Poll | 06/05/2008 12:00 am

Are you in favor of the death penalty in the United States?

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Ultimately - no, I am not in favor of the death penalty. Some crimes are so unspeakably heinous that it would seem that the world would be better off if the criminal were put to death. However, I would not ask anyone to pull the switch and put someone to death if I were not willing to do it myself. I know that I’d ever be able to pull the switch and end a life.

By E . on 06/05/2008 12:23 am

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Elizabeth, I too voted No, but when someone is caught “red-handed” so to speak of committing a heinous crime, I would like to see them in a prison system where they get no privileges whatsoever. No conjugal visits, no TV or computer use. Nothing but a small cell for the rest of their lives. The idea of a rapist/muderer/serial killer… participating in a prison talent show or playing basketball does not sit well with me.

By Brooklyn Gal on 06/05/2008 1:00 am

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Carol, you and I are on the same page regarding this subject. There ought to be a special place and treatment for certain people. I used to believe that such a prison system should be formed where this sort would be strictly controlled in every way and be allowed only a very limited amount of human contact and then only with prison officials and counselors/clergy in order to allow the prisoner time to reflect on their horrible act(s) and perhaps become truly remorseful. Turns out that the the likes of Benjamin Franklin and Benjamin Rush had similar ideas and they instituted this sort of a prison in Philadelphia - Eastern State Penitentiary. Physical punishment, which was used in other prisons, was minimal to non-existent at Eastern State. Eventually Eastern State broke down because of overcrowding and today the strict control and isolation of its prisoners is viewed as inhumane. Many of its prisoners would not be sentenced to serve any jail time for similar crimes today and many reportedly went insane due to isolation. Nevertheless, if I had any say I’d create a such a place, with adjustments to safeguard the prison from becoming a place of torture, to house the worst of the worst. It would be just and it would be humane. How much improved would prison and the potential for rehabilitation be for those prisoners who are not monsters? How much more humane treatment would be possible for prisoners, guilty of much lesser crimes, if they did not have to deal with these monsters?

By E . on 06/05/2008 8:30 am

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WHY? Do YOU feel YOU must be involved? The REAL question is - Would the World be better OFF without Murderers? Answer is YES, so execution will GET RID OF ONE MORE. LVKEN7 at Gmail dot com

By Ken Jarvis on 06/05/2008 9:12 am

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Who better to be involved? YOU perhaps? I suppose YOU believe that YOU are the ultimate “decider” and find no value in intelligent discussion.

By E . on 06/05/2008 9:48 am

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No No and no.

By Josie Sullivan on 06/05/2008 12:18 am

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As the judicial system stands now with the pleading out of the first person who rolls, I am very concerned about the disproportionate amount of the poor and uneducated who wind up falling through the cracks. It seems wrong to me to have a state sanctioned killing in place. I don’t have an answer because I do realize there are very serious crimes being committed that require some form of incarceration/punishment. I just don’t feel comfortable with the United States practicing this method.

By M L Staats on 06/05/2008 12:18 am

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No, never.

By Maurine H on 06/05/2008 12:38 am

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If there is absolutely and positevely no doubt that this person has committed a crime that deserves death, YES! There has to be no doubts whatsoever about it! The problem is that the criminal justice system is so messed up that many have been charged with crimes that they did not commit, but you must also consider how much it cost to provide food, shelter, medical attention and so many other benefits by keeping these criminals in prison! Our tax money, money that could be used to help families with healhcare benefits for their children. If it fits the crime, then kill them and don’t keep them in there using my tax dollars for many years!

By Sally Smith on 06/05/2008 12:38 am

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I am against the death penalty on so many levels. But if there were some way that someone could convince me that it was a good and just thing then I would have to say ‘show me that there is absolutely no chance of an innocent person being put to death and then I might go along.’ (doubt it though) What has always caught me off guard are the people who are against abortion but for the death penatly. ‘It is unthinkable that you would take the life of a child - let’s wait until they are old enough to commit a crime and then kill them.’ ????? If it is immoral to kill - it is immoral to kill. I understand the natural urge for revenge but would never want the state, in my name, to kill another human.

By Maggi D on 06/05/2008 12:42 am

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One of the things that surprises people is how much more expensive it is to have a death penalty than life without the possibility of parole. All those appeals and extra court proceedings cost a lot. We could build schools with that money. Plus too many innocent people have been executed. We should have learned with Ethel Rosenberg, but we did not. [Her brother admitted his false testimony sealed the case against her on Sixty Minutes.] Third, I honestly think that if we want to punish people, life in prison is better punishment than the death penalty. Some of these people are so messed up that they want the state to put them to death. Plus there is real evidence that in places where there is no death penalty, there are fewer murders. It is almost as though the government, by saying that taking a life is a proper way to solve a problem, is giving people the wrong idea. I wish all those folks who so want to have the Ten Commandments on the courthouse wall would read the part that says Thou shalt not kill.

By Elizabeth Bennett on 06/05/2008 12:50 am

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Well said Elizabeth.

By Maurine H on 06/05/2008 12:58 am

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Yes, Yes and Yes! One of my dad’s friends worked for the ‘Chicago Suntimes.’ When Richard Speck killed that house full of nursing students on the southside, I got to see some of the crime scene photo’s. He went to prison for the criminally insane and lived out his full life on IL citizens tax dollars. That was criminal! It’s just like Charlie Manson and the CA tax dollars that are paying for his wasted life. People have to pay for the consequences of their actions…an eye for an eye. It sounds cold but that’s what I believe, and it’s not up for debate in my mind.

By C A Rose on 06/05/2008 1:05 am

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C A Rose - wasn’t there also some sort of scandal regarding Richard Speck? A video of him in prison partying and having some sort of freakishly fantastic prison porn-like experience - yes/no? That story was a heartbreaker. I’m not all about slapping people down like dogs but it would seem that that should not be possible and would not be possible if prisons were managed properly. Some think that just being “imprisoned” is enough but do not consider the liberties that many (most?) prisoners are allowed. Another thing to consider is that some of these horrible people are unleashed on prisoners who, for all intents and purposes, are really very good people who went astray but could be returned to a decent life when their sentence is completed. I think the answer is to change the prison system which I posted about above.

By E . on 06/05/2008 8:43 am

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Death penalty? I voted “no.” But I don’t know if that’s my real answer. One quiet night after working the late shift I was followed home by a young man. I didn’t know he was there until he was behind me. At one point we stood on a landing between two flights of stairs and in that suddenly slowed-down world my mind raced and I saw I could push this person backward down all those marble stairs but in that flash I also knew I would seriously hurt him and even though he was hurting me I could not do it. Many years later I found myself in a new house, just moved there a day or so before a young man came up to my unlocked front door and walked in. I was at the top of the stairs and he was climbing up. But this time I had two children behind me. I rushed down toward him and pushed and smacked and pushed and shouted what do you want why are you here get out of my house — until he left. I learned I will not hurt another human being. Unless it is to protect my children.

By rocky rocky on 06/05/2008 1:07 am