Valid reasons cited by Governor Newsom for giving the lethal injection to the death penalty — it unfairly targets minorities and the poor, and the number of those who have been exonerated from Death Row show that, among the 700+ on California’s Death Row, there are undoubtedly an unknown number who are innocent.
Most nations in the world have abolished the death penalty: 54% for all crimes, 18% de facto, because they haven’t executed anyone in a decade or more and appear to have policy not to do so.
Those that still use it with some frequency include Iran (285+ executions in 2018), Saudi Arabia (150+), Vietnam (85), Iraq (43)…and the US (25). Not company I care to keep.
True pro-life is against capital punishment as well as abortion (and euthanasia, to be complete), and anyone who says otherwise is simply not ethically consistent. You cannot be for life under all conditions, including that of a few fetal cells, and choose to execute fully-grown adults! (The Catholic Church, for the record, has become consistent in this respect.)
It was shown decades ago that in the US, you are disproportionally likely to be given the death penalty if you are black and poor. Look at Manafort: an accused and convicted traitor, who got given an unreasonably light sentence (4 years instead of the recommended 18-24) because of an “otherwise blameless life” spent stealing money from banks and rehabilitating the public image of murderous dictators to the US. If you’re going to have the death penalty, it sounds a lot more reasonable if you’ve spent your time making life worse for the entire country of the Ukraine and encouraging and supporting murderers!
And the usual reasons for the death penalty often include the idea that it is a deterrent. It is not. Period.
If you are a Christian, particularly, you should believe that people are capable of reform. Executing someone, thus preventing that reform, should be particularly horrific to anyone with true Christianity. After all, that’s central to the belief, right? Jesus died on the cross — capital punishment, remember? — so no one else had to.
Given that your death penalty takes a lifetime to implement.. cancelling it makes sense. Like smacking a puppy with a newspaper for soiling the rug 8 years after the accident.. does not accomplish much.
The Death Penalty would have been MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE of a deterrent if the sentence had ALWAYS been carried out within 6 months of the Guilty verdict. Letting someone linger on death row while filing an appeal, then an appeal of the appeal, then ANOTHER appeal of the first appeal, and so on, was just a waste of time and money. Either do it quickly, or don’t do it at all! AND, locking someone up for 20 years, or whatever, for pot possession, or other non-lethal “crimes” is another huge waste of money. Especially now that so many states are FINALLY coming to their senses, and legalizing pot for personal use!
Better that 100 of the convicted are sentenced to life w/o parole than for one person wrongly convicted should be murdered by the state; 2. “For the murder victims’ family members, the death penalty establishes a hierarchy of victims where some lives are valued more than others. It turns family members against each other. It creates a class of “good” victims and “bad” victims. The families of the condemned are traumatized by the process and feel ostracized and alienated as they watch their government systematically prepare to kill their loved one. They feel as if their entire community has turned against them. And worst of all, the death penalty teaches people, especially children, that killing is an acceptable way to solve problems.”https://www.in.gov/ipdc/files/Judicature%20article%20on%20families.pdf
The people of CA have voted to keep the DP, in fact, most recently to speed up the process. Every referendum since 1972 has produced the same result. Keep the DP. Impose the DP.
There are many on death row who are absolutely 100% guilty beyond even a shadow of a doubt. Guilty of heinous crimes.
Newsome’s argument crumbles on its face. If he is concerned about the rare, very rare innocent man, he has the power to pardon or commute on a case by case basis. He has the power to direct his AG to reopen any case he believes is suspect.
His directive is a political bone for the left (2024 looms large) and is a slap in the face to CA voters. Yes, they elected him, but not because he opposes the DP.
DD Wiz Premium Member about 5 years ago
Valid reasons cited by Governor Newsom for giving the lethal injection to the death penalty — it unfairly targets minorities and the poor, and the number of those who have been exonerated from Death Row show that, among the 700+ on California’s Death Row, there are undoubtedly an unknown number who are innocent.
Daeder about 5 years ago
The cuff could say “GOP”, and the syringe could say “people’s basic right to healthcare”.
