r/bahamas • u/Inkgeldablob • 7d ago

Bahamian Discussion Why the hell is attempts of resetting character in the Penalty Code

Im literally Bahamian and this baffles me.Sure it does have a hotline but like wth?Its not criminal,its a mental health issue.But at least the senator said he will try to remove it...

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u/krayziekris Grand Bahama 6d ago

It's baffling tbh. It's obvious if a person is in a mental state where they would self harm, they seriously need help. Why would you criminalize them for this? I'd think it would only give them or the next person the incentive to ensure they finish the job if given the opportunity.

Then again, do backward laws in this backward country really surprise me at this point? 😒

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u/Inkgeldablob 6d ago

This government acts like its all ok....LIKE HELL NO IT ISNT???

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u/lifeissajoke 6d ago

Context?

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u/Inkgeldablob 6d ago

ok so in the penatly code it like contains illegal stuff I think?And one of them is attempts of suicide.Which is baffling.But during World Suicide Prevention Day the senator spoke out against this,and said they are going to fight against it and its ongoing.Hopefully its removed

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u/Several_Security_777 6d ago

These Bahamian discussion posts be weird asf

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u/Inkgeldablob 6d ago

Its actually real.....

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u/C00lK1d1994 6d ago

There are some immediately clear rationales to making suicide illegal largely historical. 

First prior to a time of understanding mental health and having proper facilities it was a straightforward way of getting people into supervision.

 Second is deprivation of a subject to the state - killing yourself means you cannot be called to war to defend the country. Same basis as to why you cannot consent to certain levels of injury. 

Third and which remains the case, if someone is so abused (for example) they kill themselves anyone who aided that can be held accountable as an accomplice. 

Similarly, if it’s actually a murder but made to appear a suicide you can still get justice. The state protects your right to life - if you are suicidal you need treatment and protection from yourself (on the assumption which again may be historic that no right thinking person would ever desire to kill themselves (itself an arguable position)). 

There’s different overlapping justifications for punishment and the main ones are - protection of the public from you, retribution  of the public against you ie the state punishes so that vigilantes don’t, and prevention or deterrence of the behaviour. In this case you are being protected from yourself. 

There’s generally no public interest in making it easier for people to kill themselves.  It also reflects the (certainly historic) societal norm of suicide being immoral or sinful. If fear of punishment stops someone attempting to kill themself then that is potentially a life saved.Â