Texas carries out its 500th execution since 1982

[human project]

Soooo what did she eat ?

I believe the death penalty should be mandatory in every state. Can you imagine the lack of violent crime/murder if everyone who committed murder would be put to death?

Anyone could commit murder depending on the circumstances... There are times in everyone's life where your mental health is far from "healthy"... A long series's of events can have drastic endings..,,

[human project]

Tons of prisons are private and they make a absolute fortune! Private prisons r the wave of the future.
As for executions oh yeah just kill thm faster! I'm all for swift justice. If there is not a shadow of a doubt if someone did it thn done like dinner! Child molesters should be killed on the spot! Same wth killers!

Your putting Chester's and murders in the same category???..... I bet half the murders in the world are the result of child molesters.....

[kelkel]

I think it's easy to make the call on a stranger. I think a lot of people would think differently if it were a loved one on row.

I'd appreciate it if you'd kill your new avi. Worst one yet of dlb.

[human project]

^^^^its 66k a year. At least it was a few years ago. Side note u can put a private prison anywhere and make a ass ton. They bring the prisoners to the prison not tht prison to the prisoners.
I understand the appeal process very well. Was married to a DA. If there r several eyewitness and or video then done. Child molesters the r caught more thn once done! Until you've been to some of these trails it's hard to explain the evil!! We pay way to much to house the guilty!

Seriously you just gave child molesters a second chance??

[basketballfan22]

I completely understand the death penalty and completely think we should use it more! I also would not want my family member locked up in a cage or killed. But wth tht said I have seen to many trails wth people tht r pure evil and have no remorse for there crimes. These types need to be removed. The guy tht shot everyone in the movie theatre. Does he really need or deserve a trail... HELL NO! Take tht sick freak out back and kill him. The trail and all it entails will cost taxpayers over a million dollars. As for the median price for a inmate it was 66k. The cost by the way is going up not down!

Like I said, the costs vary. I would like to see the source of this $66,000 per inmate.

How many inmates are Ted Bundy? Not many. A lot of these cases aren't as clear cut as you try to make it seem. You may notice some cases that are obvious; but in the grand scheme of things, there aren't many. The idea that we need to have this expedited killing process is pretty sick frankly. There are innocent people that are sentenced to death. It may not be much, but they exist. Therefore it stands to reason that even more innocent people would be sentenced to death if we utilize the death penalty more frequently.

[kelkel]

Recidivism | National Institute of Justice

Bureau of Justice Statistics Reentry Trends in the U.S.: Recidivism

[crazy mike]

In the same vein and no pun there, when I speak of scripture I raise the thought that most of out laws in regard to out morals are related to the Spiritual Principals (generally stated) these are derivatives of the Fruits of the "Holy Spirit". These more expounded by explanation are also derived as moral conduct from the Seven deadly sins.

Now you will find that in most ALL religions and laws follow these and more. The one that says "Thou shalt not Kill" is contextually talking to MURDER not so much man- slaughter.
You would like to tell you wife and family or your dead daughter (pray to her) that was raped, cut up and or the other parents that we should give our money and out space in our world to keep safe and healthy the pervert that did this. ( I use one example). That after a priceless $$$ investigation and testimonies and 12 people of our pier's rule you did this, just have a good life in the prison. Have you ever seen the luxuries in a small cell.

So I re-iterate The Ten Commands as well as other Scripture such as what I quoted about death, in my OP should stand as law. Not all killings is MURDER. Murder is what we talk about isn't it? That's all of my input. TY. ....crazy mike

I am not a religious man, but a Spiritual man. I'm not a Bible thumper. ...cm

[austinite]

I'd appreciate it if you'd kill your new avi. Worst one yet of dlb.

happy now? Not even a face.

[basketballfan22]

I'm against executions. And I don't care what the cost is to house those scumbags, it's not worth lowering myself to their level by taking their lives. The second you take their life, you become just as bad as them. We rationalize our blood-lust and desire for revenge by crying "justice," but does killing them right the wrongs they did? You'll never have justice no matter how many murderers and perverts you execute. It just doesn't undo what they did.

Besides, having to live with the weight of the acts you commit is worse than death.

And how many innocent men have wrongly be convicted of murder? If you want to see how unreliable witness testimony is, watch that Brain Games episode on it. Or watch the episode of Bullshit on forensics. Granted, most of those guys on death row DID their crimes, but there are people who are truly innocent there. I'd rather let every murderer go free before I condemn one innocent man to death.

That eye for an eye stuff in the old testament, Jesus didn't approve of....

"Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.
And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away."

- Matthew 5:38-5:42

And in the gospel of Luke:

"But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,
Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also.
Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.
And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise."

- Luke 6:27-31

It's not our right to take another man's life. You can justify it any way you want, it's not ever going to be right. And really is there a way you can honestly guarantee that the convict isn't innocent?

