Today, a jury will start the process of deciding if a man should be put to death by the state

[Stinky The Clown]

Imagine that you're on that jury. Could you, by your vote, cause a man to be put to death by the state?



The man in question was a participant in a home invasion that resulted in the humiliation, beating, and near death of a husband, and the sexual assault of his wife and two daughters, who were then burned alive, each after having been tied to their beds and doused in gasoline.

One additional fact: the killer and his alleged partner in the crime, agreed to plea bargains whereby each would get life without parole in exchange for their guilt pleas. The husband, now fully recovered, physically, refused the plea and asked for a death penalty trial, a request the prosecution honored.

Conn. Jury To Considers Death Penalty For Hayes
by Lucy Nalpathanchil
October 18, 2010 from WNPR

A jury in New Haven, Conn., begins hearing arguments Monday on whether to sentence Stephen Hayes to death. He was convicted earlier this month of murdering three people during a home invasion. A co-defendant goes on trial next year. Connecticut is one of two New England states that have capital punishment.

[brendan120678]

1. In Connecticut, even a sentence of death...

is unlikely to result in an execution. The last person to be put to death a few years ago had to sue the state to stop his appeals, because he wanted to be executed.

[Richardo]

2. I'd throw the switch

Better yet, I'd douse the fucker in gasoline and THEN throw the switch.

[Ohio Joe]

3. If I was on the jury and was convinced of their guilt...

Yes, I could go with the death penalty.

[OZark Dem]

4. If the case facts show him guilty

I wouldn't lose a wink of sleep by voting for the death penalty

[Iggo]

5. Nope.

The existence of the death penalty in this country virtually ensures that innocent people will be put to death for crimes they didn't commit. I find that unacceptable.

EDIT: Imagining being on that jury also imagines lying under oath to get on that jury,...which I wouldn't.

[alsame]

6. No, I could not. nt

[Fla_Democrat]

7. Suhre

and wouldn't be troubled by it in the least.




:smoke:

[ET Awful]

8. No. I could not vote for the death penalty. Neither as a juror nor a legislator.

The death penalty is a primitive approach that leaves room for error and does nothing to deter crime. The death penalty is revenge, not justice.

"An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind."

[Llewlladdwr]

68. What constitutes justice...

for a man who has had his wife and daughters tortured and murdered in such a ghastly fashion? If not death to the killers, then what?

[ET Awful]

96. Is killing the killers going to bring his wife and daughters back?

Life without parole.

Do away with prison privileges, life without parole with hard labor.

Killing the killer is both barbaric, and too easy on the killer.

Make them work their asses off from sunup to sundown 7 days a week until they die of natural causes. When in their cells, no TV, no communication with other prisoners or the outside world. They can have educational materials if they like.

Killing the killer isn't going to accomplish anything except revenge.

[Statistical]

100. The "privileges" are a method to keep prisoners under control.

The more brutal you make prison the less risk there is to riot to change that condition.
Prisoners typically outnumber guards by 100 or so to one.

"Killing the killer isn't going to accomplish anything except revenge."
Except make prison management easier and eliminate the risk that the killer will rape/kill someone else in prison.

If a prisoner is raped or killed in prison because the state couldn't manage the prisoners (likely made much difficult w/ your attempt to turn prison into hell on earth) who's fault is that?

No problem seeing sociopaths removed from the planet. They are a danger to everyone around them and that will never change.

The whole "it won't bring them back" argument is a strawman. Putting the guys in prison won't bring the family back either so they should go free?

[ET Awful]

101. Funny how in your mind life imprisonment at hard labor is the same as setting them free.

The point of sentencing criminals is to punish them for their crimes, not to get revenge on them.

Life imprisonment at hard labor is far more of a punishment than a so-called easy death by needle.

Sorry, but hard labor isn't "hell on earth".

You aren't going to convince anyone that killing people is wrong by killing people.

As to your illusion about prison populations, people housed in Supermax facilities and SHU blocks within those facilities rarely have a chance to assault other prisoners, rape other prisoners or even communicate with them.

[Statistical]

104. Sorry to burst your illusion but despite the massive cost ($200K+ per person per year)

of the supermax wings murders still do occur.

