killing ethic. You don't wait, you go in and take the killer down. If in the process he happens to survive, then you put him on trial, find him guilty as charged then take him out.

Injustice is when a killer is granted a stay of venue, such that he could possibly escape and wreak more mayhem. Injustice is making his victims (those surviving his earlier assaults) live in constant anguish over the injustice and fear of the future.

How is sparing a killer more just than putting an end to the horrified suspense of his victims?...

I agree but how does this differ for run of the mill murderers? What about serial killers?

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