Hahaha, funny how I don't even believe in God. But if we're going to invoke the scriptures as our codex, then okay

I don't agree that the government should act any different than we do on an individual level. Our government is supposed to belong to us, the people. Therefore it is an extension of us. Military, police and corrections should act as protective forces acting in a protective/defensive manner only.

The point of imprisoning murderers for life isn't to punish them, it's to protect US from them. As I said before, all the punishment you can inflict on a murderer will not bring the person(s) he killed back. We all have to sleep at night, I'd rather go to bed with a clear conscience than get my hands dirty with revenge.

Extremely well said. People are always quick to condemn those that they don't know. Is killing many prisoners worth the death of a few innocents? Because the process takes a while, it allows more time for anyone who was actually innocent to be exonerated. We live in a morbid society however.

[human project]

I promise your preaching to the choir about seeing the evil and agree that prisons and jails are taking way to good of care of prisoners

Not saying thats not what the study figures show but 66k per inmate in a crock of shit.... That's a racket all in itself.... What the hell could really cost that much... The prisoners pay ridicules amounts of money for the peanut butter, ramen, and tuna... I you can't tell me the shit hole you live in with at least one other person is that much .... Shit there's 3bdr apartments in the ghetto for $300... I'm sorry but I'm completely against putting humans in cages.... Really... How is no one against this..... Here lets take someone who is obviously unstable for whatever reason and stick them in a cage...??? These people don't always have control over whatever happened..,,
Were all humans and have instincts.... Everyone has blacked out and done complete outrageous shit at one point or another due to basic rage...

[basketballfan22]

Yes. The process should be much quicker and the death slow. Bring back disembowelment and drawing / quartering. If the fear of a gruesome, painful death was in place People would probably be better behaved. What punishment is putting someone to sleep peacefully? Phhht.

How draconian would you like our laws? Where do you draw the line? Should we start cutting off hands too for anyone caught shoplifting? This idea that increasing the use of the death penalty and/or increasing the pain inflicted during the execution will deter criminals is tragically flawed.

[basketballfan22]

The problem is that we used to put people to death in the ways you describe and it NEVER served as any kind of deterrent....

Secondly history has shown us that many people have been wrongly convicted so at least a good length of time between sentence and death is a good idea to be sure your mudering the right people....

^^^this.

[gearbox]

Didn't California release a number of non-violent inmates to decrease over crowding recently? Heard something about it but I try not to pay close attention to the news and politics.

Yes they did... and rubbery in a 30 mile radius went up 30% in less then a month.

I am so for the death penalty, but I thought it saved my taxes. I was wrong!

[Matt]

Yes they did... and rubbery in a 30 mile radius went up 30% in less then a month.

I am so for the death penalty, but I thought it saved my taxes. I was wrong!

Whats "rubbery" ? Is it like someone violating you with a rubber dildo???

[austinite]

Whats "rubbery" ? Is it like someone violating you with a rubber dildo???

lmao..

[gearbox]

What happened to making them work. There has to be something within prison walls they can do.
I only know one guy who went to prison and he had a flat screen with cable.

[basketballfan22]

Yes they did... and rubbery in a 30 mile radius went up 30% in less then a month.

I am so for the death penalty, but I thought it saved my taxes. I was wrong!

Where are you getting these numbers from? May you post a link to the study? People are quick to cite figures that they hear, but many don't take the time to investigate them more in-depth. I am not implying you are gearbox, but I would like to read this for myself.

As far as these prisoners are concerned, they aren't releasing murderers and shit. A vast majority of our prison population were convicted of petty crimes or because of the good ol' War Against Drugs. The conditions those prisoners were living in were inhumane. I know many here are arguing that we should keep prisoners in their own filth, but these prisoners that were released are not the ones going around raping women and murdering children.

[gixxerboy1]

Do you really think a state run prison is a "profitable" business? They are all over crowded yet going broke...how "profitable" is that?

stae prison, no. The private owned prisons, yes they are making money

[austinite]

stae prison, no. The private owned prisons, yes they are making money

I have a couple extra rooms. I wonder if I can privatize them and run my own prison. Certainly more profitable than roommates.

[Lunk1]

How many of you bitching about the unfair treatment of prisoners in a prison have BEEN in a prison? It's a god damn joke!

@Human Project, we are not talking about murders committed by the mentally ill or in a crime of passion. We are talking about true sociopathic human beings in MOST cases. Look at the severity and heinousness of the crimes committed by the ppl who ACTUALLY end up on death row. These ppl deserve to enjoy a better life behind bars then are men and women serving in a war?? Really??? I wonder how many ppl who are against the death penalty have lost a loved one to a murderer? I wonder how many have sat and spoke to someone who is directly effected by the TRUE crime of murder?

