I don't think you read the whole conversation. He's talking about the death penalty in Texas, and he has a point.
The whole system in the US is poor. Apparently it is so heavily in favour of conviction and sentences are very severe if you dare to plead innocent and are subsequently found guilty that even the innocent plea bargain so as to be out whilst they still have life left. Just recently a British man was convinced by his lawyer to plead guilty to a white collar crime (even though he knew nothing about it) because he would only get twelve years and not forty...remember this was a case of fancy bookkeeping not beating someone to death with a club.
I am actually in favour of the US system. they have severe sentences for a reason - they are justified in most cases. You get life without parole for 1st degree murder or the death penalty in some states, if you plead not guilty. If you plead guilty, the prosecution and defence lawyers come to an agreement, 25 to life with parole is generally the sentence for murder. They also have the three strike system. If you are convicted of a crime like armed robbery twice and then get convicted again, you will get an automatic life sentence. Of course, these systems aren't perfect but what systems are? Our justice system in this country is pathetic. You can get as little as a few years for killing someone (death by dangerous driving). They should scrap that and just charge people who kill someone by dangerous driving with manslaughter. Oh, and I wouldn't complain if capital punishment was brought back to this country. Not that it will any time soon.
Killing someone by dangerous driving is manslaughter, but it's the least severe form. Obviously worse forms of manslaughter are the ones where some harm was actually intended. Driving drunk or outside of the law in any capacity is a very stupid and irresponsible thing to do, but it shouldn't carry the same punishment as those who kill by intentionally assaulting a person, in my opinion. If capital punishment was re-introduced in this country, I'd leave. Not kidding.
I think we are too soft on the very worst kinds of murder, but the US system (which varies from state to state) shows no understanding with deaths that deserve compassion. I am against capital punishment. I would cheer out loud if a rapist/child killer got killed as the police tried to arrest them, but it is chilling for a government to cold-bloodedly organise the death of a human being in captivity. It diminishes all of us. Life for deliberate murder or for murder during the perpetration of a crime should mean life. I know capital punishment in the US is less frequent than it was, but assessing someone's IQ or treating them for illness so they are fit to be executed is disgraceful.
I can think of two decent reasons for killing a criminal: 1) He poses an immediate threat to the lives of others and an arrest would be too risky, e.g. holding a gun to a hostage's head. 2) Extreme cases like Saddam Hussein.
I am for the death penalty and always will be as there are scum in prisons that don't deserve to live. Crimes that deserve the death penalty for me: 1. Serial killers 2. Child killers 3. Terrorists 4. Multiple murder convictions 5. People who hire people to kill and generally all murders that are planned.
I have run the line for my sons youth team in the past and depending on the opposition and the mentality of the parents involved i can assure you that at times it can be an intimidating job .But for the boys to have a proper game you need a qualified ref and two parents with big enough shoulders to run the line or there is no game.Most Dads take a backward step when the ref is looking for a volunteer with the flag ,yet are more than happy to stand back and be critical of the guy who actually does it.Very sorry for the family involved in this tragedy and the morons invovled should get the maximum penalty for the crime .I feel that manslaughter from wanton and merciless violence where strikes and particularly kicks to someones head should carry heavy duty penalties which have as little pity for the thugs as they usually show for their victims
My customer/friend is from Almere where this took place. They are in total shock. The bad feeling in that town for these boys is running very high. THey might hope they do get sent down.
What about the danger of wrongful conviction? By your standards, the Birmingham 6, convicted of a terrorist atrocity but freed much, much later on appeal, would have been dead. It turned out that the police had systematically framed them all. that's six innocent people who would have gone to the gallows.
The death penalty is really stupid. Even ignoring the danger of wrongful conviction (which is enough of a reason in itself) it's a brutal inhumane foundation to build a legal system from (as well as multiple other arguments).
There is no place for murder in a civilized society and that includes murder by the state. Permanent incarceration is the answer and gives the chance for the innocent to appeal.
I agree whole-heartedly with the last 3 posts, and with Joe. You might as well bring back torture as a legal means of interrogation as bring back capital punishment. Oh, wait, they do that in America too don't they?
The system isn't perfect and granted, some innocent people may be convicted. But executions in the States don't take place instantly after conviction. It can be 10 years after conviction, after ****loads of appeals that the sentence is carried out. To be honest, if an appeal is rejected that many times it is unlikely that person is going to be innocent. I know I am in a minority that agrees with the death penalty, but I don't think the death penalty is inhumane, if the person convicted has committed a dreadful crime. Besides, people who commit crimes such as murder in states such as Colorado, California, Florida etc. know what the potential sentence is for their actions. They have got to accept the consequences for their actions.
In August 2011, 65% of the UK population wanted the death penalty reinstated in this country. So, I'm not in a minority after all.
