Tennessee's first execution in 40+ years

Libertarian - don't you read the preceeding posts, I already covered Illinois.

The basic point remains, we have a p**s poor justice system that is incapable of delivering justice to the level of accuracy DEMANDED by the death penalty. Texas and Florida aren't tough on crime, although it sounds good as a soundbite, rather they are lower on the evolutionary scale than most other states and have a lower regard for humanity than some third world nations of note.

Those of you who advocate prolonged torture or suffering of criminals to the levels mentioned previously have a long way to go, and I seek to distance myself from such attitudes that are quite frankly, disturbing.

Mike H
 
Alex,
In your last post, weren't you being a bit sarcastic? Perhaps because you felt you were alone in your original opinion?

I agree with your original post. I also agree with the death penalty but I would prefer a higher standard of proof.

Our juries too often are manned by folks who have nothing else to do and are not the best judges of life and death. I know this to be fact because of juries I have watched being selected after I've heard their private opinions.

1) IMO, too many current juries are incapable of rational thought. The decision goes to the "side" who puts on the best show!
2) Most judges violate our rights by demanding avoidance of jury nullification.
3) The risk of killing people for crimes they did not commit simply is too great (in many, not all instances) for me to feel comfortable with the death penalty.

I am not against the death penalty, but I fear it is being applied capriciously - and that scares me.
 
Mike, Okay, so you may have mentioned Il. already. I felt I needed to say my 2¢ worth anyway. And yes, I did read all of the previous posts.

Reading the glee with which so many of the other posters have been spouting off about the death penalty and the inhuman things they would like to do to the convicted is disturbing.

State sanctioned killings should be swift and painless. We are not in the inquisition anymore. It is not right to torture anyone to death regardless of their crimes. State sanctioned killings should be 101% certain of their victims too. If there is even an iota of doubt in the guilt of the condemned, then the execution should be delayed. We can always kill them later but if it turns out later that they were innocent, we can not give them back their lives.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Mike H:
Texas and Florida aren't tough on crime, although it sounds good as a soundbite, rather they are lower on the evolutionary scale than most other states and have a lower regard for humanity than some third world nations of note.
[/quote]

"Lower on the evolutionary scale"? I'd wager that sort of attitude has resulted in far more innocent deaths over the past hundred years than mistakes in the criminal justice system. But perhaps a final solution for all those lowlifes in Texas and Florida would be acceptable so long as it didn't involve any prolonged torture or suffering, eh?

I know you didn't intend to sound like a Nazi but that message was as disturbing, in its low regard for a certain portion of humanity, as any of the "hang/shoot/fry 'em" ones.

Just my humble opinion.
 
G50AE,
"Alex Johnson, I agree, let's crucify murderers. It takes a looooooooong time to die on a cross."

at least it gets you out in the open...

thank goodness for monty python, or there would be very little crucifixion humor
smile.gif
 
Matt,

Evolution covers any aspect of logical progression, it's application in human genealogy or any species with more than one sub-genus is perfectly valid IMO but it is uncomfortably close to racism in many peoples eyes, so discussion in this area is effectively stifled. My use of the word evolutionary in this sense however has nothing to do with physical evolution but everything to do with social evolution. In short, most every Texan I've ever met socially or through work had attitudes on killing that were almost glib. I'd always believed this was counter balanced to some extent by their respect of women, something I admired them for immensely, but then they killed Carla Faye Tucker so that theory went out of the window just like Jeff Cooper's marbles. The basis of my initial statement is simply that 100 or perhaps even 50 years from now, Texas will not be executing people, that's evolution. Social evolution is inevitable, it just takes you longer if you start from further behind.

At the risk of being surrounded by angry stetsons and silly accents, a new state motto could be "Texas - We always tip our hat to a lady before we flip the switch".

For the record Libertarian, it's nice to find a kindred spirit here, most seem to rejoice in thoughts of death and torture. Not the kind of people you want owning guns really, although I'm sure that makes me an elitist, ho hum. I'll bet this starts a few brush fires.

Mike H
 
Mike,

With a big chuckle I can only assume you are doing your best to create
controversy rather than merely share a viewpoint.
smile.gif


I don't know how many of us Texans have what you consider an “almost glib”
attitude on killing but I assure you we still treat our Texas ladies with the
honor they deserve.

Little Carla Faye, on the other hand, gleefully killed a fellow human being.
She enjoyed it so much she repeatedly bragged she had a sexual orgasm
during the murder she committed.

I’m familiar with Pennsylvania standards of forty years ago so bear with me if
PA has changed so radically as to consider Little Carla a lady. Here in Texas,
she doesn’t meet our higher standards.

I would also suspect that you are confusing “glib” with “determined” when it
comes to killing. If the Texans you’ve met are “glib” about the subject, then
I suggest you frequent better establishments with better social circles.

As for Col. Cooper, I will await your next book in which you explain the errors
he made in the virtual library of tomes which he has authored.

Oh, BTW, before you broadbrush Texas, try reading the posts by Texans,
okay?
wink.gif
 
"Capital punishment, like the rest
of the criminal justice system, is a government
program, so skepticism is in order." - George Will

1976-present: 627 executed in the U.S. or about 26 per year.

1980-89: 7600+ workplace homicides or about 850 per year.

1940-1981: 7741 killed by lightning or about 189 per year. (84% male 16% female)

As a male who works outside I will take my statistical chances with getting an erroneous death penalty sentence.

Anytime the state wishes to take the life of an individual it should be met with much objective and scientific scrutiny. Afterwards get it done quick.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Dennis:

I would also suspect that you are confusing “glib” with “determined” when it
comes to killing. If the Texans you’ve met are “glib” about the subject, then
I suggest you frequent better establishments with better social circles.
wink.gif
[/quote]

Methinks he has been runnin' the beer joints on Airline Drive in Houston . I've seen death sentences carried out there in a lot less time than any court could dispense . Seen a fella get shot by his P.O.'d girlfriend for ( in her words ) being a sorry a** blond headed yankee MF SOB . These words were punctuated by .44 mag fire as he ran across Airline Drive ducking and weaving . I hauled butt up to the Western Playboy Club and hoped she would cool off before she got there . Or at least forget to reload .



------------------
TOM SASS MEMBER AMERICAN LEGION MEMBER NRA MEMBER
 
Dennis,

Oh NO!, not you, a Texan. Please tell me you moved there because of work or something, you and Oleg are the best mods. so I refuse to believe it. If I have to picture you as a big hat and a silly drawl I think I'll have to re-visit my thoughts on Texacans completely
wink.gif


Carla Faye was indeed a very unsavoury lady, but she was young and pretty (well kinda) and I'm happy to say that I took no pleasure in her killing and I have a hard time believing that our society was somehow bettered or enriched by it. Killing people is sometimes unavoidable, if I didn't have that opinion then I wouldn't have firearms around the house, but the key word here is unavoidable, state sponsored killing in cold blood is very very scary. People talk about Australia and Japan as being scary because they take away peoples handguns, and yet they are perfectly happy with a system that can take away your life, I know which I value more. Just look at the people that rule over us, are you all honestly happy that the system has the power of life and death over us, I for one am not.

Mike H
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top