The death penalty should be abolished. We punish people who kill, by killing them? Thats like when a kid is hitting his sister and mom comes in and slaps him across the face and screams " stop hitting people!" I believe it was Martin Luther King who said "An eye for an eye leaves everyone blind" i agree with this. I think we can punish people without stepping down to their level. And i think ill pass on seeing someone killed live, i dont know about you all, but im not going to highlight that on my tvguide. ------------------ http://www.democrats.com mgh 1924-2001
The problem remains that people sentenced to life get out of prison in Texas. In the past, a life sentence wasn't even all that long (as late as the '80s, a person given a life sentence could be paroled after serving only 10 years). As it stands currently, a life sentence means the convict will be eligible for parole in 40 years (that's a long, long time, but it's not "life", necessarily). There has to be something that keeps killers off the streets. Unless a life term actually means "life", the death penalty is the only thing that ensures these people won't be released (and that isn't always enough, either. Kenneth McDuff was given a death sentence, but the Supreme Court struck down the death penalty and converted McDuff's sentence to "life", he was paroled after 21 years in prison and went on to kill at least two more people in the early '90s). Of course, the Federal System does have a Life Without Parole sentence, so my points don't apply to Timothy McVeigh. In regards to McVeigh himself, I just don't really care whether he lives or dies. On the one hand, if anyone deserves to be put to death for his crimes, it's him. But on the other hand, putting him to death won't change anything. Those 168 people from the Murrah Building will still be dead, and the execution of the murderer likely won't make anyone connected with the case feel any better (though it might. Having never been in the situation, I don't know what it's like. I'm just basing that statement on what I've heard from families of other murder victims where the killer was executed). And I don't think executing McVeigh will stop the next McVeigh from carrying out whatever terrorist act he plans. Speaking of McVeigh, what's up with Gore Vidal? I caught a brief snippet of an interview with him where he was talking like he understood why McVeigh did what he did. Somebody needs to tell Vidal that Gore lost, so he can't be the wacky Presidential relative that causes embarrassment to the President. ------------------ Houston Sports Board Film Dallas.com AntiBud.com
I can see the validity of this argument, if the politicians who were making the argument weren't the same ones voting against adding the option for juries to sentence people to life w/o parole. I'm not convinced that our judicial system is accurate enough that we can kill people and be sure that they are the ones who were guilty. As for McVeigh, I hope they stick him in a dark hole somewhere to be forgotten by all those who would make him a martyr until he dies an old, decripit man. ------------------ Charles Barkely on the Raptors defeating the Knicks in Round 1 :"I think it was the Lord. The Lord was with the Raptors. You know the Knicks like to talk so much about religion, but I think the Lord was a Raptor fan."
Just to make it clear, I do wish that the Legislature would pass a "Life Without Parole" sentence, though I don't actually think the sentence would drastically reduce the number of death penalty sentences given out in Texas, at least not any time soon. People, in general, still seem to have faith in the death penalty (though that's apparently changing). ------------------ Houston Sports Board Film Dallas.com AntiBud.com
Screw that, have the balls to kill that loser. He killed HUNDREDS of people, and I don't want 1 penny more of my HARD earned tax dollars going to support him living one more day. I will tell you what, I would support "NO" death penalty, if only the people who believed this payed for it. DaDakota ------------------ If you like RTS games, check out this one. www.frontierwars.com coming soon to a PC near you.
Executions cost more than life-in-prison, on average. ------------------ I would believe only in a God who could dance. - Friedrich Nietzsche Boston College - NCAA Hockey National Champions 2001
I am personally opposed to the death penalty, but it is difficult to argue about it because I am not living in the shoes of the victim or the accused. The only argument I feel comfortable making is the caution over wronfully accused. If one person dies who is innocent as a result of the death penaly (and I think we can all agree that someone probably has), then we cannot continue to rationally pursue that course of action knowing that some other innocent person could very well be next. ------------------ I don't get mad. I get stabby.
since when did mr. paige become God and start judging people? With the recent FBI incident of not turning documents over to McVeigh's defense attornys, we can see how FLAWED the death penalty is. We cannot have a INHERENTLY FLAWED system, that is designed to kill people. Two wrongs dont make a right... ------------------
Do you guys think they should show the death penalty live on tv? How bout death penalty in general? The way I look at it is this..even though this guy did this evil act and doesn't show any remorse to what he did, I still feel we shouldn't kill him and let him really grow up in jail and think about what he did for the rest of his life...what good does taking a human life do really? Do we really feel better about ourselves to see him torture in the chair? [This message has been edited by ChenZhen (edited May 12, 2001).]
