Recently I’ve become a fan of MSNBC’s Lockup series. I have only one thing to say. I am fucking glad that we have prisons! Some of those mother fuckers that they interview are serious whack jobs and I hope that most of them never ever set foot outside of a prison again. The reason that I bring up prison is because of the recent sentence of Brian Nichols to life in prison without the possibility of parole. In case you’ve forgotten, Nichols is the Atlanta courthouse killer who murdered a few people while escaping from custody during a rape case. The jury was split 9-3 on whether to sentence him to death. Unable to reach a consensus, the judge sentenced him to consecutive life sentences.
No matter what side of the capital punishment argument you are on, I consider this to be the only acceptable sentence. The practice of state sponsored executions must come to an end. The death penalty is not the deterrent we thought it was. In fact, states that allow the death penalty have a higher percentage of murders than states that do not allow the death penalty.
Here are some interesting facts regarding the death penalty:
Decline in the Number of Executions and Death Sentences
- 37 executions took place in 2008, marking a 14-year low and continuing a downward trend that began in 2000.
- 95% of all executions occurred in the South in 2008; 49% were in one state – Texas.
- The annual number of death sentences has dropped by 60% since the 1990s.
Innocence and Clemency
- Four death row inmates were exonerated and four had their sentences commuted to life in prison without parole during the course of this year. The total number of exonerations since 1973 is 130.
Costs of the Death Penalty
- A California commission reported that the state is spending $138 million per year on a death penalty system that they described as “broken” and “close to collapse.”
- A study in Maryland indicated that the state had spent $37 million for each execution when all the costs of the death penalty were included.
- With the average time spent on death row increasing to 12.7 years in 2007, death penalty cases continue to place a significant financial burden on state budgets.
- State supreme courts in Utah and New Mexico have warned that the death penalty would be stopped unless more funding is provided for indigent defense.
Expansion of the Death Penalty Denied
- In June, the Supreme Court rejected the expansion of the death penalty to non-homicide crimes against individuals in Kennedy v. Louisiana.
To read the full report, click here: http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/2008YearEnd.pdf
The death penalty in this country can only be construed as cruel and unusual punishment. It is time to put an end to this barbaric practice. Brian Nichols will spend the rest of his life regretting his actions and choices. To put him to death would be undercutting the justice that he deserves. Let him spend the rest of his miserable life behind bars regretting the decisions he made. Maybe one day we’ll get to see him on Lockup being the bitch of Ace and Bubba Love!
eehard's Weblog 
“No matter what side of the capital punishment argument you are on, I consider this to be a just and the only acceptable sentence. The practice of state sponsored executions must come to an end.”
???
Typo?
No, it is not a typo!
As I said when I was summoned for jury duty (and thankfully, I never had to appear) I could never vote for the death penalty. Even though I believe death would be the proper outcome for certain people, for example, right here in our own back yard: Gary Hilton. He hasn’t gone to trial for the killing of Cheryl Dunlap, but we know he killed a young woman in Georgia after terrorizing her for 3 days and then beheaded her. Who could argue that the world would not be a better place without him in it? Why feed and house him at our expense for life? He made the decision to kill at least one person (and probably four, that we know of), so why couldn’t I make the decision to kill him? In the end, it’s because sentencing him to death would make me no better than him.
The cost of an execution is ultimately more exspensive than life in prison. According to the Death Penalty Information Center the victim’s family has an easier transition with life in prison without parole than they do with a capital case. Your last point hits the nail right on the head.
This is the one issue I have always been torn about until someone asked me
“Is it okay for the State to kill someone for killing someone?”
However, I still have my ups and downs about this. I really don’t think the murderer/rapist has the conscience to regret anything “wrong” they did. I cannot imagine them having a light bulb moment. The wires in their brain are just too twisted.
Maybe the answer is to put them all on a deserted island somewhere and let the last man standing go free.
Whether the rapist/murderer regrets what he/she has done doesn’t really concern me. I do think that they should never be placed in free society again. I do not think humans should have a legal right to decide who lives and who doesn’t.
Eehard, you are right, there are problems with the death penalty. I have outlined a thrre-point plan to fixing it – see http://conservativelesbian.wordpress.com/2008/12/14/how-to-fix-the-death-penalty-in-three-easy-steps/
I’d love to have your input!
I oppose the death sentence myself, but for an entirely reason. Death is too quick and humane, especially carried out by the State. Life without parole hopefully ensures a wretched existence with all sorts of humiliations, such as rape, and deprivations. No simple luxuries, etc.
And if it turns out they are innocent, then the State gets to pay them millions.
I don’t know if being put to death can be considered humane but I totallyagree with the rest of your remark.
The problem is that innocent people can, and have been, put to death. Some got millions when the mistake was discovered…except for those we already killed. It isn’t worth the taking of one innocent life to me.
i thimk the death penalty should stay because they killed some they should be killed harshly cause if they get out what will happen one life lost the person should die
QuakerDave, upon further review, it was a typo.
logan, thanks for you comment.
why do we kill people who kill people to show that killing people is wrong??