While violence occurs at a lower frequency than outside the "control unit" it does happen. Assaults, attacks, murder attempts and even murders do occur against guards, prison staff, and other prisoners.

People don't start in super max wings ("control units"). Most prisoners there are there because they already went to prison and then killed, maimed, raped prisoners and/or guards multiple times. Not one or two victims but dozens before the system decided the risk they present is great enough for the staggering cost of putting them in "control unit".

Death penalty isn't revenge. We put down dangerous animals all the time and it isn't about revenge. It is about safety. Safety to guards, safety to prison staff, safety to prisoners. Sociopaths are beyond reform, beyond reason, beyond help, and beyond compassion. They can never be made "Safe". They will always be a threat to others (even if super-max prison despite the staggering cost).

Dead they are a threat to nobody. They don't deserve the chance to kill/harm another person and they won't get it.

[ET Awful]

106. So you talk about others being sociopaths, but you consider killing a human being

to be the same as putting down an animal.

Hmmmm.

Tell you what, I'll just let you live in your little blood-soaked dream world where killing people shows people that killing people is wrong.

Bye bye now.

[Statistical]

112. Meh by your logic we shouldn't use prisons.

We consider kidnapping and confinement against one's will to be wrong.

So I will let you live in your little totalitarian world where confining people against their will for the rest of their lives shows people that confining people against their will is wrong.

It is a strawman the purpose of prisons isn't to provide an example. It is to keep dangerous people seperated. Death is merely the final separate. Some people fine "control units" to be inhuman. Dozens of prisons have elected their own death penalty by committing suicide in their cells over the years.

A life in prison sentence is also a death sentence the only difference is how long before they die. Also how many more people they will terrorize, injure, kill, or rape before they die.

[muffin1]

132. And what about the wrongly convicted?

Fuck 'em? It has happened, you know.

[blueamy66]

138. As a fan of the DP...

I like your idea....

[MellowDem]

102. Couldn't you argue that life imprisonment....

is revenge as well? Justice is what society says it is. Personally, I think the death penalty is a bad form of justice that can lead to very unjust results. But so can life imprisionment. The line has to be drawn somewhere. So far, many states still consider the death penalty OK, but that is slowly changing over time.

[ET Awful]

109. Life imprisonment punishes the criminal and continues to do so.

The death penalty ends the criminals life in a comparatively pain free manner and lets them off easy.

[MellowDem]

134. So the death penalty...

is more about justice and life imprisonment more about revenge? Regardless, I just don't see a big distinction between justice and revenge in these kinds of things. Justice is a sort of revenge as it is, however one wants to define it.

[ET Awful]

136. No, life imprisonment is about punishment and justice. The death penalty

is about revenge, always has been, always will be.

One day, maybe Americans will wake up and realize that the same nations they deride as being barbaric (you know places like Saudi Arabia, China, Iran, etc.) are also the nations who share their love of the death penalty.

[beam me up scottie]

9. Never. And no one case, no matter how horrific, would sway my vote.

I cannot imagine how difficult it is for this poor man to get out of bed every day, to have to live with the memory of what was done to his family is a fate worse than death.

I understand why he wants the death penalty, but vengeance will not bring his wife and daughters back.





My family knows how I feel, if I am murdered I don't want my killer to be put to death.

[BlueJazz]

144. Let me say this: There are people who Kill other people every single day...

...with little punishment from society. It's not as quick nor obvious.

The Company that knowingly pollutes or the Company that puts profits over their workers and Citizens (and causes Accidents/Death) is just as guilty as a "Normal" Murderer....Also...even Individuals who Con other people out of their life savings are committing a type of murder.
(Ask any Doctor what extreme stress does to the Human Body...it shortens life)

So the Question becomes..What is worse?...Slowly killing 200,000..or more individuals in a slow but sure manner or killing 1-4 individuals quickly??

