death row prisoners

Re: Execution costs far more than life

Or you could volunteer at the Starvation Army.

 

Re: Execution costs far more than life

Whatever it costs to send a murderer to their just reward is money well-spent, IMO.

The real solution is to dramatically slash the number of appeals that death row prisoners can now exercise. A huge step in that direction would be the removal of certain justices that currently sit on the US 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. They have taken judicial activism to an absurd level, and have made themselves a de-facto legislative branch of the government.....not elected, and not answerable to anyone but the Supremes, who have too much to do already.

 

How delightful that religious bigotry has been introduced into an otherwise civil thread. Let's see how long it takes the person who did it to tell us--again--that he was only joking. It fits with the increasing slinging about of psychiatric diagnoses followed by immediate denial.
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Bo79, as a former corrections chaplain, I think what you propose to do is imprudent. Please reflect carefully on your motives and the possible consequences of your actions before you embark on this course. You will be entering an arena where manipulation and being manipulated are the unremitting order of the day. Be cautious. Regards, Janko

 

There are many reasons to oppose the death penalty and Christianity isn't one of them.

I just read Leviticus and Deuteronomy. Pretty much everything was a capital crime and ethnic cleansing was the order of the day.

While Jewish law may have been trashed in the New Testament the instruction provided in the Old Testament was not.

By the way, Dennis (me) tends to have had more in common with the sinners than the saints and has repeatedly proven himself no theologian.

 

I don't think the Quakers, Mennonites, and Church of the Brethren would agree with you, nor would the Baptist and Disciples peace fellowships.

 

Needless to say, Dennis, the Friends, who oppose the use of titles such as Mr, Mrs, Ms, Rev, etc., also oppose the use of dubious doctorates or the aggrandizement involved in operating less-than-wonderful schools and ecclesiastical credential factories. The Mennonites and Brethren oppose these things as well. Taking them as norms might begin with greater profit elsewhere than with the death penalty issue.

 

Don't worry I am going to be very careful when doing it. I may be young but I am good at taking care of myself. I got a PO Box so that I don't have to give them my real home address and I am not going to give then my home phone number either.

The reason why I'm doing this? hmmmmmmmm....let me think. Well lately I have been feeling kind of jaded. So this idea kind of intriguing me. I think it would be a good way to get rid of my jaded feelings and do a very good dead at the same time. Also doing this has would kind of have a feeling of a little danger, and I kind of like the adrenaline rush that gives me.

Bo

 

What about if it was your son or daughter that was tortured, sodomized, murdered, and then posed for the authorities to find?

Having been personally left for dead by an assailant (nearly in fact dying from my wounds) , I can tell you that your feelings change when you or your loved one is the victim. No amount of philosophy or religion will change how I feel about it.

I am with Bruce on this, some people forfeit their rights by their actions.

 

While I can certanly understand this on a visceral level, I, as a Christian, must adere to the the new ethic of Matthew 5:17-48 and the hypertheses contained therein.

This does not mean I think I am right. This means, for me, this is the right path.

I have changed my mind many times on some major social and political issues (military intervention into foreign lands, abortion, homosexuality, prayer in school, etc.) but I have always been unalterably, unequivocally, and steadfastly opposed to the death penalty.

I know, as has been pointed out, what the OT says about the matter, but I am not a Christian Reconstructionist.

I do, however, have the utmost respect for those who disagree with me, I really do.

 

I'm sure you are a fine person, Jimmy, I respect you as well, and I've read the theological discussions on this site. I'm afraid I know little on the topics that you discuss in such depths with others here. It's just when you stated you pose this question to people and they respond with a pregnant pause, in my mind, I sure didn't, my response mentally was immediate. I know first hand from where I speak. It may be a visceral response, but it's a true and heartfelt response. I have forgiven my attacker to the extent I needed to to get well emotionally. But if he dropped dead tomorrow, I would feel nothing about it except that there is one less piece of human garbage in the world.

As far at the original poster, he is bored and looking for some thrills. This may give it to him, he has been warned. What a shame that the time and effort couldn't be used to help a victim or the family of a victim.

 

I get it Unk, I get it.

Though I don't think others do.

 

Hi, seekinghelp,

First, I am sorry about your experience. I am sure some of us do not know what it must feel like.

My opposition to the death penalty does not mean I do not support victims' rights nor does it mean I do not support hard time for the miscreants of society.

I personally believe the criminal justice system is too lenient. I, like you, speak from experience. I have worked in probation and I have been a forensic social worker.

I just see a middle ground between leniency and capital punishment and that is hard time, no parole, no probation, no time off for good behavior, no getting off for turning state's evidence, etc.

I also don't believe rapists and child molesters should ever get out of prison. The recidivism rate simply does not justify it.

Now I know this will open up a whole new can of worms, such as the remark regarding turning state's evidence.

I am a humanitarian, not a bleeding heart liberal.

Thanks for sharing and again, I am sorry for your experiences.

Thank you also for your comment but, as you can see from some of my erstwhile posts, I am far from being a "fine person."

 

Hi Seekinghelp: I just wanted to say how sorry I am that you were the target of such a brutal crime. I am glad you have been able to get on with your life and have not become stuck in that horrible event. Having been on the receiving end of criminal violence myself, though without the terrible injury you mention, I can understand that your viewpoint goes well beyond the theorizing the rest of us employ. Thank you for sharing your perspective and your courage.

 

I can't disagree with you about how you feel......but Mrs. Hutchinson was in agreement with the lottery until she drew the piece of paper with the black mark.

Reality sometimes changes the way we feel..............and how would I feel if someone raped, sodomized, and killed a family member........don't know and pray that I never have to find out, but does death cause the perpetrater to suffer..........probably not! Timothy McVeigh went without a whimper. Would being caged for the rest of their life cause suffering...I think so.

 

I think we all ponder this, especially after the Dukakis episode in one of the 1988 debates.

I can definitely say nothing that would happen to any member of my family would cause me to support the death penalty.

I feel very assured of this.

 

I don't see it as a matter of suffering, I see it as a matter of justice.

Thank you Jimmy and Uncle Janko for your kind words.

 

I tend to agree, I would rather see someone live within the walls of a prison with no hope of getting out than to see them put to death.

 

That's why, as a Universalist, I believe in the just retribution for sin.

Here is the disagreement in theology you talked about, Howard.

 

Seekinghelp,

OH MY GOD! CRY ME A RIVER! Can you please stop fishing for sympathy already? It's like every reply you in this thread you cry about how you were a victim. I did not start this thread for you to go fishing for sympathy here. Enough already! geeesh

You have also mentioned it a few times that you would like me to use my time and energy to help victims of crimes. If I wanted to help victims of crimes I would have asked for advice on how to go about it, but I didn't. So please respect my decision and stop trying to force your believes down my throat.



Bo