Comments on: West Seattle’s legislators sponsoring bills to abolish the death penalty http://westseattleblog.com/2013/01/west-seattles-legislators-sponsoring-bills-to-abolish-the-death-penalty West Seattle news, information, and discussion, updated multiple times daily, 24/7/365 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:23:18 +0200 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: bada-bing http://westseattleblog.com/2013/01/west-seattles-legislators-sponsoring-bills-to-abolish-the-death-penalty#comment-962263 bada-bing Thu, 31 Jan 2013 18:50:13 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=139006#comment-962263 Yep, 50 years in solitary confinement without being able to see the light of day. That's pretty cushy. Yep, 50 years in solitary confinement without being able to see the light of day. That’s pretty cushy.

]]> By: Lolaleah http://westseattleblog.com/2013/01/west-seattles-legislators-sponsoring-bills-to-abolish-the-death-penalty#comment-962256 Lolaleah Thu, 31 Jan 2013 18:18:27 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=139006#comment-962256 I could get behind the thought of no death penalty if we made out prisons less comfortable. Life in prison is pretty cushy compared to what victims have gone through. I could get behind the thought of no death penalty if we made out prisons less comfortable. Life in prison is pretty cushy compared to what victims have gone through.

]]> By: Ex-Westwood Resident http://westseattleblog.com/2013/01/west-seattles-legislators-sponsoring-bills-to-abolish-the-death-penalty#comment-962228 Ex-Westwood Resident Thu, 31 Jan 2013 16:42:11 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=139006#comment-962228 Please provide the links to those individuals that have been exonerated since DNA testing was allowed. Now I will grant you that before that time there <i>may</i> have been cases as you describe, but in all my research on defending my stance on the DP I have NEVER found concrete evidence of it from a reputable, unbiased source. Do believe a person like "Tookie" Wilson should still be breathing? Read about him here, if you are not familar with his case: http://karisable.com/tookie.htm IMO there is no cost that could justify the fact that a person who deliberatly, maliciously and violently takes the life of a another human being remains breathing, thinking and feeling while thier victim lies dead and thier loved ones suffering the loss. Now should the DP be applied to ALL murder cases? IMO, no, it should be applied rarely and in the most heinous cases. One type of crime I believe the DP should be applied to is pedophiles, and other sex offenders, esp repeat offenders like the one that just sexually molested an 11 year old at the Enumclaw library yesterday. He was already convicted of rape of a 14 year old and a mentally disabled woman in her 30's. This type of person should not be walking the earth. My use of the abortion issue was only to compare the "reverence of life" that some of the anti-DP people have in wanting to keep murderers alive, but resist ANY measure that may have the slightest chance to limit the access to abortions, even so-called "late-term" abortions. My views on abortion are not the standard "none at all for ANY reason" Please provide the links to those individuals that have been exonerated since DNA testing was allowed.

Now I will grant you that before that time there may have been cases as you describe, but in all my research on defending my stance on the DP I have NEVER found concrete evidence of it from a reputable, unbiased source.

Do believe a person like “Tookie” Wilson should still be breathing?

Read about him here, if you are not familar with his case:

http://karisable.com/tookie.htm

IMO there is no cost that could justify the fact that a person who deliberatly, maliciously and violently takes the life of a another human being remains breathing, thinking and feeling while thier victim lies dead and thier loved ones suffering the loss.

Now should the DP be applied to ALL murder cases? IMO, no, it should be applied rarely and in the most heinous cases. One type of crime I believe the DP should be applied to is pedophiles, and other sex offenders, esp repeat offenders like the one that just sexually molested an 11 year old at the Enumclaw library yesterday. He was already convicted of rape of a 14 year old and a mentally disabled woman in her 30′s. This type of person should not be walking the earth.