My Answer is: I don't know but I do know that the penalty for each type of murder is Worlds apart.
(Not preaching to you ..just the people who think you and I are Bleeding hearts. :) :)

[beam me up scottie]

145. Agreed.

And I don't mind being called a bleeding heart, trust me, I've been called much worse. :)

[Bonhomme Richard]

10. No, but I wouldn't have a problem if............

the state locked the Husband in a room with those guys and gave him a baseball bat.

[CBR]

11. If they did that to my family, I could. nt

[Carolina]

89. Ditto

If any two perps ever deserved the death penalty, it is the two defendants in this horrible case. No question of their guilt, caught red-handed fleeing the scene in the victims' car. In fact, crashed it into one of the police cruisers that had formed a perimeter around the house.

As far as I'm concerend: 1 down, 1 to go ASAP!

[Mad_Dem_X]

120. Definitely!

If I were the husband, I'd be calling for the death penalty too!

[closeupready]

126. Yes, likely everyone would agree if it was personal. But the justice system

is supposed to render a verdict impartially - not "no death penalty, except in a case where it happens to CBR's family". You either have the DP or you don't. The question was, could you do it if you were on THIS jury?

[Jokerman]

12. They wouldn't let me on that jury.

From what I've heard, they try to exclude death penalty opponents from even sitting on a case when the death penalty is an option.

Sounds like stacking the deck to me.

[Statistical]

13. He is lucky that the state has no method to ...

sexual assault him, tie him to a bed, and burn him to death.

If that was option it would be the one I vote for.

He gets to simply go to sleep and never wake up. A mercy his victims never granted.

[uncommon]

19. Seconded.

[Upton]

22. Agreed..

in fact I think those found guilty of horrific premeditated murders, should be put to death in exactly the same fashion they murdered their victims. In this case, that would mean first sexually assaulting and then lighting this guy on fire.

[Stinky The Clown]

44. Who would have carry out the sentence? Particularly the sexual assault part?

[cleanhippie]

45. There are machines for that.

Google "sex machine" and see all of the various equipment that could be used.

[Stinky The Clown]

110. I gotta tell ya . . . . that's pretty sick.

[cleanhippie]

141. Hey, I didn't make those machines.

I just gave you one possible answer to your question.

[blueamy66]

27. I'm with ya...

nt

[TonyMontana]

34. Would you like some sugar with that blood?

What kind of person are you to have such glee at the killing of another human being? Or to take such pleasure in fantasizing about torturing one?

Are you any different than the condemned man?

[Upton]

37. Anti DP crusaders..

are always claiming the DP isn't a deterrent. Well, fine, lets put all the human scum to death in the same fashion they murdered their victims. Then you'll see some deterrence.

[TonyMontana]

40. You might want to seek counseling

If you're truly being serious right now, I have to wonder what kind of psychological issues you have.

Are you aware that you're advocating torture? How are you different from the two men who took pleasure in raping and murdering that family?

[Upton]

46. I'm quite serious..

I'm advocating those guilty of premeditated murder pay for their crimes with the ultimate penalty.

I'm not interested in coddling murderers...

[cleanhippie]

50. Isn't that just ripe. You calling someone else crazy...

You do remember writing THIS contradictory and irrational screed, right?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=214&topic_id=262484&mesg_id=262484


And YOU have the BALLS to tell someone they need to seek mental health help? Perhaps you need to look in the mirror.

[TonyMontana]

54. You equate believing in God to wanting to torture a human being?

[cleanhippie]

56. Did I say that? No.

I said that it is funny how you accuse one person of needing to seek mental counseling for their expression of their views, yet at the same time, feel your hypocritical, contradictory and irrational post on your new found belief is just perfectly sane.

THAT is what I equated. You can keep your strawman for your cross.

Also, why have you not responded to the HUGE amount of questions posed to you regarding that post?

[TonyMontana]

59. Yes you did

You equated exactly what I said you equated.

[cleanhippie]

60. Why, because you said so?

Even if you properly inferred that from my original post, I clarified my statement for you so that there was no misunderstanding. So even after I explained to you that you had gotten the wrong idea from my post and explained what point I was trying to make, you ignore it and tell me again what I posted?

So now, after TWO posts, I am telling YOU that MY post is not what you are saying it is, got it? I have clarified it not once, but TWICE now, so there can be NO misunderstandings.