[Lunk1]

stae prison, no. The private owned prisons, yes they are making money

No argument? Love to hear Gixx's opinion on the death penalty and prisons

[gixxerboy1]

In the same vein and no pun there, when I speak of scripture I raise the thought that most of out laws in regard to out morals are related to the Spiritual Principals (generally stated) these are derivatives of the Fruits of the "Holy Spirit". These more expounded by explanation are also derived as moral conduct from the Seven deadly sins.

Now you will find that in most ALL religions and laws follow these and more. The one that says "Thou shalt not Kill" is contextually talking to MURDER not so much man- slaughter.
You would like to tell you wife and family or your dead daughter (pray to her) that was raped, cut up and or the other parents that we should give our money and out space in our world to keep safe and healthy the pervert that did this. ( I use one example). That after a priceless $$$ investigation and testimonies and 12 people of our pier's rule you did this, just have a good life in the prison. Have you ever seen the luxuries in a small cell.

So I re-iterate The Ten Commands as well as other Scripture such as what I quoted about death, in my OP should stand as law. Not all killings is MURDER. Murder is what we talk about isn't it? That's all of my input. TY. ....crazy mike

I am not a religious man, but a Spiritual man. I'm not a Bible thumper. ...cm

and there are religions that dont believe in death penalty under any circumstance. There is also religions that believe its ok to stone a woman to death for pretty much nothing.
But yea lets make laws based on your religion, because we all know the one we believe is the right one and its the other ones that are nutty.

now i have to go walk my unicorn, be back latter to respond more

[Lunk1]

and there are religions that dont believe in death penalty under any circumstance. There is also religions that believe its ok to stone a woman to death for pretty much nothing.
But yea lets make laws based on your religion, because we all know the one we believe is the right one and its the other ones that are nutty.

now i have to go walk my unicorn, be back latter to respond more

Is that a euphemism for masturbation lol??

[basketballfan22]

How many of you bitching about the unfair treatment of prisoners in a prison have BEEN in a prison? It's a god damn joke!

@Human Project, we are not talking about murders committed by the mentally ill or in a crime of passion. We are talking about true sociopathic human beings in MOST cases. Look at the severity and heinousness of the crimes committed by the ppl who ACTUALLY end up on death row. These ppl deserve to enjoy a better life behind bars then are men and women serving in a war?? Really??? I wonder how many ppl who are against the death penalty have lost a loved one to a murderer? I wonder how many have sat and spoke to someone who is directly effected by the TRUE crime of murder?

I have a family friend who lost his daughter to a murderer. It took him several years, but he eventually forgave the man. No one is "bitching" that prisoners (except the ones that were released from California) are experiencing unfair treatment. Most are arguing against these proposed draconian laws where we utilize onsite executions, and this fallacy that most prisoners are living the high life.

[basketballfan22]

and there are religions that dont believe in death penalty under any circumstance. There is also religions that believe its ok to stone a woman to death for pretty much nothing.
But yea lets make laws based on your religion, because we all know the one we believe is the right one and its the other ones that are nutty.

now i have to go walk my unicorn, be back latter to respond more

Lmao. So true.

[kelkel]

Lmao. So true.

Yep, Gixx really does have a Unicorn!

[Lunk1]

I have a family friend who lost his daughter to a murderer. It took him several years, but he eventually forgave the man. No one is "bitching" that prisoners (except the ones that were released from California) are experiencing unfair treatment. Most are arguing against these proposed draconian laws where we utilize onsite executions, and this fallacy that most prisoners are living the high life.

I would never call prison the "high life" but considering the reason MOST ppl are in there..they are treated VERY well. I support the death penalty but I full understand and agree with a lengthy process that does the best to assure we are (right). Have innocent ppl been put to death? Perhaps but I will almost guarantee the possibility of that happening in this day and age is near nil.

[austinite]

[basketballfan22]

You always have the most enlightening and potentially controversial posts, even in the threads and discussions you start.

[gixxerboy1]

No argument? Love to hear Gixx's opinion on the death penalty and prisons

i think prisons are a money making business. The priority is money and getting as many people in there as possible and its corrupting our "justice" system even more.

I think there should be a death penalty. I also think it should be a long process or some kind of min requirement to be eligible for it. Like there has to be video or dna. I dont think the risk executing the wrong person is worth it to just get them done faster.

[Lunk1]

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/n...ears-death-row

[crazy mike]

How many of you bitching about the unfair treatment of prisoners in a prison have BEEN in a prison? It's a god damn joke!

@Human Project, we are not talking about murders committed by the mentally ill or in a crime of passion. We are talking about true sociopathic human beings in MOST cases. Look at the severity and heinousness of the crimes committed by the ppl who ACTUALLY end up on death row. These ppl deserve to enjoy a better life behind bars then are men and women serving in a war?? Really??? I wonder how many ppl who are against the death penalty have lost a loved one to a murderer? I wonder how many have sat and spoke to someone who is directly effected by the TRUE crime of murder?

