Death Penalty

IROC · IROC's Garage

Since we're on the eve of killing the 1000th person since the death penalty was re-instated back in 1977, this seems an appropriate topic.

Is the death penalty a good thing or no?

I have mixed thoughts on the subject. On one hand there are alot of people that need to be removed from society and the death penalty achieves that end without having the taxpayers support them in prison for 30 or 40 years (although some of them stay on death row for a long time). On the other hand, I don't think that the death penalty really provides any sort of deterrent, so I doubt it - in and of itself - has resulted in less crime and hence it's real value is questionable.

I guess there is a sense of "justice" in a way when you see a guy executed who killed a 5 year old girl because of he needed some cocaine and she saw him steal a VCR to pay for it, but I also can't seem to get over the fact that killing people just because they killed someone doesn't make it "right"...

Then again, I always chuckled at Steve Martin's solution for over-population - "Death penalty for parking violations"....

Mike

gaijindabe · 11-29-2005, 10:02 AM

We have it because for some reason we cannot or could not give and stick to a real life sentence. Life meaning life, till you die in prison.

If all these murderers did not get out in 5, 10 or 15 years and often kill again, it would be a non-issue.

gatotom · 11-29-2005, 10:12 AM

Over 30 yrs ago I spent a short stay in the federal system and believe me when I say this, the death penalty is good. The problem being keeping them on death row for yrs while the attorneys drag it out.

I am totally convinced that if you screw up you deserve what you get, kinda belly up to the bar and take what's coming, period.

I think we should go to things like if you get caught stealing, you lose your right hand, second offense you lose your other hand. Someone that kills anyone doesn't deserve to live.

But, when you think about it, is the problem with the offense or can the problem be corrected in society before it ever gets to that point??

Bottom line, can you make money, have no ethics and morals but make money, welcome to our present system.

Joeaksa · 11-29-2005, 10:25 AM

I do not like the death penality but there are some people that just do not deserve to live on this earth. Savage killings of old folks, or repeat sex offenders with children and so on.

Charlie Manson comes to mind. A old HS friend of mine was at the prison (he was asst warden) where Charlie was for a bit and said that he was as sane as you and me when he wanted to be, otherwise he could be as crazy as a loon. Put that SOB in a firing line and get rid of him, there is no reason for us to keep him around after he ordered the killing of multiple people.

I hate to even discuss the financial factor in this but if you look at what it costs us to keep a person in the house of doors for life its a whole lot of money. This is money that would be better spent on education or something positive other than keeping some killer or child molestor behind bars.

Tom, I have worked with a number of guys who got caught and did some time. So far every one of them were excellent workers and very nice people. They did something stupid and got caught (usually a drug offense) and learned from their lesson. They now have to prove themselves even more than someone without their past, and usually do. Hope you do well and thanks for being open about it.

Joe A

BlueSkyJaunte · 11-29-2005, 10:29 AM

Only 1000???!!! We're falling behind!

gatotom · 11-29-2005, 10:46 AM

Joe...30 yrs ago, yes, a drug offense and yes, I became a believer the first week in the county jail. But you know what, after a few months and mind you I had it easy, in a minimum custody place, actually spent time with watergate people, you don't care anymore. What are they going to do, lock you up, bfd or put you in solitary, ooooooo.

After you get institutionalized, its not the joint its who are in it that's the scary part, some real crazy loons in those places. Since I was federalized I got to travel some in the system and when I was released, I somehow got to spent about a month in the big house, leavenworth....not a place for the weak at heart and trust me a eye opener, forever made me a believer and the only thing I have a problem with is the speeding thing down the road but I have been reformed some in that dept. I now am a 10 mile over offender or less and only on occasion will I get over 100

gatotom · 11-29-2005, 10:50 AM

ps. after raising 3 children and becoming a Doc and having my last child going to the naval academy, I'm not complaining, I have been blessed.

Would I change my life in any way, nope, it was all for a reason.

Oh Haha · 11-29-2005, 11:46 AM

Fry the bastads up!!!!!!
If you kill/harm a child, old person, cop, firefighter, etc on purpose. You die MF'er. Serial killers , too. Cheaper than keeping them in the big house. I do not believe there is rehabilitation for these type of dirtbags.
Buh-bye.

Superman · 11-29-2005, 11:58 AM

To me, this is a no-brainer. Until we stopp killing people as punishment, we cannot pretend we are civilized, let alone mature or (gulp) good.

m325ix · 11-29-2005, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Superman
To me, this is a no-brainer. Until we stopp killing people as punishment, we cannot pretend we are civilized, let alone mature or (gulp) good.

I wanna see similar reaction from someone who's daughter gets rapped and killed in a bloody puddle... Then talk about punishment and being civilized...

legion · 11-29-2005, 12:07 PM

Anyone have a .wav file of Lisa Simpson saying "Oh! My liberal guilt!"

Punishment for crime began as retribution. In the last couple of hundred years, we've had this idea of punishment as rehabilitation.

I say rehabilitation is up to the individual. Bring on the retribution.

If someone has done something particularly bad, why not permanently remove them from circulation?

Drago · Drago's Garage

You could always move to Texas...

RW: Other state's are trying to abolish the death penalty... mine's putting in an express lane.

DavidI · 11-29-2005, 12:08 PM

The nature of the individuals who commit crimes punishable by death is pure evil. They serve no positive purpose and should be put to death. I have had several of my friends killed in the line of duty. They just went to work and to serve the public and got killed for it. I have no mercy on those cruel killers.

"Tookie" is next....Guilty of murdering 4 innocent people...

David

techweenie · techweenie's Garage

I used to be generally against it.

What changed my mind was the advent of DNA evidence. If the proof is as close to 100% as humanly possible, I have no problem with the death penalty.

But in the bad old days, it was wrongly applied maybe 20-30% of the time, and that's not good enough for state-sponsored killing.

I have to say, though, that the death penalty is not a deterrent. (Witness Western Europe's murder rates.) The death penalty is a 'weeding out' and it's revenge.

Burnin' oil · 11-29-2005, 01:15 PM

As long as you kill 'em before they turn good. . . 'cause then it gets icky. . . .

KNS · 11-29-2005, 01:20 PM

I had read some movie trivia about "The Silence of the Lambs"on the subject. Actor Scott Glenn who played the FBI Academy Director had to do some research for the role. Prior to this he was very much against the death penalty.

The FBI let him study some case histories on some of the more heinous criminals in the sytem that would not otherwise be made available to the public. He came away a complete convert and now totally believes in capital punishment.
The world is full of monsters.

Racerbvd · Racerbvd's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by legion
Anyone have a .wav file of Lisa Simpson saying "Oh! My liberal guilt!"

Punishment for crime began as retribution. In the last couple of hundred years, we've had this idea of punishment as rehabilitation.

I say rehabilitation is up to the individual. Bring on the retribution.

If someone has done something particularly bad, why not permanently remove them from circulation?

Because that would shrink the liberal demacrook voting base even more.

FRY EM!!!

Racerbvd · Racerbvd's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by techweenie

I have to say, though, that the death penalty is not a deterrent.

Not true, show me one person who has paid the price who committed another crime, and no, Chucky doesn't count.

techweenie · techweenie's Garage

Very funny.

It's not a societal deterrent.

Racerbvd · Racerbvd's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by techweenie
Very funny.

It's not a societal deterrent.

It is not meant to be a deterrent, it is a punishment