My use of the abortion issue was only to compare the “reverence of life” that some of the anti-DP people have in wanting to keep murderers alive, but resist ANY measure that may have the slightest chance to limit the access to abortions, even so-called “late-term” abortions. My views on abortion are not the standard “none at all for ANY reason”

]]> By: JoAnne http://westseattleblog.com/2013/01/west-seattles-legislators-sponsoring-bills-to-abolish-the-death-penalty#comment-962214 JoAnne Thu, 31 Jan 2013 15:41:13 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=139006#comment-962214 If life in prison is really worse than the death penalty, I doubt that the death penalty could have been used--as it was--to find the remains of Gary Ridgeway's missing victims. . Many people who oppose the death penalty think of themselves as compassionate but really have no idea of the importance of justice to victims. . They actually care more about their own moral vanity than anything else. If life in prison is really worse than the death penalty, I doubt that the death penalty could have been used–as it was–to find the remains of Gary Ridgeway’s missing victims.
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Many people who oppose the death penalty think of themselves as compassionate but really have no idea of the importance of justice to victims.
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They actually care more about their own moral vanity than anything else.

]]> By: bada-bing http://westseattleblog.com/2013/01/west-seattles-legislators-sponsoring-bills-to-abolish-the-death-penalty#comment-962146 bada-bing Thu, 31 Jan 2013 09:02:10 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=139006#comment-962146 Ex-Westwood Resident: Isn't it also true that conservatives typically harp about the sanctity of life (every life is sacred) while at the same time reveling in killing "murderous scum" (we should kill people to teach them that killing is wrong)? If the latter is acceptable, should we also kill women who get abortions or the doctors who perform them? . Also, isn't fiscal responsibility supposedly a hallmark of conservative values? It is a fact that that it costs the state much less to lock up a murderer for life than to pay for the legal costs of appeals. . And lastly, there are handful of examples of people being executed and later found to have not been given a fair trial due to the discovery of new evidence and/or DNA testing (which has only been available since 1985). Furthermore, 142 death row inmate have been exonerated (i.e. convicted of murder, served lengthy sentences, then later found innocent and freed) since 1937 for various reasons. Despite our best intentions, human beings simply can’t be right 100% of the time. When a life is on the line, one mistake is one too many. I'd think that would be something the pro-life crowd could get behind, but apparently not. Ex-Westwood Resident:

Isn’t it also true that conservatives typically harp about the sanctity of life (every life is sacred) while at the same time reveling in killing “murderous scum” (we should kill people to teach them that killing is wrong)? If the latter is acceptable, should we also kill women who get abortions or the doctors who perform them?
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Also, isn’t fiscal responsibility supposedly a hallmark of conservative values? It is a fact that that it costs the state much less to lock up a murderer for life than to pay for the legal costs of appeals.
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And lastly, there are handful of examples of people being executed and later found to have not been given a fair trial due to the discovery of new evidence and/or DNA testing (which has only been available since 1985). Furthermore, 142 death row inmate have been exonerated (i.e. convicted of murder, served lengthy sentences, then later found innocent and freed) since 1937 for various reasons. Despite our best intentions, human beings simply can’t be right 100% of the time. When a life is on the line, one mistake is one too many. I’d think that would be something the pro-life crowd could get behind, but apparently not.

]]> By: Ann http://westseattleblog.com/2013/01/west-seattles-legislators-sponsoring-bills-to-abolish-the-death-penalty#comment-962001 Ann Wed, 30 Jan 2013 22:49:51 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=139006#comment-962001 May I add my thanks to our state reps and senator? For years I have read, and believe, the statistics about the costs of putting someone to death and the cost of maintaining those individuals for a life sentence. The former is much higher than the latter. People want revenge, as if death is revenge for death. A life sentence is not only more punishment for the one convicted of the crime, should new information become available about the innocence of the convicted person, it is reversible. Frankly, if there is any deterrence in punishment, life in prison seems more likely to deter than death, which I don't believe has been shown to deter at all. Our legislators are acting in a reasonable manner to control the costs of our penal system. For this alone, I am grateful. May I add my thanks to our state reps and senator? For years I have read, and believe, the statistics about the costs of putting someone to death and the cost of maintaining those individuals for a life sentence. The former is much higher than the latter. People want revenge, as if death is revenge for death. A life sentence is not only more punishment for the one convicted of the crime, should new information become available about the innocence of the convicted person, it is reversible. Frankly, if there is any deterrence in punishment, life in prison seems more likely to deter than death, which I don’t believe has been shown to deter at all.