Now that we have that settled, how about answering the real questions posed to you.

[TonyMontana]

61. You can't argue with an irrational person

Sorry. Your two posts are akin to saying "The sky is purple" with post #1 and then saying "I did not say the sky is purple" with post #2.

I don't blame you for denying what you said because I'm sure you're aware that what you said is absurd.

[cleanhippie]

67. Yes, you are right, you are irrational and it's impossible to argue with you.

You do remember this, right?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=214&topic_id=262484&mesg_id=262484

Irrational, indeed.

[TonyMontana]

70. You're the one who equates believing in God to condoning torture

I'm not the one embarrassing himself right now.

[cleanhippie]

73. No, I'm not, you are the one saying that.

Embarrassed? yes, you should be. And after reading this...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=214&topic_id=262484&mesg_id=262484

I am embarrassed for you too.

[uncommon]

48. Also, the death penalty prevents them from harming other inmates, which is a VERY serious problem.

The lifers often end up hurting other prisoners while they are incarcerated.

[proteus_lives]

90. And guards, nurses, lawyers.

Prisons are dangerous places. Especially with men with nothing to lose.

[uncommon]

95. My point exactly. The rest of our country's prisoners frankly deserve better than to be

locked up in a place with people like this.

[cleanhippie]

47. Glee? Pleasure?

I do not see any of that in these posts. I see anger and vengeance, but not glee and pleasure.

Perhaps you are projecting?

Maybe your new found belief can answer the question....

[emilyg]

72. +10

[Ignis]

74. ...

http://www.innocenceproject.org/

Education can go a long way to combat ignorance, but I'm not sure how to treat bloodlust.

[Upton]

14. This guy deserves the death penalty..

I would honor the husband's request. And I don't accept the argument that life imprisonment is worse. Otherwise, all those murderers slated for execution wouldn't be trying for stays right up until their last minute..

[Lil Missy]

15. Yes, in a heartbeat. n/t

[Odin2005]

16. fry him!

[geek tragedy]

17. I could apply the law as written.

Certainly the death penalty would be justice.

[uncommon]

18. They both deserve death. Unfortunately a death sentence probably means life in prison anyway.

Death is not even enough for these sick bastards, but I'd vote for it in a heartbeat.

[Bill McBlueState]

20. No.

[mitchum]

21. The DP can be quite an occupational hazard for rapist-murderers

[Luciferous]

23. Those bastards deserve to die. If I was on the jury I would vote

for the death penalty, and I wouldn't lose any sleep over it either. I don't advocate for the death penalty in most cases, but I'll make an exception for this one.

[blueamy66]

24. put him to death

no question

[blueamy66]

25. dupe

[blondeatlast]

26. No, I've been excused during voir dire due to my DP opposition.

The case was an ACCESSORY charge of a developmentally disabled man; he was found guitly and is awaiting the death sentence.

I lose sleep occasionally.

[lumberjack_jeff]

28. I completely understand the victim's feelings.

But I don't think that a justice system should be designed solely by them.

I think that the death penalty is wrong, but if I were placed on that jury, I'd probably vote to execute. How's that for cognitive dissonance?

I guess here's the deal; I think juries are there to apply the laws of the state, and that transcends any moral/political views that individual jurors hold. The way to get rid of the death penalty happens in 3 weeks.

[NightWatcher]

29. I'm lovin the enlightened Progressive responses thus far. (fry him, sure, I'd flip the switch...)

yikes

[Iggo]

32. My favorite is the punishment fetishist...

...who wants to tie him to a bed, rape him, then set him on fire.

Yay!

[blondeatlast]

35. I wish I were shocked, but I'm not. nt

[ET Awful]

113. My favorite is the people who use the "he'll commit more crimes if he's in prison"

Using the "let's kill him preemptively" argument. . . you know, the same argument that was used to start a war.

The "we have to kill him preemptively before he hurts someone else (or uses weapons of mass destruction)" argument is rather ironic from people who would criticize Bush for using the same argument under different circumstances.

