A Sad Milestone
The 1,000th person since the U.S. brought back the death penalty has been executed. To me, that's a sad milestone. Ask anyone in the family. I don't believe in the death penalty. I'm not convinced it's an effective deterrent - hell, you had some nut case shoot up an NYPD car earlier this week, killing an officer, because he was afraid of going to jail on another cop shooting he committed - but more to the point, what gives us the right to decide who lives and who dies? We're killing people because they make the decision who lives and who dies. Give me (not literally) life in jail without parole for murder.
Comments
Jon, some people just need to be killed. It's that simple. That guy you mentioned who shoot up a police car and killed an officer is a perfect example. I admit, the Death Penalty isn't much of a deterent(IMO), but I do believe in ridding society of certain deserving individuals.
'Nuff said.
Posted by: Randy | December 2, 2005 03:32 PM
A net friend of mine supports the death penalty in a manner that almost tips me to accept it. "We still shoot mad dogs for a reason, and it ain't vengeance. Give people like this (I don't recall who) hugs and the assurance of forgiveness in the hereafter if they seek it....and the mercy of a quick and compassionate death."
See I oppose the death penalty because I think it too easy. I am for what I consider more severe, life in a concrete box isolated from meaningful human contact, until death. A shot in the arm seems just too easy, too simple, too merciful. But then I don't believe in an afterlife.
The other drawback to the death penalty is the finality. We are human, we make mistakes. This isn't one that can be taken back. I think a death penalty can be designed to effectivley eliminate that mistake (not that it has been) DNA evidence, in conjunction with multiple heinous crimes etc ... but I don't think it worth our time to do so, give them the harsher sentence of rotting in a box until they die, knowing they will nveer breath free air again, knowing they will never have meaningful human contact again, know they have nothing awaiting them tomorrow but the same cold grey walls.
On my list of important political issues, the death penalty hardly registers. Life in a concrete box or an injection? Not that important of a distinction, to me. There seems to be more pressing issues.
It's not like we stone people for blasphemy. (though we are starting to require the teaching of mythology as science - pardon my lack of respect for the (un)intelligent design crowd) Even with the 1,000th execution I find the number rare enough that it is practically insignificant.
Posted by: Justin | December 2, 2005 05:30 PM