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The death penalty should be in place as a deterrent to murder. The appeals process makes the application of this penalty a joke. Having only one appeal (and execution within a month) would make a criminal think really hard before pulling the trigger.

What other defense does one have against those who think they have nothing to lose?

The death penalty is a sure-fire way to ensure that a person does not kill again. However, there are 2 reasons it should be abolished. The first is the possibility that an innocent person is executed. The other reason is the impact an execution has on the family of the executed. I was all for capital punishment until I saw an interview with the family of a person who was due to be executed. The hurt that they were going through was heartbreaking to watch. After seeing this interview, I decided that an execution hurt too many people who had nothing to do with the crime. And besides, it is doing nothing to punish the criminal. It is giving him or her the easy way out. I say life without parole is not only a deterrent, it is a fitting punishment for those that do not belong in society.

I remember a quote from an elementary school civics class that went something like - "It is better that 10 quilty men go free than for one innocent man to suffer." The inequities of our judicial punishments have been obvious since the birth of our nation. State sanctioned murder can never be erased or taken back. We should be certain that what we are doing is right, fair and just before making murderers out of us all.

John,

If one of those ten men were raping your daughter, you'd think inevitable human error was a non-factor.

I used to believe in the death penalty. Then my eyes were opened to the justice system in this country. If you are rich, you can get away with murder. If you're poor, you can't even get a defense if you DIDN'T do it.

I know people in for life who didn't do it. And when I say didn't do it, I mean didn't do anything. If the jury had been given the option to stone these people in a public square, they probably would have done it.

I'm sorry, but there are a lot of ignorant people out there and I don't feel comfortable putting my life or anyone else's in their hands.

As far as somebody hurting my kid, I want them to sit in prison forever. And if they get out, I'll take care of them and they'll wish they had got the chair.

Largemouth Ernest T. Bass,

I'd rather have my life in the hands of a bacca chewin N.C. jury than with anyone with a gun in their hand. The question is: What, when one is dragged in the woods, will keep the gun from firing?

Steve, Fortunately you know nothing about me. Also, rape by itself is not punishable by death so your argument is already mute where my comments are concerned. But, let me clear up a couple of things for you just the same. If I had a daughter and there was conclusive evidence that someone was raping her I would prefer that they be put in prison. I would want them to remain in prison as long as possible where they could be victimized by the brutality of prison rape, gang violence, drug addiction, sexually transmitted diseases and the like. But as I stated previously state mandated murder can never be taken back - there's no oops I made a mistake or I'm so sorry.... What I'm basically saying is don't presume to know what I may think or feel or in what form I personally would want my vengeance extracted.

From my trailer, I write about the death penalty.
I gaze out my trailer home window and look out at all the little youngins runnin' wild out in the parking lot. Some of their daddy's and mommas are already in jail.
The odds are most likely these kids will commit crimes too. I wonder, should we kill these people?
I'm not sure.

John,

I'm glad I don't know you. I never said rape was punishable by death. I was pointing to the ten criminals who were set free. Does this mean they go out and sell Amway? If a gang busted into your home, waving guns and making you perform God knows what, you'd only care you'd live through it. If the punks had the death penalty to fear and it saved your life, you'd see my point. Obviously, that won't happen until mute becomes moot . . .

Lilly the Beloved,

Maybe we should simply stop making trailers.

Steve, again you presume to know more than you obviously do.

But steve, if we did that, where would I live?(Where would these invisible lilly hater internet people put me to live?)
If we didn't make trailers, we would have to stop making ghettos too. It's only fair.

John,

Up until this point, the most ignorant statement I EVER heard was by a bank teller. She said, I vow to God: "Isn't north always the way you're facing?" You have now topped it and I wish you well with the speak and spell . . .

Lilly,

You can live with John and remind him to breathe.

Steve, if that's the most ignorant statement you've ever heard maybe you should start listenening to the sound of your own voice. And attacking my syntax - how weak, petty and immature.

This is my last post to you. If I'm so dumb (is it because I don't think like you?) then how did I know to expect that very response from you? When we were stating our BELIEFS you held me to absolutes. How can you call me ignorant for believing something is right?

I don't claim to know anything. I don't write on this forum to be cool or to be thought of highly. If you're trying to shoot me down along the lines of "I ain't like you", then the more ignorant of the two is playing a rigged game. Peace.

Its too late steve, he ain't breathing.

Meanwhile, back on topic. . .

John recalled a quote which was something along the lines of: "It is better that 10 quilty men go free than for one innocent man to suffer."

I remember that quote, too -- or something similar and I believe it wholeheartedly. And I really think that is what lies at the root of this whole moratorium debate. People who agree with that premise and people who don't.

