Since 1977, the first execution after the Supreme Court authorized the death sentence; slightly more than 700 people have been executed in this country. Among the experts, there is no consensus that any of them were innocent.
On average, it takes over 10 years to execute a convicted murderer, more than enough time to weigh every shred of evidence, examine DNA, appeal on perceived errors at trial and so on. Though, abolitionists would still oppose this execution believe it’s inhumane to execute cop-killers, child-killers, the sadists who torture their victims for hours, and mass murderers
How does the state teach respect for life by taking a life? The murderer shares our common humanity. Surely even he can be rehabilitated. When the state kills, it does irreparable damage to our institutions. Wrong.
Executing a murderer is the only way to adequately express our horror at the taking of an innocent life. Nothing else suffices. If capital punishment is state murder, then imprisonment is state kidnapping, and restitution is state theft. It is funny how those in favor of capital punishment forget to mention how much it protects the sanctity of life.
A murderer sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole can still laugh, learn and love, listen to music and read, form friendships, and do the thousand and one things (mundane and sublime) forever foreclosed to his victims.
A life sentence tells victims, and their loved ones: We don’t care enough about you. Because we’re too squeamish to take the life of a monster, we are implicitly stating that your life (or that of your loved ones) means less than your murderer’s. This is not revenge; it is common decency.
“Check out Texas. 20% of those killed on Death Row were found later to be innocent. Mostly during Bush’s term too.” – Yanny
Yanny, can you please provide me the names and evidence in defense of these dead “innocents” in Texas and stack it up against the overwhelming weight of the prosecution? I’m instrested to see what you results are.
“it kills people.
it kills the wrong people.” - Crypt
Again, can you please find me the names and evidence of those wrongly accused in America? I’m intrested in these results.
“Only the spirit of attack, born in a brave heart, will bring success to any fighter aircraft, no matter how highly developed it may be.” - Aldolf Galland
“The crate? The crate matters not. It is the man who pilots the create that truely counts.”
[ This Message was edited by: TG Moses VI on 2002-05-20 23:40 ]