[Upton]

122. This has nothing to do with Iraq or WMD..

it's all about justice. And the only true way justice can be served in this case is by executing this murdering scumbag and his partner. Give them the same consideration they gave their victims. In my mind that means sexually assaulting them and lighting them on fire..

It' always baffled me as to why anti DP folks seem to care more for the perpetrators than for the victims and their families..

[Iggo]

125. What I mean to say is...

...that makes you exactly like him.

[ET Awful]

135. It has nothing to do with caring for the perpetrator. Did you actually read anything I posted?

Killing them lets them off easy and does more harm than good to everyone involved.

Unless of course, the people who are killing him share the same thirst for blood as he did.

Vengeance and justice are not now and never will be the same thing.

[Upton]

140. It doesn't?

Not IMO. Both this guy and his partner have been in and out of prison. They're already parolees. Going soft by just sending them back to prison, even to a high security unit, for these murders will do nothing but put a big smile on their faces. In fact, come to think of it, anti DP crusaders are the best friends a murderers got..

Btw, the husband wishes for these two to be executed. Why don't you get off your moral high horse and think about the victims for a change?

[uncommon]

51. Being progressive doesn't mean hugs and kisses for rapists and murderers.

I'm sure the inmates who are raped, assaulted and murdered by the people we lock up for life instead of executing will thank liberals.

[okieinpain]

71. actually they do, and would kill a person without giving it one

second in thought.

[uncommon]

76. I apologize but your post is unclear and I am not

sure what you are talking about.

[okieinpain]

81. sorry my fault you're right Im unclear, and you're right that murderers

and rapist would thank a liberal for being against the death penalty.

[uncommon]

82. I just think we ignore the fact that sentencing these sickos to life in prison means hundreds of

other prisoners have to deal with them while the rest of us get to feel high and mighty.

I think our prisoners deserve better than that. The worst of them need to be taken out of the equation - and I don't think that giving them a private room is a solution.

[muffin1]

133. You nailed it.

That's what Progressives are advocating for - hugs and kisses for rapists and murderers. :eyes:

[Upton]

65. Is there some kind of hard and fast rule

as to how progressives or indeed Democrats should feel about the DP? Gee, I wasn't aware of that. Have you got anymore rules..maybe a purity test?:eyes:

[NightWatcher]

79. You should educate yourself on the Death Penalty and reevaluate your position (lookie, facts)

Enlightenment is a wonderful thing.

http://www.progressive.org/mpmeeropol101010.html

http://www.progressive.org/taxonomy/term/404

http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/ACT50/015/2008/en



No "rule" but if you are pro-state sanctioned murder, how do you call yourself a "P"rogressive?

But I know that you wont read the above, nor will you open your mind to the possibility that you may have been on the wrong side. I was just like you before I studied the death penalty and came to find out that it is:

-Disproportionately applied to the poor and minorities who cannot afford a solid defense or at least mitigation of their case/punishment. Very Progressive of us.

-Wrought with error. The Innocence Project and DNA testing has cleared 17 people who were awaiting executions since 1993. http://www.innocenceproject.org/Content/The_Innocent_and_the_Death_Penalty.php

-Costs much more than a "life in prison" case and confinement. http://articles.cnn.com/2009-10-20/justice/death.penalty_1_death-row-population-suitable-vein-execution?_s=PM:CRIME

But I understand that it feels real good to scream "fry the bastard" while waving ignorant fists in the air, so continue.

[uncommon]

84. " Life is a human right. This makes the death penalty our deepest human rights abuse." - When

you take it away from someone else, you forfeit your right to it.

I have read all of the anti-death penalty information, and while I understand that it has not been properly applied in all cases, I don't think that automatically makes it wrong.

Many people are imprisoned who shouldn't be - should be abolish the criminal justice system entirely?

No, we should do our very best to make it as accurate and fair as possible.

[HughMoran]

93. "lookie, facts"

Post ignored due to snark.

Lookie. not.

[NightWatcher]

98. facts suck? So stick your head in the sand and enjoy the view from your righteous snark free world

scared to look at some facts?
scared to re-examine your positions?

[HughMoran]

103. Nothing you post teaches me anything

Sorry.

