Death penalty?

Murderers should forgo their rights as humans at the moment when they take away the rights of another human. By wielding such a powerful punishment as the response to murder, society is affirming the value that is placed upon the right to life of the innocent person. Many more innocent people have been killed by released, paroled or escaped murderers than those that have been 'truly reformed'.

If a lifer, who killed say 1 person, is let out and becomes a top surgeon and saves lots of people's lives, surely he/she should have been released.
(purely hypothetical, i know)

Murderers should forgo their rights as humans at the moment when they take away the rights of another human. By wielding such a powerful punishment as the response to murder, society is affirming the value that is placed upon the right to life of the innocent person. Many more innocent people have been killed by released, paroled or escaped murderers than those that have been 'truly reformed'.

Which murderers have been released/paroled and killed again? I can't remember any (not surprising considering my memory)

I don't believe anything any person does forgoes their fundamental human rights (right to life, right to food/water). Society should not function to punish offenders; it should aim to rehabilitate them so they be integrated back into society

How do we know what they're going to do when we let them out? I'd be interested to see person with that criminal record go to medical school

Yes, yes....quite.

They could already have the qualifications, anyway

Are you mocking me, perchance?

There's quite a few documented cases actually. Ross Graham, the 57 year-old "reformed character" who committed a double murder on his wife and her friend after being released from prison (for 'murder') following her cheating on him.

I googled Ross Graham, but all I could find was a record producer, chief financial officer, coastguard aviator, a private eye and an Australian primary school teacher. Do you have a link to a news site with the story?

Doesn't mean they can use them, there are organisations doctors have to register with to be able to practice (GMC...). Murder somewhat removes their ability to work in a hospital ever again.

No, just pleased you show persistence.

All considered, it's a pretty useless example of how a reformed murderer could be of benefit. How about if he/she became a fireperson? Or saved some cute child's life? Surely then, in retrospect, letting them out was the right thing to do?

Lol, you have to watch those australian primary school teachers! I don't have a link but it's an american case back in the 80s that was used in a "pro" argument for the death penalty on panorama.

If this case was used in a pro argument, they probably would have distorted the facts anyway.

Yet again..the criminal record would prevent that from happening. I don't know which surgeons or firemen you've had experiences with, but I'd be interested to hear their colourful life stories.
"Or saved some cute child's life?" That's clutching at straws a bit, isn't it?

Yes, because the views in disagreement with yours are bound to be distorted... . You can even have some of my rep for the "cute child comment". I suppose if the child he saved was ugly, he should be thrown back in jail!

Sorry for the patronising tone, my views are simple - I would only consider bringing back the death penalty if it was shown to produce a reduction in the murder rate. If it did, I would be all for it. However, this is not the case as shown by America. I do think that harsh life imprisonment (as in only basic human requirements met, none of this TV etc.) would create a better image of punishment. This would benifit society in the way as public opinion would be greatened and some people may think twice before murdering someone if they knew what was in store for them for the rest of their life. If this scheme only stopped one person from murdering another then I think it would be worth it.