WaitingMan about 5 years ago
The five countries that lead the world in executions;
1. China
2. Iran
3. Saudi Arabia
4. Iraq
5. United States
Nice list to be a member of.
Motivemagus about 5 years ago
Most nations in the world have abolished the death penalty: 54% for all crimes, 18% de facto, because they haven’t executed anyone in a decade or more and appear to have policy not to do so.
Those that still use it with some frequency include Iran (285+ executions in 2018), Saudi Arabia (150+), Vietnam (85), Iraq (43)…and the US (25). Not company I care to keep.
True pro-life is against capital punishment as well as abortion (and euthanasia, to be complete), and anyone who says otherwise is simply not ethically consistent. You cannot be for life under all conditions, including that of a few fetal cells, and choose to execute fully-grown adults! (The Catholic Church, for the record, has become consistent in this respect.)
It was shown decades ago that in the US, you are disproportionally likely to be given the death penalty if you are black and poor. Look at Manafort: an accused and convicted traitor, who got given an unreasonably light sentence (4 years instead of the recommended 18-24) because of an “otherwise blameless life” spent stealing money from banks and rehabilitating the public image of murderous dictators to the US. If you’re going to have the death penalty, it sounds a lot more reasonable if you’ve spent your time making life worse for the entire country of the Ukraine and encouraging and supporting murderers!
And the usual reasons for the death penalty often include the idea that it is a deterrent. It is not. Period.
If you are a Christian, particularly, you should believe that people are capable of reform. Executing someone, thus preventing that reform, should be particularly horrific to anyone with true Christianity. After all, that’s central to the belief, right? Jesus died on the cross — capital punishment, remember? — so no one else had to.
walfishj about 5 years ago
Mr. Breen. What is your point?
Display about 5 years ago
And this is one of several reasons why we have separation of church and state as well.
Alberta Oil Premium Member about 5 years ago
Given that your death penalty takes a lifetime to implement.. cancelling it makes sense. Like smacking a puppy with a newspaper for soiling the rug 8 years after the accident.. does not accomplish much.
Radish the wordsmith about 5 years ago
Crooked liar Trump the heartless is so disappointed.
Masterskrain Premium Member about 5 years ago
The Death Penalty would have been MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE of a deterrent if the sentence had ALWAYS been carried out within 6 months of the Guilty verdict. Letting someone linger on death row while filing an appeal, then an appeal of the appeal, then ANOTHER appeal of the first appeal, and so on, was just a waste of time and money. Either do it quickly, or don’t do it at all! AND, locking someone up for 20 years, or whatever, for pot possession, or other non-lethal “crimes” is another huge waste of money. Especially now that so many states are FINALLY coming to their senses, and legalizing pot for personal use!
Librarylady about 5 years ago
Better that 100 of the convicted are sentenced to life w/o parole than for one person wrongly convicted should be murdered by the state; 2. “For the murder victims’ family members, the death penalty establishes a hierarchy of victims where some lives are valued more than others. It turns family members against each other. It creates a class of “good” victims and “bad” victims. The families of the condemned are traumatized by the process and feel ostracized and alienated as they watch their government systematically prepare to kill their loved one. They feel as if their entire community has turned against them. And worst of all, the death penalty teaches people, especially children, that killing is an acceptable way to solve problems.”https://www.in.gov/ipdc/files/Judicature%20article%20on%20families.pdf
pamela welch Premium Member about 5 years ago
Good for Newsom! And thank you DD Wiz/ Baba ♥
Andylit Premium Member about 5 years ago
The people of CA have voted to keep the DP, in fact, most recently to speed up the process. Every referendum since 1972 has produced the same result. Keep the DP. Impose the DP.
There are many on death row who are absolutely 100% guilty beyond even a shadow of a doubt. Guilty of heinous crimes.
Newsome’s argument crumbles on its face. If he is concerned about the rare, very rare innocent man, he has the power to pardon or commute on a case by case basis. He has the power to direct his AG to reopen any case he believes is suspect.
His directive is a political bone for the left (2024 looms large) and is a slap in the face to CA voters. Yes, they elected him, but not because he opposes the DP.
Dtroutma about 5 years ago
Carroll Chessman was executed in Califorina for rape. That case led to the first suspenson.