Our legislators are acting in a reasonable manner to control the costs of our penal system. For this alone, I am grateful.

]]> By: stephanie http://westseattleblog.com/2013/01/west-seattles-legislators-sponsoring-bills-to-abolish-the-death-penalty#comment-961944 stephanie Wed, 30 Jan 2013 19:38:09 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=139006#comment-961944 I am a bleeding liberal who is for death penalty, the right to choose and anti-guns and proud of it! I am a bleeding liberal who is for death penalty, the right to choose and anti-guns and proud of it!

]]> By: HMC Rich http://westseattleblog.com/2013/01/west-seattles-legislators-sponsoring-bills-to-abolish-the-death-penalty#comment-961936 HMC Rich Wed, 30 Jan 2013 19:22:33 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=139006#comment-961936 My guess is that this is a "humanitarian" and cost cutting tool being brought forth by your ... I mean our elected officials. (I didn't vote for these guys but they are my reps). I am OK with not killing killers . . . as long as these same people quit allowing unborn children from being executed too. I know, Apples and Oranges, but letting Guilty Murderers survive but ending innocent lives just doesn't make sense to me. My guess is that this is a “humanitarian” and cost cutting tool being brought forth by your … I mean our elected officials. (I didn’t vote for these guys but they are my reps). I am OK with not killing killers . . . as long as these same people quit allowing unborn children from being executed too. I know, Apples and Oranges, but letting Guilty Murderers survive but ending innocent lives just doesn’t make sense to me.

]]> By: Ex-Westwood Resident http://westseattleblog.com/2013/01/west-seattles-legislators-sponsoring-bills-to-abolish-the-death-penalty#comment-961913 Ex-Westwood Resident Wed, 30 Jan 2013 18:48:41 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=139006#comment-961913 Teri, Can you provide the proof that innocent people have been excecuted. I have heard this insinuation from the the "anti-death penalty" groups before but none of them have EVER provided substantiated proof from relibla sources to back up this claim. Teri,

Can you provide the proof that innocent people have been excecuted.

I have heard this insinuation from the the “anti-death penalty” groups before but none of them have EVER provided substantiated proof from relibla sources to back up this claim.

]]> By: Teri Ensley http://westseattleblog.com/2013/01/west-seattles-legislators-sponsoring-bills-to-abolish-the-death-penalty#comment-961895 Teri Ensley Wed, 30 Jan 2013 17:52:55 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=139006#comment-961895 Thank you Eileen, Sharon and Joe. @villagegreen--my exact thought too! @ Michael Waldo--well said I do not believe in the death penalty. Period. It is institutionalized, pre-meditated, cold-blooded murder. We know we have executed innocent people. The death penalty makes all of us murders because we are part of a society that allows the killing of their own citizens. Life sentence. Period. For those that support State-sponsored killing, another valid reason to eliminate the death penalty is cost. It’s extremely expensive to kill someone. It’s cheaper to keep people alive and in prison for life. No chance of parole. So for those that support the death penalty as a form of punishment, life in prison is no fun; that person's life is still 'taken away' from them. It’s is a very severe form of punishment. Thank you Eileen, Sharon and Joe.

@villagegreen–my exact thought too!

@ Michael Waldo–well said

I do not believe in the death penalty. Period. It is institutionalized, pre-meditated, cold-blooded murder. We know we have executed innocent people. The death penalty makes all of us murders because we are part of a society that allows the killing of their own citizens. Life sentence. Period.

For those that support State-sponsored killing,
another valid reason to eliminate the death penalty is cost. It’s extremely expensive to kill someone. It’s cheaper to keep people alive and in prison for life. No chance of parole. So for those that support the death penalty as a form of punishment, life in prison is no fun; that person’s life is still ‘taken away’ from them. It’s is a very severe form of punishment.

