Gator Country

MichaelJoeWilliamson · 03-07-2013, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Maryland's Senate voted on Wednesday to repeal the death penalty, moving the state closer to becoming the sixth since 2007 to abolish capital punishment.

The vote in Maryland came amid deepening uncertainty over the death penalty, which was reinstated in many states after it was upheld as constitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1976.

While Maryland and 32 other states retain the power to sentence inmates to death, capital punishment faces a host of challenges, from the growing number of exonerations of convicts—often because of new DNA testing

Good for them. From time to time, people start a thread asking if the opinions expressed on this board every changed a position held by any regular poster.

At one time, I supported capital punishment. I don't now, for several reasons.

Probably the most important reason is the incredible number of death row exonerations due to new DNA testing. There seems to be a lot of folks inappropriately convicted to die at the hands of the state.

Another reason stems from thinking about giving the state the ability to kill another human. Over time, that has set less well with me, in part due to some of the conversations I have had here as well as on other political boards.

I think this will be more and more common.

channingcrowderhungry · 03-07-2013, 11:30 AM

I agree with you 100% on your change of face on the issue. Over the last two years I myself have done a 180 on the issue and think we should rid ourselves of the death penalty.

**LittleBlueLW** · 03-07-2013, 11:35 AM

I've also changed my view, but only for economic reasons.

**jdrgator** · 03-07-2013, 12:03 PM

Awesome!

**helix139** · 03-07-2013, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelJoeWilliamson

Probably the most important reason is the incredible number of death row exonerations due to new DNA testing. There seems to be a lot of folks inappropriately convicted to die at the hands of the state.

I tend to agree with this. I don't necessarily have a problem with the state using capital punishment, but it should ONLY be used when it's really a slam dunk, open and shut case with no real possibility of any sort of mistake. Our current system has very few cases like this. Witness and police testimony has largely proven to be unreliable for a variety of reasons including conflicts of interest, improper lineups, etc, mostly made in an effort to get an arrest or conviction as opposed to ensuring that justice is served, and that isn't even taking into account the economic reality that the quality of your defense is generally determined by the depth of your pockets.

HALLGATOR · 03-07-2013, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelJoeWilliamson

Good for them. From time to time, people start a thread asking if the opinions expressed on this board every changed a position held by any regular poster.

At one time, I supported capital punishment. I don't now, for several reasons.

Probably the most important reason is the incredible number of death row exonerations due to new DNA testing. There seems to be a lot of folks inappropriately convicted to die at the hands of the state.

Another reason stems from thinking about giving the state the ability to kill another human. Over time, that has set less well with me, in part due to some of the conversations I have had here as well as on other political boards.

I think this will be more and more common.

Ditto!

MichiGator2002 · 03-07-2013, 12:09 PM

This is one of the few subjects I can honestly say I really do follow what the Catechism says, which is a heavily qualified statement in which in theory, yes, but in a functioning modern society the circumstances under which 'yes' are almost never going to be present.

MichaelJoeWilliamson · 03-07-2013, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichiGator2002

This is one of the few subjects I can honestly say I really do follow what the Catechism says, which is a heavily qualified statement in which in theory, yes, but in a functioning modern society the circumstances under which 'yes' are almost never going to be present.

Yep. In theory, I can still somewhat wrap my mind around it, although more and more I cringe when I think of the state taking a life. From a practical standpoint, I can't support it at all.

Lawdog88 · 03-07-2013, 01:02 PM

Been involved in a few.

One of the central harms I have seen, is that the DP engenders a "revenge getting" by the State on the behalf of the survivors of the victim, which is a death-based syndrome promising supposed "closure." IMO, this syndrome exacts an as great or even greater price on the emotional well-being of the very people expecting it to produce something it cannot.

Sounds wimpy and all, but in terms of closure, the best result I have seen is total and unreserved forgiveness by the survivors. When they achieve that, they can actually get healed, get beyond it, and get on with the rest of their lives.

108 · 03-07-2013, 01:03 PM

I too am against the death penalty, but I wonder if it's a necessary evil

I imagine though that it's highly unlikely that the possibility of a death penalty deters people from committing a crime worth of it

wgbgator · 03-07-2013, 01:12 PM

The best way to abolish it too - democratically.

**jdrgator** · 03-07-2013, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 108

I too am against the death penalty, but I wonder if it's a necessary evil

I imagine though that it's highly unlikely that the possibility of a death penalty deters people from committing a crime worth of it

It is not a deterrent in any practical sense for many reasons, not least of which due to the nature of many murders--i.e. they are passion crimes, which don't make for very rational (choice) thinking. Plus it's infrequently used and in states where it is available, it's often arbitrary and cases are subject to a lengthy appeals process, all of which violate the tenets of deterrence.

Gatorrick22 · 03-07-2013, 01:18 PM

Some crimes are just too heinous not to send the perp to his/her maker.

ufhomerj31 · 03-07-2013, 02:10 PM

But abortion is legal?

orangeblueorangeblue · 03-07-2013, 02:19 PM

I believe in neither abortion nor the death penalty and feel pretty comfortable with that consistency.

MichaelJoeWilliamson · 03-07-2013, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ufhomerj31

But abortion is legal?

One reason I changed my thinking about capital punishment was due to my thinking on abortions. I have often asked the question; whatever position you take on abortion, please carefully consider the consequences if you are wrong.

Same thing with capital punishment. What if we are wrong about the guilt? Then we kill an innocent person.

orangeblueorangeblue · 03-07-2013, 02:20 PM

One innocent death is too much for me to believe in capital punishment. Even confessions are dubious.

wgbgator · 03-07-2013, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ufhomerj31

But abortion is legal?

Well, the death penalty is still legal too.

**jdrgator** · 03-07-2013, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ufhomerj31

But abortion is legal?

I don't see them as equivalent. I don't like the idea of abortions, but I am not going to tell a woman what to do with her body and health.

But I can have a say in what the state does.

MichaelJoeWilliamson · 03-07-2013, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdrgator

I don't see them as equivalent. I don't like the idea of abortions, but I am not going to tell a woman what to do with her body and health.

But I can have a say in what the state does.

I used to scoff at the comparison. Abortion is about killing the most innocent and vulnerable of humans vs telling a woman what she can and cannot do with her body. Capital Punishment is about killing a person guilty of heinous crimes.