Illinois becomes 16th state to ban death penalty

[SOREHOOF]

Originally Posted by somerfrost

Yeah, there is no way of knowing which punishment is worse, I suspect that again it depends on the individual...some folks can probably adapt to being confined to a cell while others will quickly find themselves praying for death. I saw evidence of this in my years working in prisons. I wonder though, what does it say that folks who are against the death penalty feel obligated to argue that they are supporting a worse fate?

Here is a good example of someone who clearly is having the time of his life behind bars. Life w/o parole was a gift for this animal. I'm against the death penalty,(out of distrust of the legal system), but I'd personally pull the lever for a lot of them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slm_YDzx4vI

[Danzig]

16 down, 34 to go...

[somerfrost]

Originally Posted by Danzig

16 down, 34 to go...

more will follow for economic reasons, sadly few for moral ones.

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by somerfrost

more will follow for economic reasons, sadly few for moral ones.

are you implying that people who support the death penalty do not have morals?

[miraja2]

Originally Posted by Antitrust32

honestly, cold blooded killers and people who rape kids dont deserve the use of oxygen.

The major problem is that - even today - people are sometimes wrongfully convicted of these crimes. There have been a lot of strange cases where new evidence emerges ten or more years down the road that exonerates a person who has been convicted. If you sentence a person to life in prison, and then some case takes an odd twist at some future date, the person might still have a chance to enjoy some part of their remaining life. Once they're executed, however, its obviously too late.

[somerfrost]

Originally Posted by Antitrust32

are you implying that people who support the death penalty do not have morals?

no...I completely understand why many folks are supportive of the death penalty and would never say they are lacking in morals. Morality in a gray world takes different paths...all I'm saying is that I wish if it is abolished it would be because folks do so because they feel it's the right thing to do, not to save a buck!

The only true way to end violence is by conditioning the masses. You can't tell the population to not kill when you do the same.

Lead by example yadda yadda cliche dur.

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by miraja2

The major problem is that - even today - people are sometimes wrongfully convicted of these crimes. There have been a lot of strange cases where new evidence emerges ten or more years down the road that exonerates a person who has been convicted. If you sentence a person to life in prison, and then some case takes an odd twist at some future date, the person might still have a chance to enjoy some part of their remaining life. Once they're executed, however, its obviously too late.

thats why I put a lot of weight on DNA evidence. I have no problem executing these monsters when the DNA evidence is there.

IMO, DNA makes a big difference in wrongful convictions, I could see where the were more prevelent back 20 years, even 10 years ago. I'm sure there are still wrongful convictions... but if the DNA is there, go for the execution.

[somerfrost]

Originally Posted by Antitrust32

thats why I put a lot of weight on DNA evidence. I have no problem executing these monsters when the DNA evidence is there.

IMO, DNA makes a big difference in wrongful convictions, I could see where the were more prevelent back 20 years, even 10 years ago. I'm sure there are still wrongful convictions... but if the DNA is there, go for the execution.

I understand the power of DNA evidence but I question how often it is the determining factor in capital offenses, many times there is no DNA evidence or it is inconclusive. I watch the virtual explosion in science in the last 20 years or so and have to wonder....10-20 years from now, what new techniques will have been developed? Yesterday's science fiction is today's science. Will, for example, we be able to examine the optic nerves of murder victims and be able to produce images of their last minutes? If so, how many murderers will that convict and how many innocent folks could that technology clear?

[dellinger63]

I would imagine someone, somewhere has already 'planted' DNA evidence as a safeguard. But when you review the case details of those who Quinn let off death row there really is no question of guilt DNA or not.

And the thought of life in prison being worse than the death penalty is ludicrous. I'll wager not a single one of the 16 let off will commit suicide and far more appeal the death sentence rather than waive rights and quicken the process.

[timmgirvan]

Originally Posted by Danzig

16 down, 41 to go...

FTFY

[joeydb]

Originally Posted by Antitrust32

thats why I put a lot of weight on DNA evidence. I have no problem executing these monsters when the DNA evidence is there.

IMO, DNA makes a big difference in wrongful convictions, I could see where the were more prevelent back 20 years, even 10 years ago. I'm sure there are still wrongful convictions... but if the DNA is there, go for the execution.

Interesting. DNA evidence is also why I'm opposed to abortion. See the other thread if you are curious.

And I'm all for using the DNA evidence in capital cases to make absolutely certain that no innocent people are executed.

[dellinger63]

Originally Posted by dellinger63

But Roger Schnorr, whose sister, Donna, 27, of Geneva, was abducted, raped and murdered by Dugan in 1984, called Quinn's decision "quite aggravating." Schnorr said he met with Quinn for two hours a few weeks ago — along with prosecutors and other victims' relatives — and said the governor seemed "quite uninformed."
!

Quinn and Ryan appear to be equally inept but what else would one expect out of IL politics. What other Gov. can claim fame to indirectly causing a family to burn alive and then let off the State's worse murderers before going to jail himself. And that fossil of a wife he has, who was supposed to die months ago is still alive and now home? Let Ryan do every last hour of his sentence and add on the time he was allowed to visit his dying wife! Maybe a transfer to the IL State system and allowing him to be a cellie of each of the murderers he let off death row would be good for all involved.

http://www.suntimes.com/4512063-417/...erstand-pardon

[dellinger63]

Originally Posted by joeydb

And I'm all for using the DNA evidence in capital cases to make absolutely certain that no innocent people are executed.

Not if your barber whacked someone and left a few of your hairs (the ones he pulled off combing your hair) at the scene.

[hoovesupsideyourhead]

Originally Posted by dellinger63

Not if your barber whacked someone and left a few of your hairs (the ones he pulled off combing your hair) at the scene.

tony..the barber..sets up the fatman..

[dellinger63]

Originally Posted by hoovesupsideyourhead

tony..the barber..sets up the fatman..

what's done is done lol... Hopefully Tony is still around tho he'd be in his 90's now.