Capital punishment deters heinous crimes: Machimura

Tuesday 15th April, 04:49 AM JST

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15 Comments

HoDeDo at 07:15 AM JST - 15th April

I suppose this recent rash of random stabbings isn't heinous?
some14some at 07:23 AM JST - 15th April

NO, there is no deterrent to Japan's heinous crimes.Capital punishment is now "desired demand" of criminals. Worsening law and order situation has become the most serious concern for many.
Simon_Foston at 08:10 AM JST - 15th April

If the death penalty is really such an effective deterrent, how come the atrocious crimes are increasing? LDP people really do speak a load of crap.
medievaltimes at 08:23 AM JST - 15th April

Stats please from academic journals that are peer reviewed.
Scrote at 08:38 AM JST - 15th April

"Capital punishment is one way to deter people from committing heinous crimes"

"Atrocious crimes are increasing to a great extent"

It doesn't seem to have worked, does it? Poor old Machimura should have a lie down as he is obviously tired and confused. If the death penalty is such a good deterrent, how about stringing up politicians found guilty of corruption, theft and misuse of public funds? It's the only language they understand.
DeepAir65 at 09:32 AM JST - 15th April

has he read the papers recently?
Beelzebub at 10:05 AM JST - 15th April

The only thing capital punishment is guaranteed to prevent is recidivism.
Suzu1 at 10:35 AM JST - 15th April

Capital punishment is often the only appropriate sentence for heinous crimes. If a sentence of life at true hard labor without respite or comfort were available then maybe I would support that. But it doesn't exist.
It doesn't matter if it deters others from future crimes. What matters is that the guilty receive the appropriate punishment.
I also don't understand the significance of the argument that the death penalty is more expensive than a life sentence. When it comes to punishing those convicted of heinous crimes, who cares? It is an insult to the victims and their families to start worrying about the cost of the punishment.
Give the guilty what they deserve.
lipscombe at 11:02 AM JST - 15th April

some people could stand in a huge forest and not find a single tree
Patrick Smash at 11:09 AM JST - 15th April

Even people who support capital punishment have a hard time proving it is a deterrent to serious crime. It clearly isn't, or countries which use capital punishment would have lower crime rates than others, and they don't. Japan has a low murder rate, the Us doesn't, the UK does. The use of capital punishment has nothing to do with this.
kaffir at 01:36 PM JST - 15th April

It may or may not deter crime, but it makes me feel better if I know criminals wont be sucking the same air as I. Hard crime should have hard punishment.
Patrick Smash at 02:18 PM JST - 15th April

kaffir, shame for you that the criminal justice system doesn't make sure the people it convicts are criminals then eh.
SimondB at 04:04 PM JST - 15th April

Well, in that case make ALL crimes punishable by death and Bingo! No more crime. Simple really.
Everton2 at 05:12 PM JST - 15th April

hey sure!
ka_chan at 05:34 AM JST - 16th April

Then they should adopt Islamic law. Steal and it's a hand, adultry and it's stoneing. Is adultry a crime in Japan? Don't think so but hey if stoneing isn't a deterrent than nothing is. Oh, guess nothing is...