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Bill White

Member

Registered: 2001-09-09

Posts: 2,114

Re: Crime and Punishment - Speculation

It is my speculation that any future Martian law could be very draconian when compared to anything on Earth.  Take violent offenders for instance.  The Martian courts might elect to just throw them out ye-olde-airlock, or put them in a state of temporary or permanent servitude. 

On a fairly new Martian colony, what would be the best method for dealing with a dangerous violent offender, such as a murderer or a rapist?

Back to the beginning - - how such persons are dealt with will depend very much on who his or her friends/family are.

"'Space' someone out the airlock" for reasons not unanimously approved of and retribution against the accuser can be expected from a sibling, spouse or lover of the executed person.

IMHO, capital punishment will be very rare on Mars UNLESS there is essentially unanimous approval.

clark

Member

Registered: 2001-09-20

Posts: 6,362

Re: Crime and Punishment - Speculation

with a heave and a ho...  :laugh:

Not to side track, but a certain experience has made me genuflect on how a possible Martian misanthrope might be tidily disposed of...

We joke about the 'out the airlock', but then never stop to think that some poor shlub has to suit up to go retrieve the recently expired. That could be messy, and unusually cruel towards the condemned, as well as the janitors.

I suppose it would be more humane to simply put them in the airlock, keeping it at hab pressurization, and simply let the air run out, or pump it out of the airlock altogether.

Painless death through asphyxiation.

A few minutes of a sterile white room, and the silent whir of air slowly being sucked out, or consumed. A few heaving pants as the lungs burn for an extra bit of oxygen, then blissful slumber, followed by death. Look how quiet and peaceful they look now!

Perhaps future Martians should retain a special room for this procedure, given that some others may be squeamish about passing through the air-lock 'death chamber' where the just law has recently been applied.

Now, back to the regularly scheduled broadcast... 

Bill, when you're right, you're right.