That also was a point of mine. How bad is prison to the man who, by no fault of his/her own has no home or meal because the shelter can only afford so many meals. By god we feed them in prison and if they have aids they also get taken care of. All in all why do they in some cases go to a nicer home, with all the modern medicine and home amenities as a hotel
in general because they are murderers. We find them guilty and give them a good deal for the rest of their life.
IMOP we just should give them a fair trial and if they are guilty of MURDER then head off in a manner of speaking. Off with them. Jail , prison life can be a good life you forget because you've never been there and don't how good it can be someone. An easy street life. You only probably hear the bad side of it. ...crazy mike

[basketballfan22]

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/n...ears-death-row

I was trying to locate very recent cases where the convicted man was exonerated, but I couldn't find any. I understand your post about the likelihood of convicting innocent people is more rare today because of technology, but I don't think it is as low as people believe. If those statistics are correct, then that probably means around 10% of people sentenced to death are actually innocent. That is staggeringly too high. I have a hard time justifying the death of one innocent person, let alone hundreds, even if that means thousands of actually guilty people are executed. This is why capital punishment is not as obvious as so many people want to believe.

[austinite]

Do you guys think Rapists or Child molesters should be executed?

[Lunk1]

I was trying to locate very recent cases where the convicted man was exonerated, but I couldn't find any. I understand your post about the likelihood of convicting innocent people is more rare today because of technology, but I don't think it is as low as people believe. If those statistics are correct, then that probably means around 10% of people sentenced to death are actually innocent. That is staggeringly too high. I have a hard time justifying the death of one innocent person, let alone hundreds, even if that means thousands of actually guilty people are executed. This is why capital punishment is not as obvious as so many people want to believe.

I agree that on the SURFACE the number is 10% but I believe that may be from 1976 to present. DNA has only been used in the criminal justice system since 1986. I wonder what the percentage from 86 to present actually is??

[basketballfan22]

I agree that on the SURFACE the number is 10% but I believe that may be from 1976 to present. DNA has only been used in the criminal justice system since 1986. I wonder what the percentage from 86 to present actually is??

Agreed. That is why I was trying to narrow my search to recent cases. The problem is a lot of the time it takes many years before we find out that a convicted person is innocent, so we may not be able to exonerate innocent people that have been convicted recently (last 10 years) for another 10 years.

[Lunk1]

Do you guys think Rapists or Child molesters should be executed?

That's a tough question A. On the surface those two crimes SOUND atrocious but there are many forms of rape and child molestation. Then one has to consider the chance of rehabilitation.

Do I think they should be allowed to walk free? No. Do I think that they deserve a death sentence? No. I would base this on the fact that I have seen victims of rape and child molestation go on to lead healthy lives. Of course if it would happen to my daughter...the death penalty would likely be swift!!

[basketballfan22]

Do you guys think Rapists or Child molesters should be executed?

What's your stance on this whole thing including the question you just posted? You don't express your opinions (unless it's about smoking ) often; so I am curious to hear your side.

[Lunk1]

Agreed. That is why I was trying to narrow my search to recent cases. The problem is a lot of the time it takes many years before we find out that a convicted person is innocent, so we may not be able to exonerate innocent people that have been convicted recently (last 10 years) for another 10 years.

I think if you look at the number of ppl exonerated by DNA you would see that the crime was committed before advances in DNA technology. Now that we have that tool I highly doubt that there is much lag time before assuring the guilty is indeed guilty. I think if anything this allows us to have a better ability to carry out the sentence in a swift and just manner, which is what punishment is really all about.

[basketballfan22]

That's a tough question A. On the surface those two crimes SOUND atrocious but there are many forms of rape and child molestation. Then one has to consider the chance of rehabilitation.

Do I think they should be allowed to walk free? No. Do I think that they deserve a death sentence? No. I would base this on the fact that I have seen victims of rape and child molestation go on to lead healthy lives. Of course if it would happen to my daughter...the death penalty would likely be swift!!

Of course, and that is where I think a lot people make mistakes. So many people like to falsely believe that they are perfect. To determine one's stance on many issues, one should not ask himself/herself "what would I do?" because the reality is he/she is not perfect. There is no question that if I had a child that was killed and/or molested, then I would want the most painful death possible for the criminal. In fact I would be hard-pressed to not take the law into my own hands and kill him/her myself, BUT I am also well aware of my own shortcomings. I can have a bit of a temper sometimes; so although I would love to be perfect, I am not. I have and will continue to do things that I know aren't the most morally good. Also there is no doubt that people are not in a good state of mind when something heinous like that happens to them. One must try to be as objective as possible, but sadly so many people act on impulse and not logic.