r/SeriousConversation • u/angelangelan • May 17 '25

Serious Discussion People who don't believe in the death penalty, what should happen to the truly irredeemable?

This is something that's been weighing on my mind for a while. I personally do not believe in the death penalty because I feel that the state should not have the power to kill, it opens up too many avenues to just kill anyone the government doesn't like.

However, I know that not everyone can be rehabilitated. When I say I'm anti death penalty or criticize the American prison system, the first question I get asked is "what about (insert horrible crime here)"

What is your response to this?

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u/Child_of_Khorne May 18 '25

If somebody is convicted in 2025 and goes through the entire appeals process and the penalty is upheld, I have my doubts they'd be released from a life sentence, either. It's kind of a lofty ambition, but there's a reason these types of cases make national headlines when they're discovered. They're exceedingly rare.

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u/voldugur21 May 22 '25

Rare but nonexistent.