The quote you keep repeating from JBloggs was a direct reply to someone specifically talking about murder ("would make them think twice before killing someone"). In that context, comparing murder to speeding is 'ridiculous'. Murder already carries extremely severe penalties if the offender is caught. JBloggs is not arguing against the death penalty being able to deter behaviour in general, but whether it deters murder more effectively than life imprisonment (or other lengthy sentences). I have little doubt that execution for speeding would reduce speeding overnight, just as a £500,000 fine or ten years' hard labour would. So what? That's nothing to do with what is being discussed. There have been many studies on capital punishment and deterrence. Some have found evidence of a deterrent effect, some have found no effect, and some have even suggested a possible increase in murder rates (!). However, the most common conclusion is that the evidence for a deterrent effect, compared with life imprisonment, is weak, mixed or at best unproven. For that reason, I agree it may be too categorical to claim there is absolutely no deterrent effect whatsoever. However, the evidence does not appear strong enough to justify confidently dismissing it either. I would argue JBloggs may have been over-confident on his assertion, but it is clearly not 'ridiculous'.
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