DC sniper to be executed tonight....

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by valo403

It would be the governor of the state that obtained the conviction, the federal government has absolutely nothing to do with it. If the conviction was in DC the President would be involved, but there's no DC death penalty so it's a moot point.

Is that for just the death penalty, or is it for all convictions? The lists of sentence commutes that Cap posted looks pretty extensive - and some of the crimes are petty (like improper use of food stamps and turning back your odometer). I don't know how it works in the U.S., but would those really be federal crimes?

[valo403]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I'm for the death penalty, however the conviction has to be pretty much un-impeachable (sp?) another poster is right, there have been people who have been found innocent after being executed.

However in the cases of the DC Sniper, Ted Bundy, Dahlmer, even our own Clifford Olson, there has to be a higher price paid.

when I talk about punishment for child molesters, I don't mean the death penalty, but to me its the one crime where you should never ever leave prison.

The issue is that such a higher standard doesn't exist, and like I said earlier once the door is open anybody can be forced through it, including the innocent. It should also be noted that many individuals who were later exonerated found themselves on death row with the whole relevant world believing that they were guilty without a doubt. I don't think a slightly elevated standard would ever change that.

As for the closure argument, I can see where you're coming from and it's a sensical viewpoint. However, I've read some things that indicate that such a result doesn't really occur. I think an execution may make some of us feel better about ourselves, but I'm not so sure it provides a meaningful result for families or for society in general.

[FlamesAddiction]

This site hasn't been updated in a while, but I always found it interesting....

http://www.deadmaneating.com/index.htm

[valo403]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Is that for just the death penalty, or is it for all convictions? The lists of sentence commutes that Cap posted looks pretty extensive - and some of the crimes are petty (like improper use of food stamps and turning back your odometer). I don't know how it works in the U.S., but would those really be federal crimes?

Yep, if the president is granting the pardon it's a federal offense. A crime doesn't need to be particularly severe to be federal, it just has to be a violation of a federal statute.

A presidential pardon won't get you off the hook for a state conviction though, so you can only be pardoned by the governor of that state.

[Thor]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I'm for the death penalty, however the conviction has to be pretty much un-impeachable (sp?) another poster is right, there have been people who have been found innocent after being executed.

However in the cases of the DC Sniper, Ted Bundy, Dahlmer, even our own Clifford Olson, there has to be a higher price paid.

when I talk about punishment for child molesters, I don't mean the death penalty, but to me its the one crime where you should never ever leave prison.

I just don't think the government should be in the business of capital punishment, I think its much worse to face a life imprisonment where you have to deal with the brutality, violence and hopelessness of knowing you will never leave that hell hole.

It just feels uncivilized to me, vengeance, revenge, etc.. I mean I totally get why people support it, and I'm not gonna spend my energy trying to convince people its wrong, because I really do get it, there are some truly deserving sickos in this world of the worst punishment.

I just happen to think a life in prison is much much worse than death.

[Delthefunky]

Society isn't always easy for everyone to live in. First of all, we don't have much choice, were all born into it in one way or another. Second, there are always dissapointments, you can't always get what you want.

We all learn to deal with these, most of us are able to go about our lives and enjoy the freedoms we do have. But in many ways it fails. Some people are victims to countless number of abuses and one day just snap. How about the gunman at Fort. Hood? From all account this man was a decent person who fell victim to racism and was constantly picked on. He snapped and couldn't deal with it. Just wanted the fastest way out.

I dunno, to me there's just to many outside factors to justify just removing him from this earth.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Delthefunky

Society isn't always easy for everyone to live in. First of all, we don't have much choice, were all born into it in one way or another. Second, there are always dissapointments, you can't always get what you want.

We all learn to deal with these, most of us are able to go about our lives and enjoy the freedoms we do have. But in many ways it fails. Some people are victims to countless number of abuses and one day just snap. How about the gunman at Fort. Hood? From all account this man was a decent person who fell victim to racism and was constantly picked on. He snapped and couldn't deal with it. Just wanted the fastest way out.

I dunno, to me there's just to many outside factors to justify just removing him from this earth.

I'm sorry but I snapped, or I was angry, or I was misunderstood is never ever an excuse for violent crimes. I was abused or mistreated is never an excuse for violent crimes.

What separates man from animals is supposed to be our ability to rise above that crap and know right from wrong. If a person can't discern right from wrong he or she doesn't belong in society at all.

I don't know if I buy that the Fort Hood shooter was truly a victim of racism, I do buy that he believed himself to be different because of his religion but that doesn't make his actions understandable.

With the Sniper the man was clearly a monster who was completely lacking anything that made him a member of society. He was found to be competent to stand trial so that means he was rational when he came up with his crime. He didn't snap, he made a decision that goes against anything that allows him to be part of society.

