^ And that sounds reasonable to me. Even though I was a correctional officer, I never witnessed an execution. I have often wondered whether I might feel different about capital punishment after seeing it carried out--but I am pretty sure that I would not change my position.

My problem is with this whole blame everybody--including the kitchen sink--except the person that committed the murder. And while more blacks may be subject to the death penalty in the United States, more whites are actually put to death. It is an important distinction.

Quote :

"In 2006, 53 persons in 14 States were executed -- 24 in Texas; 5 in Ohio; 4 each in Florida, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Virginia; and 1 each in Indiana, Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, California, Montana, and Nevada. Of persons executed in 2006: -- 32 were white -- 21 were black All 53 inmates executed in 2006 were men. Lethal injection accounted for 52 of the executions and electrocution for one. Thirty-eight States and the Federal government in 2005 had capital statutes."

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/cp.htm

[Edited on July 10, 2007 at 3:36 AM. Reason : .]

7/10/2007 3:35:20 AM

Quote :

"A Justice Department report examining federal prosecutors' handling of death penalty cases has found no intentional racial or ethnic bias"

because anything that comes out of the Justice Dept. is even credible, these days.

i mean, why even bother anymore. citing the DOJ's internal investigation is about as meaningful as quoting NewsMax.



[Edited on July 10, 2007 at 3:38 AM. Reason : ]

7/10/2007 3:35:38 AM

^ I'm going to throw the major bullshit flag on that one. This is simply data compiled from the states in the Union and the federal government. Can you prove this information is inaccurate? Otherwise, shut the fuck up about this specific point, okay?

You're not referring to the USDOJ link info, are you?

V I'm still here! But I'm no kid.

[Edited on July 10, 2007 at 3:43 AM. Reason : .]

7/10/2007 3:39:54 AM

^^ (haha, all the east coast kids are asleep)

7/10/2007 3:40:33 AM

hooksaw: more whites are actually put to death. It is an important distinction.

Quote :

"Of persons executed in 2006: -- 32 were white -- 21 were black"

since the racial makeup of this country is 75% white and 12% black (2005 census data)

a quick calculation shows that a black man is 4 times more likely to be executed than a white man.

you really have no idea about basic mathematics, do you??




[Edited on July 10, 2007 at 3:49 AM. Reason : ]

7/10/2007 3:44:40 AM

My stance on this subject has always been this: I don't see the death sentence as being fair when it has to be proven that the accused committed the crime. But in this case, when the accused basically confessed to brutally raping and murdering someone, I don't see any other punishment but "eye for an eye" as many of you call it. But it will not be eye for and eye in this case. Unless they allow this asshole to crawl around the prison block for a while after being raped repeatedly with his insides hanging out suffering before he dies. I actually hope that someone else gets hold of his scrawny ass and makes him suffer a horrible death before the he is put to death by the state.

7/10/2007 3:56:52 AM

^^ Fuck you, joe_shithead. I guess only electrical engineers can do the math, huh?

My post was in response to this and other posts:

Quote :

"but it just seems to be disproportionately doled out to poor and minorities because they can't afford better lawyers."

sarijoul

We're not talking probability here--we're talking actuality. Try putting down the calculator and reading a little, okay? Oh, and STFU.

(Just for you, dick.)

[Edited on July 10, 2007 at 4:03 AM. Reason : .]

7/10/2007 3:58:37 AM

Quote :

"one thing i actually seriously like to see is that if you serve on a jury and recommend the death penalty, your presence should be legally required--so long as you are still able bodied, etc--as a witness to the execution."

This is one of those imperfections that you seem to want to be taken out of the picture. Where is the fairness and the equal application here. You are more likely to get the death penalty as long as your sentencers can stomach watching. What about people who really believe that a defendant should get death but they dont want to watch so fuck that shit. Its not eual or fair, and even if thats not your concern, it should be. But i do like this system simply for the fact that less people would get executed.

7/10/2007 3:59:55 AM

^but the jury didn't have to watch the girl get raped or murdered either...they just heard accounts and confessions from the accused. They felt that was enough for them to sentence the accused to death. there will be plenty of family members who will be present for the execution I am sure.

7/10/2007 4:12:47 AM

Quote :

"since the racial makeup of this country is 75% white and 12% black (2005 census data) a quick calculation shows that a black man is 4 times more likely to be executed than a white man. you really have no idea about basic mathematics, do you??"

And apparently you have trouble with basic deductive reasoning. Broadly comparing the racial makeup of the entire population against the demographic of those executed is incorrect at best, and intellectually dishonest at worst.

A more reasonable comparison would be the percentage of whites versus blacks convicted of capital crimes versus executions. Ultimately making this a racial issue is a red herring and fucking stupid. Whether he was white, black, hispanic, jewish, or korean, what he did deserves the death penalty.

Quote :

"AND IT DOESN'T ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING BUT FULFILL SOME LAME BLOODLUST OR REVENGE SOME PEOPLE FEEL WILL HELP RID US OF VIOLENCE."

You know what it does do? It prevents him from ever killing anyone again. That is the only reason to support the death penalty. As a means of vengeance or deterrence, it does no good, I agree there. The only real problem is that it costs more to execute someone than to lock them up for life. Until that is rectified, I do not support the death penalty.

As with most things, my views on this are based mostly on how my tax dollars are spent.

7/10/2007 6:33:02 AM

not all states apply the death penalty equally. in california, for example, 2 of the 13 people executed since 1976 were black (15%), whereas in virginia 44 of the 98 people executed since 1976 were black (45%)

the five states with the most executions (texas, virginia, oklahoma, missouri and florida) are responsible for 710 of the 1086 total executions, and 248 of the 367 blacks executed

http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/

7/10/2007 8:05:04 AM

Quote :

"no, even when controlled for those variables, the rich and white get off with lighter sentences."

Inorite...Just like Scott Peterson. Oh wait.

7/10/2007 12:35:37 PM

BUT I GOT TO MA

7/10/2007 12:59:59 PM