The death penalty is barbaric and sickening. And it doesn't "save tax dollars," like haven said. With respect to McVeigh, the death penalty is even more wrong. Tim McVeigh wants to die. He wanted to commit "suicide by cop" and at the same time become a martyr for his cause. And the government is letting him. Better to lock him up and throw away the key. ------------------ I'm about to boldly go where many men have gone before.
What did I say that had anything to do with anything you accuse me of saying? I said I don't care whether McVeigh lives or dies. I said that "if anyone deserves the death penalty, it's him" (which just says that if we're going to have a death penalty, here's a guy who has earned it), and then I noted that there was another hand which notes that killing McVeigh won't change anything. The rest of what I said was that we need a Life Without Parole sentence in Texas. And if you'd been here any time at all, you'd have seen that I am generally against the death penalty. ------------------ Houston Sports Board Film Dallas.com AntiBud.com [This message has been edited by mrpaige (edited May 13, 2001).]
Winston Churchill said it best. "If you are not a liberal by the age of 20 then you don't have a heart" "If you are not a conservative by the age of 30, then you don't have a brain." The death penalty is a necessary evil. Someone who kills should face the same fate. An eye for an eye. DaDakota ------------------ If you like RTS games, check out this one. www.frontierwars.com coming soon to a PC near you.
Last I heard, he wrote a book admitting he killed all these people. Just how is that flawed when you have a confession??? And about the death pentalty in general, if they killed once, they will kill again!! Especially if they have nothing to lose! ------------------ Im too drunk to walk ... Im driving home!
I'm all for the death penalty. True there are some articles out there that says it cost more for an execution than to keep a persona alive in prison but that is a flaw in the system where there are numerous appeals before the execution are added in.If we had a true "life" sentence we would have those same appeals. Again this is an example of how people who understand numbers can manipulate them any way they want to make their case. If a person is evil enough to do a crime with intent to kill others and is succesful I feel the person has earned the right to die himself. I'm not for executions on TV, but I think families who have lost loved ones due to that killer should be allowed to watch if they want.
I say let Tim McVeigh's death help put closure for the victim's families. I know how I would feel and I bet at least 1/2 of those families wouldnt mind seeing Tim get his just deserves. I usually dont approve of this but he sure did do it (no chance of innocence) and most assuredly this sicko deserves it. Give him the same treatment he gave so many others. I think a big part of the way I feel in this case is I honestly feel he would do it again if he could and still feel nothing. Plus it sends a message to future killers. ------------------ "I may be mistaken, but I'm never wrong" -Barkley
I think they should slowly burn him from the feet up with a chef's torch. but that's just me. ------------------ stop posting my damn signature
1. It's Biased - If McVeigh was black . . .trust me. . . he'd be QUITE DEAD 2. The whole process is overly complicated A Drip in the Arm is more HUMANE than just Stabbing the f*cker? Please he gonna die Hell If you really wanna save money . .. Make the offender into a PICK YOUR PART I'm sure someone won't care that they got McVeigh's heart if they get to live another 50 years [of course this opens the door for even more corruption] If it were equal. . . I'd be for it . . .. because some times you have to prune the human family tree but it's not . . .. so I cannot support it Those who need/deserve it don't necessarily get it.unless they fit a PROFILE Rocket River ------------------
An eye for an eye. As someone else around here said earlier (quoting someone else who I also don't remember), An eye for an eye leaves everyone blind. ------------------ http://www.swirve.com ... more fun than a barrel full of monkeys and midgets.
Don't insult those 168 people by anyway shape or form comparing their deaths to McVeigh's death by the 'eye for an eye' maxim. McVeigh should be put in the middle of a room, with a few thousand fish hooks pulling against his skin. Every now and then, you could take the hooks out so that surviving family members could walk up and pimp slap him... or if they chose... they could sodomize him. Anything humiliating is appropriate... including throwing excrement at him, giving him giardia, etc. In all seriousness, a lethal injection will merely close the chapter so that the survivors can move on. The death penalty isn't a deterrent, but it can be used in utilitarian ways to calm the nerves of the survivors. It also affords respect for persons by following through on their very own logic. Unfortunately in (canines coming out again) this situation, the only way to get comparable vengeance would be for McVeigh to be reformed and freed, and just when he gets settled... starts a family and becomes a better person... to kill his wife and children. Oh wait, that's inappropriate. Sorry, I got a little carried away. ------------------ women love me, fish fear me.
Should revenge or vengeance be a purpose of the criminal justice system? Should calming the nerves of the survivors justify the state killing a man? If so, why not execute rapists, too? Their victims are also traumatized, and might be calmed by seeing their attacker killed. Its not about whether this guy deserves to live. Its not a comparison of his killing versus the multiple murders he committed. Killing him won't bring them back. The question is, is murder morally justified just because it is the government that is committing it? ------------------ I'm about to boldly go where many men have gone before.