There is no excuse at all for committing a violent crime, not anger, not perceived marginalization, not abuse nothing.

[BuzzardsWife]

Originally Posted by Dasani

Sad to see people on here cheerleading state sponsored murder. Who are we to decide who lives or dies? Yes this man is almost certainly guilty of terrible crimes but I don't think we as a society should decide who lives and who dies.

Remember, it costs much more in legal fees to execute someone than it does to keep them imprisoned for life at the taxpayer's expense. Often times, these executions are done for little more than political gain come election time. I realize we are a full year away from mid-term elections in the USA, but just watch and see the rate of executions increase come mid-October 2010.

he decided to die when he offed off all those mothers fathers brothers sisters daughters sons nieces nephews friends

[BuzzardsWife]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

This site hasn't been updated in a while, but I always found it interesting....

http://www.deadmaneating.com/index.htm

its always baffled me how someone could eat knowing they're on the way to the chamber? unless they are on a ton of adivan or something ? it just seems wierd to me..but i guess if you've been locked up and eating garbage food for years, a good last meal would be important? i would be too nervous to eat!

[BuzzardsWife]

hah..i said offed off

[valo403]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I'm sorry but I snapped, or I was angry, or I was misunderstood is never ever an excuse for violent crimes. I was abused or mistreated is never an excuse for violent crimes.

What separates man from animals is supposed to be our ability to rise above that crap and know right from wrong. If a person can't discern right from wrong he or she doesn't belong in society at all.

I don't know if I buy that the Fort Hood shooter was truly a victim of racism, I do buy that he believed himself to be different because of his religion but that doesn't make his actions understandable.

With the Sniper the man was clearly a monster who was completely lacking anything that made him a member of society. He was found to be competent to stand trial so that means he was rational when he came up with his crime. He didn't snap, he made a decision that goes against anything that allows him to be part of society.

There is no excuse at all for committing a violent crime, not anger, not perceived marginalization, not abuse nothing.

I'm not sure he was trying to excuse the acts, I think he was just saying that the presence of outside pressures etc. makes it hard for him to accept the idea of execution as punishment. I don't have the same rationale for opposing the death penalty, but it's such a morally sensitive issue that I can kind of see where he's coming from.

[transplant99]

Let the flow of poison begin...and buh-bye MF.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

CNN is showing the report that he died at 9:11pm EST

[metallicat]

Originally Posted by Maritime Q-Scout

CNN is showing the report that he died at 9:11pm EST

That's morbid.

Edit - Sorry, I'm not trying to sound insensitive to the victims. I just don't know what to think about the death penalty anymore. Maybe I'm getting too soft.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

Originally Posted by oilers_fan

That's morbid.

Edit - Sorry, I'm not trying to sound insensitive to the victims. I just don't know what to think about the death penalty anymore. Maybe I'm getting too soft.

Well in fairness to CNN reporting that he died is no different than reporting that he's going to die. It's not like they showed the execution. Just the press conference to say it was done afterwards.

[GGG]

The Death Penalty is okay provided you believe that is acceptable that at some point you will execute an innocent person regarless of the safeguards you put in place. If you are okay with an innocent person killed so that 1000 or 10,000 people can be excuted thats find but know that if you are in favour of the death penalty eventually an innocent will be executed.

In my mind it is not worth the risk. The cost of keeping a prisinor in prison is between 100k and 150k per year or .5 cents per murderer per Canadian per year. I am willing to pay that amount of money to keep a possibly inncocent person alive indefinately.

[T@T]

"His attitude was strong, it was sturdy," Gordon told reporters. "Mr. Mohammad maintains his innocence in this case, and he always has. He is not remorseful, although he does extend his condolences to the families. What these families went through is tragic in every level. Given the injustices in this case, what Mr. Mohammad went through is equally as tragic."

Wow

[koop]

Originally Posted by T@T

Wow

Well it wouldn't make any sense for someone claim they were innocent and be remorseful.

[T@T]

Originally Posted by GGG

The Death Penalty is okay provided you believe that is acceptable that at some point you will execute an innocent person regarless of the safeguards you put in place. If you are okay with an innocent person killed so that 1000 or 10,000 people can be excuted thats find but know that if you are in favour of the death penalty eventually an innocent will be executed.

In my mind it is not worth the risk. The cost of keeping a prisinor in prison is between 100k and 150k per year or .5 cents per murderer per Canadian per year. I am willing to pay that amount of money to keep a possibly inncocent person alive indefinately.

I'm mostly against the death penalty but in cases where there are multiple witnesses,DNA,video evidence and the crime is unusually cruel I'm all for it.

* multiple murders (like this one)
* rape and kill a child (I'd like to kill them myself)

I don't think too many would shed a tear if Paul Bernardo was put to death

[stang]

Is there a live feed?

May he rot in hell