After seeing proof that innocent men do sit on death row, and thus that our system is flawed, I cannot fathom how anyone can argue against the moratorium.

Ok, back on topic.. *snickering*
My trailer park wisdom says this:
DNA test every person on death row. If the DNA doesn't match, release the latch. (Lilly, not Johnny Cochran, may he RIP)
If the DNA is a match, kill the bastards.

Kristin Kreme,

I'll guarantee it was "something similar".

Lilly,

These saccharine soaked, violin playing poets of mercy won't budge until they're laying in a pool of their own plasma.

The times of my life that I wanted to kill somebody--REALLY wanted to kill somebody--I never once thought of the death penalty. I thought of serving a sentence of eternity in Hell, but not once the death penalty.

I don't think killing somebody years or even days after I''m dead is going to keep that bullet from entering my head.

I'm not saying I don't understand your opinion. Just that mine is better. Ha ha ha!!!

I'm bout to be done with the trailer...Gonna put down my tax refund check on a modular home! Then we gonna sit on the front stoop of the modular and drink Bush Lite and smoke Doral Ultra-lite 100's!!!! Oh yeah....when y'all gonna play some ZZ Top?

I kinda like that "Tush" song, myself.

I got Skynard's greatest hits cassette in my 78 maro ss rally sport with a spare tire on the right front.

Ok. Fine, you do that Lilly.
I'll sit on my sunporch in Irving Park, drinking the best wine money can buy, listening to jazz while I wait for you to zoom by in your "78 maro ss rally sport with a spare tire on the right front."

Translation: Laying on a hammock under one of those pop-up canopies you can buy at Wal-Mart, drinking from the bottle of Boone's Farm Strawberry wine that I bought at the corner convenience store down the block from the trailer park, listening to Rock92 play ZZ Top or Lynard Skynard for the 100th time today.

Yeah. Ok.

Wow. What a rush, maaan.

Another,

Maybe you and the guys that find honor in a prison term should get together, it'll speed-up your response time.

Maybe we should get together in prison. There we can find honor and love at the same time.

You must be hitting the "two toke", this crap you sold me tastes like ant poots.

Damn, I gave you the wrong bag. That 'ant poot' is reserved for my more sophisticated customers.

Interesting. Ben gets his hand slapped for a "down the pants" comment but marijuana jokes are fine. I hardly think this is editorial policy and it's tres off-topic. It also deters me from bringing up the successes of the Innocence Project as an obvious reason to endorse the 2-year moratorium that is the letter-writer's topic. Judicious moderation, Allen, use judicious moderation.

Sue,

That's a nice judicious name.

You're trying to get people in trouble and it'll probably work. Fear not, I would be honored to have been responsible for the impending policy change. While you print your little piece on the Innocence Project, you can sit back and remember the taste of the apple the day you got rid of free speech.

Your game, "if it weren't for them" is far more childish than the mention of ant poots. Barry Scheck and O.J. send their love.

It's always easier to attack the messenger than the message, steve. Perhaps you should read up on the Innocence Project and the people on death row who have been exonerated. It's compelling enough to make a 2-year wait seem small.

As for N&R editorial policy on postings, it's hardly small potatoes. Free speech includes a sense of responsibility and that might be new to you and others. Think "fire/crowded theatre."

As a card-carrying ACLU member and proponent of free responsible speech, I also have the right to say what I want as do you have the right to ridicule what you choose not to understand. It's a great country. But this cyber-area belongs to the N&R and I asked to have policy implemented evenly. I'd rather have a 'no-holds-barred' area, but too many posters are abusing it and detracting from the messages as well as intimidating newcomers from offering their say in fear of public retribution (at worst) and degradation (at least). Again, IMO, which I still have the rights to when I re-read the Constitution this morning.

Sue Bee,

You are implying that I had rather talk about ant poots instead of the topic at hand. I have the first comment at the top, I reread it and couldn't find a trace of antpootation.

Brian Goldberg's letter was about the moratorium, I segued into my beliefs about the necessity of the death penalty. This does not mean to kill everyone there and to heck with DNA, etc. It would be a terrible injustice to execute an innocent person. If there is DNA available for any case, it should be tested with the prisoner's own.

If this takes years, so be it.

Does being a card carrying member of the A.C.L.U. and being female make you so full of hatred? You play games that cater to knee-jerk reactions. Stroking the self-importance of the N&R is sandbox level, is that the best you can do? Your "public retribution" dig is an attempt to make the N&R fear the loss of revenue.

If your fear of ant poots causes you to recheck the Constitution, go quickly to the nearest store and buy some RAID.