[Brickbat]

30. I wouldn't be on the jury, as I oppose the death penalty and would not vote for it, ever.

[MineralMan]

31. I have long opposed capital punishment on very basic moral

and ethical grounds. I simply do not believe that the state should be able to take someones life. Cases like this one are especially difficult for those of us who abhor the death penalty, but I maintain my opposition. It is a basic moral and ethical issue.

[TonyMontana]

33. It makes me sick

When will this blood lust and barbarism end?

[slackmaster]

36. I wouldn't be on the jury, because during voir dire I'd disclose that I am against the DP

:hi:

[krispos42]

38. Whichever decision I pick, the guy is in prison until he dies.

He only leaves the prison walls on a gurney with a toe-tag.

[Hepburn]

39. IMO, life w/o poss of parole is a much harder sentence than the death penalty.

I cannot imagine a worse penalty than to be caged like an animal for the remainder of my life. Death, IMO, sets one's soul free.

[COLGATE4]

41. Unless this asshole were to be sentenced to something like

Administrative Segregation (aka 'the hole') where he would be locked up 23 hours a day with only 1 hour alone in a closed off patio for exercise and no contact with other prisoners, doing LWOP is not as bad as you might imagine. I understand for people like us that we imagine it would be terrible but predators like this are at the top of the food chain in General Population. They are the alpha males in the system, and learn to live and prosper in their new environment quite well. It's certainly not a punishment commensurate with the horrific crime. I vote for the death penalty.

[SOS]

57. On the contrary

These guys raped and murdered an 11 year old girl.
They most certainly will not be "at the top of the food chain".
They will be at the very bottom.

Dahmer was dead in less than two years.

[Statistical]

42. Which is why so many death row inmates accept the easier punishment.

Oh wait they don't.

Life is life. Living in a cage someone can still learn, read, write, try to find purpose in their existence (as limited as it may be). Death is absolute.

Very few death row inmates share your view that death sets one's solar free. What about people that believe there is no soul, and nothing after this life. That death is simply the end, annihilation.

[Carolina]

91. Charles Watson, one of the Manson

murderers married and had children. Sheesh, some justice. Meanwhile, Sharon Tate's mother never got to see her grandchild and eventually died from her grief.

I'm liberal but I say some people truly DESERVE the death penalty.

[uncommon]

52. Oh yeah, it's much worse to have more opportunities to rape and murder -

why does no one consider the implications on the existing prison population when we decide to keep these people alive? They may be no threat to those of us who are free, but they have ample opportunity, and use that opportunity, to rape and kill in prison. It's okay to unleash them on other criminals but not to execute them? How progressive.

:sarcasm: for the impaired

[mitchum]

80. THAT'S the dirty little class-based secret behind many of the DP opponents' feelings...

better to have the underclass (corrections officers and inmates) deal with murderers, than to...OHMIGOD HAVE BLOOD ON MY HANDS!!!

[uncommon]

85. Exactly. Who cares about prisoners?

I'll tell you what - I have a lot more compassion for someone in jail on a drug charge who didn't rape or kill or maim anyone than I do for a man who raped and murdered and burned 3 members of a family.

Why should that rapist, murderer, defiler get a chance to harm that prisoner in jail?

[cleanhippie]

43. Only in case of ZERO doubt.

No room for any doubt whatsoever in Death Penalty cases.

In this particular case, from what I have read, there is NO doubt that these men committed these crimes, WITH premeditation AND anticipation.


I might even be convinced that they need to die by the same method that their victims died by....

[lightningandsnow]

49. I oppose the death penalty in all cases.

This was a terrible crime, but I cannot support the death penalty. Full stop.

[Jim__]

53. I wouldn't vote for the death penalty - and so, wouldn't be allowed on the jury.

But, I can't help thinking that there is a connection between the violence in our society and the fact that the state executes people. If executing people is justified, then many murderers feel justified in their actions.

[uncommon]

58. Really? I don't see that correlation at all.

Also, the state executes very few people in this country.

[ET Awful]

97. The correlation is this: A person committing a heinous crime such as rape

is far more likely to kill the victim to eliminate witnesses knowing that having a witness could contribute to the likelihood of his being convicted of other crimes.

