If you are against state sanctioned murder, do me a favor

[NightWatcher]

Please don't wait until the day before someone is executed to become vocal.

This whole case is a clusterfuck, but if capital punishment were abolished we wouldn't even be having this talk today.

I'm related to the slain officer's son, and the whole thing has us all arguing amongst ourselves today. I find it funny how many of my uber Christian family members are frothing at the mouth for another murder, this time committed by the state.

Let's all work to end capital punishment today and tomorrow after this us over.

Fwiw, I am very much against the DP in every case, including this one.

[PDJane]

1. I did scream and yell.

But the death penalty is no longer used in Canada...at least until the reich wing decides it has to come back for some reason. If that day comes, I will be back manning the barricades.

I don't know how much I can do to help the US get rid of it's death penalty, however.

[WCGreen]

2. When I ran for the Statehouse back in the 1990's, I was firmly and outspokenly

against capital punishment for any crime.

I lost the Police Endorsement because of that...

[frazzled]

3. You are right

And I've been (minorly) vocal about it for 25 years. The only time my opinion felt like it counted was this past year, when, after writing a long letter to Governor Pat Quinn on why he should sign legislation to abolish the death penalty in Illinois, he did so. Not because of my letter, of course. But because of the thousands of letters from people around the state, and his own conscience.

[mercymechap]

4. Error Factor

Considering how many people have been put to death that were innocent, we really do need to rethink this.

[Lyric]

5. I've been yelling for a long, long time.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3411023

And yeah...I know your frustration.

[jberryhill]

6. Amen

Most of the discussion revolves around whether Davis is innocent.

The reason people are vocal today is because they only think it is wrong to execute THIS person. Don't confuse that with opposition to the death penalty.

This is why we have all these levels of review and other procedures that stretch these cases out for decades.

I get the impression that folks here generally accept the death penalty, they are just upset with this case.

[Booster]

10. I'm against the death penalty when there is doubt, but for it

in cases like the man who dragged the black man behind his truck and not only admitted it but said he would do it again. I'm for the death penalty in cases like that of little Samantha Runion. Some things are just not forgivable and people should have to pay the highest price for choosing to do what they have done. But in the Troy Davis case there is plenty of doubt that he is guilty and he deserves a second hearing. There is no redeeming value in the people found guilty in the other 2 cases, in my opinion.

[jberryhill]

14. I'm a vegetarian, except when I eat meat

Who do you want to put in charge of deciding, in each county of the US, which people are "really guilty" instead of just plain "guilty"?

The thing is, we have put a LOT of roadblocks in the path to executions. It doesn't matter what you do. Sooner or later one is going to slip through.

This is because humans are fallible, and it is simple probability that you can do all sorts of things to reduce the risk of eliminating error, but you cannot reduce that risk to zero.

Executing innocent people is a certain consequence of having a death penalty.

[GreenPartyVoter]

16. The way the system works, it is too easy for an innocent person to

be found guilty and sentenced to death. It is my opinion that we should not have the DP, simply because it is the only 100% way to guarantee no innocent person is ever put to death again. For the people who are truly guilty, who have done the horrible things you mentioned, let them lose their freedom for their natural life as punishment and as a way to keep society safe.

People ask me, "But how would you feel if it was your child who was raped and murdered?" I always say, "I would be enraged and sickened, the same as I would feel if it was my child wrongly being put to death." :(

[Booster]

17. I felt that way too until I watched the video of Richard Speck in

jail and he actually had all the cocaine he wanted, all the sex he wanted, all the food he wanted. He was actually laughing and having a good time; taking hormones to make his breasts bigger so he would attract more of the men. They asked him if he felt anything after killing those 7 nurses and he said "nah". We don't really know how people live in prisons but I remember this man scared the shit out of me for what he did and really resent him having a good time in prison. If there is absolute evidence the person committed the crime, then I'm for the death penalty. They should not have the privilege of taking another breath. Just my opinion.

[GreenPartyVoter]

18. I agree we should make sure prison is a punishment not a reward, but I stand

by my earlier statement. As long at there is a DP, there will be innocent people executed. It is unavoidable. :(

[Gregorian]

7. One of Troy's last statements was profound

“The struggle for justice doesn’t end with me. This struggle is for all the Troy Davises who came before me and all the ones who will come after me. I’m in good spirits and I’m prayerful and at peace. But I will not stop fighting until I’ve taken my last breath.”

I get a strong feeling when I realize that Troy has the perspective that this is about something bigger.

Damn. So many years we have spent trying to wake people up to this.

[Lochloosa]

8. K/R

:toast:

[WillyT]

9. + 1,000,000,000... What You Said !!! - HUGE K & R !!!

:kick:

[EFerrari]

11. As you know, the movement for justice in this case did not start today. n/t

[ScreamingMeemie]

19. +1...

I don't like sanctimonious stuff. First the jury duty...and now this. As if no one is out there but the OP. :eyes:

[Ben Gay]

12. There are plenty times when the DP is justified. This might not be one

but wholesale abolishing it would be counterproductive. Sorry.

[jberryhill]

15. Okay, who do you want to put in charge of figuring out which ones?

[Kerrytravelers]

13. It is stated in my will, Mr. kt's will and the wills of both my parents that we do not want the DP.

In the event that we are victims of murder, we do not want our names used to get the DP. I would make that clear in my Victim's Statement, too.