Crimes that warrant the death penalty, 'high treason'.

[Philosoraptor]

http://www.yesdeathpenalty.com/chapter_1.htm

Just what ARE the laws dealing with high treason?

----------------

Murder

Also for a person who instigates and determines a murder but who does not himself carry out the crime the rule should be the death penalty. Even for attempted murder or for planned murder the death penalty should be considered.

High treason/Treason

During an imminent threat of war, the death penalty should be the norm for treason and espionage that would mean the loss of human life in wartime. For crimes in wartime that would mean the loss of human life the norm should be the death penalty.

Terrorism

One who by acts of terrorism or acts of outrage cause people to be injured or killed, or has had the intention to injure or kill people, should as a norm be sentenced to death.
These three types of criminals - murderers, traitors and terrorists - will from now on be summarized by the expression "murderer".

[lonestarnot]

1. High treason, that would be it, yes.

[malaise]

2. Arrest Bush and Cheney

immediately.

[mmonk]

3. We won't even capture and release.

[Philosoraptor]

4. ...from the amazing Wikipedia...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treason

In law, treason is the crime of disloyalty to one's nation. A person who betrays the nation of their citizenship and/or reneges on an oath of loyalty and in some way willfully cooperates with an enemy, is considered to be a traitor. Oran's Dictionary of the Law (1983) defines treason as: "......citizen's actions to help a foreign government overthrow, make war against, or seriously injure the ." In many nations, it is also often considered treason to attempt or conspire to overthrow the government, even if no foreign country is aided or involved by such an endeavour.

Traitor may also mean a person who betrays (or is accused of betraying) their own political party, nation, family, friends, ethnic group, religion, social class, or other group to which they may belong. Often, such accusations are controversial and disputed, as the person may not identify with the group of which they are a member, or may otherwise disagree with the group leaders making the charge. See, for example, race traitor.

At times, the term "traitor" has been levelled as a political epithet, regardless of any verifiable treasonous action. In a civil war or insurrection, the winners may deem the losers to be traitors. Likewise the term "traitor" is used in heated political discussion – typically as a slur against political dissidents, or against officials in power who are perceived as failing to act in the best interest of their constituents. In certain cases, as with the German Dolchstoßlegende, the accusation of treason towards a large group of people can be a unifying political message.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

5. I am against the death penalty. Period. I do believe though that for high treason,

life in a Gitmo like prison, with lights on 24/7 and keys thrown away would be appropriate.

[Toots]

6. Death Penalty is a sign of a barbaric nation.

What other nations practice it? Iran, North Korea, we are in mighty fine company wouldn't you say?

[peace13]

7. And how many nations put the executions on TV

for all to see? We have fallen so far I wonder if the world can save us. Peace, Kim

[ET Awful]

8. First, I'm against the death penalty in all cases. Second, treason is VERY narrowly defined in the

Constitution:

" Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.

The Congress shall have Power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person attainted. "



So, pursuant to the Constitution, the definition presented in the original post is incorrect (this is why there have been very, very few prosecutions for treason in the history of this nation).

[Philosoraptor]

9. I appreciate your research & answers, that's what I was looking for.