Death Penalty an OXYMORON

[Big Al of Tennessee]

We kill for killing.

We kill for Justice.

Let's say you run over a child on a motorcycle on purpose and you state it is so.

Premeditated, stated it so before hand.

You are headed for the Capital Punishment.

These are the states you get to live in jail for life or go to the Death Chamber.

Needle, Ole Sparky, or the Gas Chamber.

It is arbitrary at best.

http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/states-and-without-death-penalty

[MarkT]

I note that on the average, this issue is divided pretty close to party lines.  With an exception or 2 on both sides - surprised me CA will fix up the killers with a pain in the neck.  Figuratively speaking.  I'm sure the liberals in our state house are working to abolish it.

[Mapper]

With the exception of just a couple states (VA and TX), death row is still a 20+ year wait.  A wait that costs tax payers money in guards, food, utilities, and the appeals process.

I am for the death penalty.  However, I am also not against life in prison without parole.  I think which one is used should depend on the absolute certainty of guilt.  The system needs reform.  The death penalty is more expensive than life in prison because of the appeals process so therefore should either be reformed or phased out.  

Without reform, in many cases the death penalty is just a more expensive form of life in prison.

[MP]

I have come to believe that maybe the death penalty should be done away with.    Used to be a strong believer.

I also believe that if was swift, NOT 20+ years, it would be much better.

I believe that for it to be effective, it NEEDS to be public, cable TV.  But, I do not think that will happen either.

So, if it stays the way it is, and I think it will, I think it should be done away with.

As it is now, it is not much of a deterrent, and it costs more, because of the legal delays.

MP

[Patrick]

I'm pretty much with what Mapper said.
I was once for capital punishment, that is, until I knew someone that was sentenced to death while innocent. [ long story]. It was finally realized he was innocent and sent free after being inside for decades. So, I'm now only in favor of it if the person is at least 100% guaranteed guilty.

He is also right about the cost. The appeals process [ at least in NY] is ridiculously expensive and continuous. It is far cheaper to keep someone locked up for decades than keep going thru the appeals process.

As far as the method of execution, I'm in favor of the Russian process. One day [or night] without notice a .22 is stuck thru an opening unknowingly in the cell and the poor fella takes one in the back of the head. Simple, cheap.

[.]

I was on the fence about the death penalty until I read the story of what happened to Cameron Todd Willingham in Texas. What happened to him may be one of the grossest miscarriages of justice in recent memory but the opportunity to make it right ended with his execution.

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2009/09/07/090907fa_fact_grann

It's a long read but worth it for anyone who wants to consider that building a freeway to the death chamber may not be the best way to go. Reading about this convinced me that if there is any chance of error we would do well to just stand down. It's not easy to release an innocent person from a cell but it's impossible to release one from the grave.

[mike72903]

An all to common occurrence unfortunately. Hope I never have the misfortune to have a run in with the legal system. 

[saddlesore]

There is never a black and white scenario.  I think most  of us on this board have led pretty clean lives with little or no arrests during our lives but circumstances could jam us up real quick.
There are too many repeat offenders out there with rap sheets that would fill a file cabinet.  Their "profile" shows a lifetime of crime and that should be taken into consideration.
Lifetime criminals need to be executed. They are a drain on society and can not be rehabilitated.

[Big Al of Tennessee]

I have seen compassion to this thought on this thread, to down right kill em all if they are career

criminals.

Innocent men and woman sentenced to death.

I cannot even fathom that hell.

Some let out later after being on death row.

Our system is not even close to the level it needs to be to be absolutely certain of guilt or

not guilty.

Life should be the limit, appeals should be easier not harder.

DNA has some close to leveling the playing field when it comes to the state taking our freedom

away.

Close is still not good enough. I don't want to walk the Green Mile because a prosecutor wants

to be a District Attorney through election.

[Mobile Mayor]

I have seen compassion to this thought on this thread, to down right kill em all if they are career

criminals.

Innocent men and woman sentenced to death.

I cannot even fathom that hell.

Some let out later after being on death row.

Our system is not even close to the level it needs to be to be absolutely certain of guilt or

not guilty.

Life should be the limit, appeals should be easier not harder.

DNA has some close to leveling the playing field when it comes to the state taking our freedom

away.

Close is still not good enough. I don't want to walk the Green Mile because a prosecutor wants

to be a District Attorney through election.

I have seen a defense attorney who wanted to become a District Attorney pander himself by advocating judicial reform,  then after his victory, he became an aggressive D.A. 

He worked that position until he was ready for a higher post.  He then became a judge, and now is President Judge of the county court.  I watched him come straight out of law school to his present position.   I consider him to be a political whore.  Won't try to go into more detail on this board,  but I have reasons for my opinion.

[Punisher]

Death penalty has its place but it needs reform.

If they need someone to flip the switch on the chair I'll volunteer...

If you don't believe these deserve the death penalty then there is no reasoning with you:

Murders of Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murders_of_Channon_Christian_and_Christopher_Newsom

Wichita Massacre
http://www.crimelibrary.com/notorious_murders/classics/carr_brothers/index.html