[Statistical]

99. Unlikely. Many states have no DP. Other have defacto no DP (been decades since last execution)

there is no statistically correlated decrease in murder rates among non-DP states.

The two in the OP are sociopaths. They kill the way you throw out a pair of old jeans. If it was their intent to kill merely to improve chance of evasion they could have done it any number of less barbaric ways.

They killed because they wanted to kill. Sociopaths feel no empathy for their fellow human beings. Every single person in the world exists merely to be used and exploited. Some will be used in benign ways (like a place to crash, or place to score some drugs, or a guy who throws a cool party) others is far more barbaric fashion. The underlying theme is they don't feel anything for fellow human beings. This is what makes sociopaths dangerous and essentially unreformable.

[uncommon]

108. A person committing a heinous crime is also more likely to commit heinous crimes against inmates and

employees in prison.

[ET Awful]

111. So your argument is that they should be killed preemptively before they have an opportunity

to commit a crime they may or may not commit in the future?

Hmmm, sounds like an argument I once heard a President make for going to war.

[Statistical]

114. So by your argument they are placed in confinement preemptively before they have an oppertunity

to commit a crime they may or may not commit in the future?

End all prisons now. It is inhuman.

[calendargirl]

66. Really?

So do you also believe that firing squads, hangings, the guillotine, disembowelment and burnings at the stake were all basically incentives and justifications for murderers, rapists and the like to commit their crimes, too?

[uppityperson]

55. No. Even if I felt someone "deserved" to die,it is too easily misused against too many.

Life without parole, remove him from the public system is fine, even if I have to pay for it.

[Statistical]

118. What if other less violent prisoners have to "pay for" that choice also? n/t

[uppityperson]

130. He sounds like the type that would be isolated, not put with non-violent offenders.

[Swede]

62. I am against the death penalty.

It is murder,IMHO.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

63. I'm Glad I Oppose The Death Penalty, A Priori ,

Because it would take a lot of discipline not to want to fry those monsters. That being said I won't be joining any candle light vigils for them easy.

[blondeatlast]

64. You echo my sentiments regarding this case perfectly. nt

[Hangingon]

69. In this case I could do it.

[kctim]

75. Would happily vote for death penalty

[SoCalDem]

77. It's always sad that the victims of the crimes did not get a jury deciding

whether they will be killed...or not..

I prefer life with no parole, for punishment.

[cherokeeprogressive]

78. I think their actions forfeit their right to continue drawing breath.

I can't say much more than that. In this case, I don't care WHO does the deed.

Sexually assaulting a pre-teen child, then burning her to death with gasoline while she's tied to a bed forfeits your right to live.

[flvegan]

83. Why relieve him of his punishment?

Let him rot, hopefully fearing for his life, every single day he's been granted on this planet.

The death penalty and subsequent ending of this person's life is just revenge, a human emotion. It's not punishment.

[uncommon]

86. These men are almost certainly sociopaths. They only pain they will feel in prison is

the inability to rape and kill again. Assuming they don't get the chance to rape and kill in prison, which is unlikely.

[flvegan]

87. Opinions differ. n/t

[uncommon]

92. Clearly.

However, I don't care if somehow these men are the absolute most sensitive creatures in all the world - I think the rest of humanity has the right to be rid of them.

[proteus_lives]

88. Fuck those animals.

World will be a better place without them.

[AndrewP]

94. Yes I could

[lunatica]

105. I get dismissed from jury when asked about the death penalty

I'm against it but it has nothing to do with sympathy for the perpetrators. It has to do with what I believe a society should represent. If it passes laws that do the same thing murderers do then in what way is it better than the murderer? It's barbaric to murder no matter whether a criminal does it or a state does it.

I don't blame or judge people who want the death penalty. I sure as hell don't blame the survivor for wanting it. I just have my own views on the issue. And I definitely believe in punishment. Being taken away from society to spend the rest of their lives suffering behind bars is punishment that I think is far worse than being executed.

[Statistical]

117. Would that apply to kidnapping and confinement?

I mean as a society are we no better than someone who uses force and threats of violence to confirm another person (potentially for the rest of their lives).