]]> By: Ex-Westwood Resident http://westseattleblog.com/2013/01/west-seattles-legislators-sponsoring-bills-to-abolish-the-death-penalty#comment-961862 Ex-Westwood Resident Wed, 30 Jan 2013 16:15:52 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=139006#comment-961862 WSB, Your assertation that there have been 110 executions in WA is a bit of mis-direction. The WHOLE truth is that since 1849 there have been a TOTAL of 110 executions, but since the Death Penalty was reinstated in 1976, a period of 37 years, there have been a total of <b>FIVE</b>, in fact it took 17 <b>YEARS</b> before the first execution to occur after it was reinstated by referendum in 1976. WSB,
Your assertation that there have been 110 executions in WA is a bit of mis-direction.
The WHOLE truth is that since 1849 there have been a TOTAL of 110 executions, but since the Death Penalty was reinstated in 1976, a period of 37 years, there have been a total of FIVE, in fact it took 17 YEARS before the first execution to occur after it was reinstated by referendum in 1976.

]]> By: Ex-Westwood Resident http://westseattleblog.com/2013/01/west-seattles-legislators-sponsoring-bills-to-abolish-the-death-penalty#comment-961844 Ex-Westwood Resident Wed, 30 Jan 2013 15:25:45 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=139006#comment-961844 The Death Penalty waas reinstated by a vote of the people. It should ONLY be abolished in the same way, by a vote of the people. The Death Penalty waas reinstated by a vote of the people. It should ONLY be abolished in the same way, by a vote of the people.

]]> By: Ex-Westwood Resident http://westseattleblog.com/2013/01/west-seattles-legislators-sponsoring-bills-to-abolish-the-death-penalty#comment-961842 Ex-Westwood Resident Wed, 30 Jan 2013 15:22:33 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=139006#comment-961842 Yup.... Liberals and Democrats, fight for the life of murderous scum bags that have no respect for life, yet opposed ANY restrictions that block or limit ANY type of abortions. Yup….
Liberals and Democrats, fight for the life of murderous scum bags that have no respect for life, yet opposed ANY restrictions that block or limit ANY type of abortions.

]]> By: SEA http://westseattleblog.com/2013/01/west-seattles-legislators-sponsoring-bills-to-abolish-the-death-penalty#comment-961832 SEA Wed, 30 Jan 2013 14:51:05 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=139006#comment-961832 Maybe it was conjured up by someone who knows we spend too much money on appeal after appeal of a death penalty sentence, money that could be better spent on education, more police on the streets, or any one of another better uses. I would think all the 'state government is wasting my money' people - who are not usually bleeding heart libs - would be leading the charge in favor of this proposal. Maybe it was conjured up by someone who knows we spend too much money on appeal after appeal of a death penalty sentence, money that could be better spent on education, more police on the streets, or any one of another better uses. I would think all the ‘state government is wasting my money’ people – who are not usually bleeding heart libs – would be leading the charge in favor of this proposal.

]]> By: CanDo http://westseattleblog.com/2013/01/west-seattles-legislators-sponsoring-bills-to-abolish-the-death-penalty#comment-961827 CanDo Wed, 30 Jan 2013 14:30:38 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=139006#comment-961827 The death penalty hasn't reduced crime at all, so why support it? I like the idea of a lifetime lockup, with few amenities. The cost is less and it gives those few criminals with a shred of a conscience a lifetime to think about their crime. Turns out those "bleeding heart libs" do have cost cutting measures in mind, something that the conservatives are always yelling about. http://www.nbcnews.com/id/29552692/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/t/execute-or-not-question-cost/ The death penalty hasn’t reduced crime at all, so why support it? I like the idea of a lifetime lockup, with few amenities. The cost is less and it gives those few criminals with a shred of a conscience a lifetime to think about their crime. Turns out those “bleeding heart libs” do have cost cutting measures in mind, something that the conservatives are always yelling about.
http://www.nbcnews.com/id/29552692/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/t/execute-or-not-question-cost/

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