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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!bonnie!akgua!sdcsvax!sdcrdcf!randvax!edhall
From: edhall@randvax.UUCP (Ed Hall)
Newsgroups: net.flame,net.politics
Subject: Re: Bastille mentality alive and well in USA
Message-ID: <2153@randvax.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 29-Nov-84 12:43:20 EST
Article-I.D.: randvax.2153
Posted: Thu Nov 29 12:43:20 1984
Date-Received: Sun, 2-Dec-84 05:08:47 EST
References: <259@spp2.UUCP>, <1220@dciem.UUCP> <90@cadre.UUCP>
Organization: Rand Corp., Santa Monica
Lines: 32
Xref: sdcsvax net.flame:6729 net.politics:5667

> Postulate: The death penalty reduces the chance that the
> killer will kill again.
> 
> If: There is a finite chance that a killer let off without
> the death penalty will kill you.
> 
> Then: The death penalty reduces the probability that you
> will be murdered.
> 
> Q.E.D.

Let's try again:

Postulate: The chance of being murdered is directly proportional to the
violence of your society.

If: Your society sanctions institutionalized violence

Then: You live in a violent society

Therefore: The death penalty increases your probability of being murdered.

Q.E.D.

OK, I admit it isn't a water-tight argument.  But check the murder rates
for societies that support institutional killing against those who don't.
There is statistical support for this argument!

I'm over-simplifying?  Agreed.  But consider the argument in 90@cadre.

		-Ed Hall
		decvax!randvax!edhall