You Know.. Thinking About It..

[Xstr8guy]

My feelings on the topic... if one innocent person is mistakenly put to death (and MANY have been) than the death penalty is wrong. Personally, if I was in prison for life, I would prefer to be put to death.

[gaystoryman]

Well put Chad, and an interesting choice. I'd say that the death penalty which exists in several states such as Texas simply proves that it is not a deterrent at all. I think the exact opposite could be true, as if you have no hope, nothing to gain, or certainty of death as the result of your actions, how many will you take with you? After all even if you get the death penalty, by the time appeals have gone through and all you still sitting in prison for 10 or so years I believe. So I would tend to think that a death penalty isn't going to prevent such acts, but endanger others more so.

I'd also agree with Jim, one innocent wrongly sent to jail and death is too much.

Though I do believe stiffer penalties should exist for crimes that one would consider the death penalty for vs as you say less heinous crimes.

:coffee:

[dannyz]

My feelings on the topic... if one innocent person is mistakenly put to death (and MANY have been) than the death penalty is wrong. Personally, if I was in prison for life, I would prefer to be put to death.

I agree, death is an easy way out for them.

And Chad honey...yes I know stats of course aren't perfect and there are other factors such as culture involved. However, there does seem to be something inherently wrong when a culture has as much crime and murder as there is in the states. I'll try to speak from a personal experience rather then use broad stats okay?

When I lived in the US, the following happened to me:
- I was gay bashed once
- I was held up at gun point once
- My car was broken into more times then I can remember
- My house was broken into once
- My wallet was stolen twice
- A gun was pulled on me once after accidentally cutting someone off while driving. Fortunately they didn't shoot.

That's just what I can think of off the top of my head but I know there is more.

I have been living in Asia the past 5 years and guess what? I have NEVER been a victim of any crime here. Okay, maybe I've just been lucky, but I really feel a hundred times safer here then I ever did in the US. I don't worry about some asshole pulling a gun on me, I don't worry about my car being broken into and I certainly don't worry about being gay bashed. Those things just don't happen in most Asian countries.

Is all of America bad? No. Is it only the government's fault things are the way they are? No. But I do think people need to wake up and smell the coffee, unfortunately most people around the world agree with Ken's assesment of the US. It's up to you all living there to make it better a place LOL, I escaped while I could!

But if I did make you cry Chad, here's a kiss to make you feel better....:kiss:

[chadknowslaw]

But if I did make you cry Chad, here's a kiss to make you feel better....:kiss:

and just WHERE do I get my kiss????? :develish:

[basschick]

in the last 6 months, i've read about 5 guys who did lots of time for murder and 1 for rape all of whom were PROVEN not to have done it after spending 10 years. they could have easily been put to death for something they didn't do. i do not believe one can ever know for absolutely sure what another person did unless you are there when it happens or it is clearly caught on camera.

besides, what about people who truly are remorseful? there are some, you know.

and btw, i've personally known plenty of people who were told they would absolutely DIE if they continued with certain things and it sure didn't stop them or even slow them down. so i'd have to say if you're an addict or a compulsive person, knowing you could die isn't a deterent.

and here's one lots of people disagree with, but that's okay 'cause it's only my opinion. i believe that killing someone puts out a message that killing is okay. if our coutry as a whole doesn't believe that life is sacred, why should individuals believe any differently?

[chadknowslaw]

in the last 6 months, i've read about 5 guys who did lots of time for murder and 1 for rape all of whom were PROVEN not to have done it after spending 10 years. they could have easily been put to death for something they didn't do. i do not believe one can ever know for absolutely sure what another person did unless you are there when it happens or it is clearly caught on camera.

That is a huge failing in our system; I think the number is closer to 100 than 5.....
and that does not take into account crimes where there is no DNA evidence--a burlgary where there is a break in, for example. An innocent may be in prison but there is nothing that will overturn that conviction. And the convictions where the DNA evidence is lost or destroyed......
I never convicted a person that I was not convinced was guilty. I can sleep at night.


For more on this subject, take this for a read:


http://www.dukemagazine.duke.edu/duk...nvictions.html

[chadknowslaw]

Here are some of the most compellling lines from the Duke article:

Coleman says this points up the most common factor in wrongful convictions, namely, the tendency to rely on the testimony of a single eyewitness. "Overall, if the state did thorough investigations and kept an open mind about suspects, we'd not be in this situation," Coleman argues, "but there is more often a rush to convict, rather than an effort to see justice done."


And that is the failing of our justice system, men and women who have let their jobs go to their heads, prosecutors and law enforcement who do not respect their office and are not out to do justice.