An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth...

I don't think that someone thinking in terms of punishment is thinking about the future. Correcting mistakes cannot always be done, this can be true. But resolving future occurrences without making victims or doing actions that in any other situations would be unacceptable should be avoided at all costs. So do not judge.

"Every action has an equal and opposite reaction." -Isaac Newton Is it fair for someone to receive an equal punishment for actions they have commited upon/among others? Absolutely! HOWEVER, fair doesn't mean the same as beneficial, or "good". As humans, we learn from our mistakes, so punishment is necessary. If there wasn't punishment, there wouldn't be anything as mistakes because every action would be relative. There wouldn't be any standard to compare it to. It's also good to understand that punishment can be just as detremental, or even worse, to a party if it is abused. BUT, since you simply asked if equal punishment is the correct choice then in short, yes. I'd like to hear your side of this aswell. :P Have fun, love life!

I haven't had anyone personally do anything terrible to me but this is how I feel about what you have posted. My religion teaches me to forgive and to turn the other cheek, so I will strive to do that...after the legal system puts this criminal in prison where he will suffer for a long time.

Hi...no i am not agree with this, just because i am sure that God must to judge, and always He do this. Soon or latter God will pay for everybody with same measure; i mean that i don t believe in justice who kill somebody because he kill too. More badly is to keep him all time in prison, no light, no companions, just in a room with bread and water, nothing more. Of course that if somebody who i love is hurted by one of this criminals, i will judge in other way..because i take all personal...and i really don t know how i can react, in this cases; maybe that i will pay with eye for an aye...i am human.

How to put this..My personal rule is..If you attack me, I deal with you my way (which most often is turn the other cheek). If you attack someone important to me then I deal with you your way..As for defining it as 'eye for an eye', then no. My mom used to say that if you want to solve any problem you need deal with it at the root..And as such is how I'd do it.

See, I don't believe in an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. That is simply not enough. Sure, it may even the playing field, but what happened to vengeance and punishment? It should read more like an eye for an eye, a broken nose, a couple of broken limbs...now we're talking.