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Bill: Lex Mutanabbia de Supplicio Publico

Details

Submitted by[?]: Factio Republicana Socialistica

Status[?]: defeated

Votes: This is an ordinary bill. It requires more yes votes than no votes. This bill will not pass any sooner than the deadline.

Voting deadline: May 4405

Description[?]:

Mutanabbian Law on Public Execution

Senators,

When the Republican Party proposed the introduction of the death penalty we argued strongly against public executions, believing that capital punishment is a form of justice and not an instrument for revenge. However, recent data from Selucian executions and advocacy from a number of organizations have determined us to reconsider our stance. It is known that the death penalty on its own does not always have a deterrent effect, that the number of homicides does not decrease in the aftermath of executions, a consequence we have been willing to accept. However the data we used to establish our policy did not differentiate between public and private execution. When the latter is taken into account, there is a clear deterrent effect. In the immediate aftermath of a public execution the homicide rate drops dramatically, for three main reasons. First there is the obvious effect of deterrence: murderers are less likely to murder if the consequence of their action is widely known and visible. But there is also the important consequence of normative validation, as when executions are publicized they reinforce the public understanding that murder is wrong, as people are reminded that such behavior is unacceptable and as a result homicide is reduced as a result of moral condemnation. A third reason as to why public executions lead to a decline in the homicide rate is victim mobilization, as public executions remind people that they too could fall victim to violent crimes and as a result take more precautions in the immediate aftermath of a public execution.

But apart from the decline in the homicide rate as a result of public executions there is also a strong civic argument to be made in their favor. The government should not engage in conduct for which it cannot bear full exposure. Citizens of our Republic, many of whom voted for representatives who openly campaigned for the death penalty, should know the true nature of the punishment they have sanctioned. This will serve as a form of accountability for executioners, ensuring that execution is being carried out as humanely as possible. If execution is gruesome or painful, so be it. Citizens ought to know what they are authorizing.

For these reasons we propose the full mediatisation of all executions and a ban on private executions. With the passing of this bill all executions, whether carried by guillotine, hanging, or firing squad, shall be televised and the media shall be given access to all executions. Steps shall be taken however to protect the identity and privacy of all executioners and members of the firing squads.

We urge all Senators to support this proposal, whether they are in favor or against the death penalty. To those that support the death penalty I say that this is a measure that will not only punish wrongdoers, but also make future crimes less likely. To those against capital punishment I say that public executions are known to increase public opposition against the death penalty and to galvanize its opponents, making capital punishment more rare or, indeed, paving the way for its abolition.

Haider bin Talal al-Mutanabbi
Minister of Justice

Proposals

Debate

These messages have been posted to debate on this bill:

Date18:36:23, June 06, 2018 CET
FromClara Aurora - COSIRA
ToDebating the Lex Mutanabbia de Supplicio Publico
MessageThis measure is too sadistic even for the party that has most defended violence as a response to crimes instead of rights. In Marea-Civis Sinistram will never vote in favor of the death penalty, be it public or private, no matter how much the Minister of Justice thinks that with this argument he will win our support, because people who are against the death penalty death are totally against it, whether it is carried out publicly or privately.

What Factio Republicana is doing is getting carried away by the "majority opinion", which does not always have to be the correct answer.

The fact of making public executions will only lead to the implementation of violence in our nation, because if the government itself is the one that televises executions, why are citizens going to think that it is wrong? Or better, how are they going to avoid the amount of false complaints, apart from thanks to In Marea-Civis Sinistram demanded the previous law before the Supreme Court and this had to establish certain parameters? This is shameful, and will never have our vote in favor.

Alanus Scaro,
Orator of IMCS

Date20:35:27, June 06, 2018 CET
FromFactio Republicana Socialistica
ToDebating the Lex Mutanabbia de Supplicio Publico
MessageSenators,

If I understand Orator Scaro correctly, is he advocating the view that the state should not use violence against crime? In other words, is he arguing for the abolition of the police, arrests, imprisonment, and, for that matter, the armed forces? That is a rather extreme position to take, but we do respect his views, however we may disagree with them.

On the specific note of this proposal, my argument is that making executions public is ultimately a matter of democratic rights. A Republic demands a citizenry that is informed about the costs and benefits of public actions, including the ultimate punishment we have available. Citizens have the right to know what is done in their name, what their tax money is being spent on, and what the policies implemented by their representatives actually look like in practice. We currently televise Senatorial debates and courtroom procedures, in order to ensure transparency and accountability. The most serious punishment we have surely demands greater not less scrutiny.

I also find Orator Scaro's reasoning on the persuasive virtue of public execution to be mistaken. As the saying goes, “if slaughterhouses had glass walls, everyone would be a vegetarian". Many people have turned against capital punishment precisely because of witnessing an execution. Executions are not a pleasant sight, and they should not be. If In Marea truly wishes to end capital punishment, they should support this proposal that fully brings its consequences to the public eye. When modern states first implemented private executions, they did so out of a desire to appear humane and civilized. We both know that is not the case; if the death penalty is wrong, it is not any more permissible if done behind close doors, away from the public eye, and, in fact, open to abuse. Those that are complacent on the death penalty, and even those that support it passively, will now have the opportunity to actually witness it in its full glory. I assure Orator Scaro that many of them will turn away in disgust, and move from tepid support to fullhearted opposition. If the death penalty is indeed shameful, everyone ought to know.

The argument that Orator Scaro makes about the feared rise in violence in the aftermath of public executions is without merit. It has been shown empirically that violent crime declines rather than rises in the immediate aftermath of a public execution. Neither does he manage to persuade with his argument that false complaints will rise. Public executions are distasteful and reduce demand for the implementation of the death penalty. This will lead to fewer, not more executions.

Haider bin Talal al-Mutanabbi
Minister of Justice

Date21:22:30, June 06, 2018 CET
FromClara Aurora - COSIRA
ToDebating the Lex Mutanabbia de Supplicio Publico
MessageIf In Marea truly wishes to end capital punishment, we will keep pressuring for its total illegalization, it's a nonsense to support to make executions public so we could make them illegal later.

Alanus Scaro,
Orator of IMCS

Date00:22:05, June 07, 2018 CET
FromNovus Partis Rexisti
ToDebating the Lex Mutanabbia de Supplicio Publico
MessageOrator Scaro,

Perhaps public executions will do good in helping to prevent crime. Let us set an example for all criminals that there are severe consequences.

Augustus Scipio Longidium
Senator

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Voting

Vote Seats
yes
   

Total Seats: 226

no
   

Total Seats: 442

abstain
 

Total Seats: 0


Random fact: Once approved, players should copy Cultural Protocols into a bill in the debate section of their nation page, under the title of "OOC: Cultural Protocols". This bill should include links to the passed Cultural Protocol bill and the Moderation approval.

Random quote: "Whenever the people are well informed, they can be trusted with their own government; that whenever things get so far wrong as to attract their notice, they may be relied on to set them to rights." - Thomas Jefferson

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