"Being taken away from society to spend the rest of their lives suffering behind bars is punishment that I think is far worse than being executed."

life in prison can't be both MORE humane and at the same time "far worse" than beign executed.

Either life inprison is humane and better than the DP or your argument that the DP reflects badly on soeciety is bogus.

If the DP reflects bad on society and makes society no better than the criminals then what does an alternative punishment that in your own words is "far worse than being executed" reflect upon the society that imposes it? There is no free lunch.

[lunatica]

131. Your logic escapes me

By far worse I mean that if the murderer is dead he/she is not being punished. It's about paying for his crimes and being removed from society because he/she is a violence menace.

And you parse badly

[Swamp Rat]

107. They are dead already no matter what the sentence.

May it be quicker and less painful than what their victims experienced.

[Ishoutandscream2]

115. A sane post

Thanks.

[Throd]

116. Hang 'em.

[Mad_Dem_X]

119. Buh-bye.

"The man in question was a participant in a home invasion that resulted in the humiliation, beating, and near death of a husband, and the sexual assault of his wife and two daughters, who were then burned alive, each after having been tied to their beds and doused in gasoline."

I am pro-DP in cases such as this. Put that dog to sleep. Better yet, tie him to a bed, set him on fire, and let him burn alive.

[JanMichael]

121. This is a tough one....I want to be completely against the death penalty

but, every now and then (like Bundy) one comes along, and I think I could flip the switch on the chair myself.

This is one I could flip the switch on, or pull the trigger. :(

[Duer 157099]

123. I think all we need to do is abolish "suicide watch" for those

who otherwise would be on death row.

Just let them do it themselves.

[closeupready]

124. I likely would not be selected for the jury, as I am ideologically opposed to the DP,

and prosecuting attorneys generally ask - as part of the voir dire jury selection process - whether or not you would be able to consider imposing the DP if the defendant was found guilty. If you couldn't consider the DP, you get tossed as a juror.

[AllieB]

127. This was a horrific crime. It's getting lots of coverage on NECN (NE Cable News).

I can't imagine what they went through before their deaths, and what the husband who survives feels now. However, I would never trust the state to put anyone to death. Life without parole, in solitary confinment with no privileges is better punishment. Death is too quick for this bastard.

[DevonRex]

128. I'm against the death penalty. But it's no secret that we have the death penalty in the US.

This guy knew that before he murdered and raped and burned this family to death. I won't shed a tear for him when he's executed.

[Kaleva]

129. I'd vote in favor of the death penalty for him

Normally, I'm opposed to the use of the death penalty as I think it accomplishes little and actually costs more.

[activa8tr]

137. America is a nation of killers, and has raised people and mis-educated people to ...

believe that the death penalty serves as a deterrent to crime.

There is also the celebration of that myth, and then the illogical pride America has indoctrinated into even many liberals, who think being FOR the DP is somehow being AGAINST crime.

If one has lived in any of or major allied nations, or dozens of other smaller nations, if one has relatives in Canada, for example, one realizes a nation can do just fine, thank you, WITHOUT a D P.

The most murders per million people occur in nations with few laws, nations in massive social and economic upheaval (sound familiar, or sound like where we are headed?), and THEN, in the USA.

[LWolf]

139. No, I could not. I will not become the killer.

I will not participate in feeding the more violent, less evolved impulses of my species.

Locked away for ever, as protection for the rest of the world? Absolutely. Execution? Never.

[zinnisking]

142. I could vote y.

If I'm on a jury of someone I thought was guilty of cold-blooded murder.

If someone takes the life of a child, I would go Pulp Fiction on the perp if I could (pliers and blow torch).

I wouldn't vote yes for the husband's sake. I'll be the first to admit it would be for personal revenge.

The people he killed don't get to eat food or exercise or read books. In prison, the killer can wake up, fill his belly, and then jerk off the rest of the day fantasizing about his rapes and kills.

OTOH anti-DP activists make valid points and I wouldn't accuse them of being insensitive to the victims like other people here are doing. That's BS!

[BlueJazz]

143. I would vote No