Worst offenders should be given rope to hang themselves with: Canadian Tory Senator

[Electric Monk]

http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/02/01/worst-offenders-should-be-given-rope-to-hang-themselves-with-tory-senator/

The country’s decades-old decision to end the use of capital punishment was thrust back into the political spotlight Wednesday, after a Conservative senator suggested convicted murderers should be given a rope in their cell and choose whether to die.

Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu told reporters Wednesday the most heinous of criminals and “assassins” with no hope of rehabilitation should “have the right to a rope in his cell and make a decision about his or her life.”

(snip)

In French, Boisvenu said he wasn’t in favour of the death penalty, and that most criminals should be given a chance. But death should be considered as punishment for murderers such as Clifford Olson, Paul Bernardo or Robert Pickton.

(snip)

Boisvenu later apologized for his comments.

I think life in prison is more of a punishment than death. Allowing them to choose death would give them an easy way out.

We haven't had a good death penalty debate here in awhile, so... What do you think?

[GodlessBiker]

1. I think suicide should be legal in prison, just as it should be out of prison.

[Warpy]

2. It's hard on the guards who are able to hang onto their humanity

and prisoners who are committed to ending their own lives will find a way to do it. You can even make an adequate rope out of twisted toilet paper.

Handing them a rope seems a bit egregious. That asshole should have apologized for the comment. It was horrible.

[alcibiades_mystery]

3. Anyone can commit suicide in prison

People act as if there's much prevention there.

There isn't.

If people wanted to kill themselves, they would already do it. They don't need the state to provide the rope. That's just silly.

[TheMadMonk]

5. It's not as easy as you might think.

And an unsuccessful attempt = 24/7 lockdown under constant surveilance.

[yellerpup]

4. Prison is a punishment.

Rehabilitation is what needs to be stressed for the incarcerated. Heinous criminals, assassins, rapists, child rapists and those who commit great crimes against humanity don't deserve our support and cannot be rehabilitated, why waste resources on them? I'm not for the death penalty either, but I can't say I would mind it they did themselves in.