August 5, 2011

Please help me to understand...

If you've read this blog for a while, you know that I'm opposed to the death penalty for a host of reasons. (It's more expensive by far than life in prison without parole... There have been too many instances of people on death row being proven innocent... Almost always, people with lots of money can elude the death penalty, while poor people are condemned because of an inability to afford competent legal advice... The violent crime and murder rates for states with the death penalty are significantly HIGHER than the rates in states without it... Most nations we call "civilized" have long opposed it, and a disturbingly large proportion of countries who have it are those we hold in low regard... There are tremendous inconsistencies - even within the same jurisdiction - in what crimes are considered "especially heinous" enough to merit death... etc., etc.)

Anyway, let's just say for a moment - just for the sake of argument - that the death penalty makes sense and should be continued. There are a few things I'd love to have explained to me:
  • A doctor in Florida recently testified that he's concerned that the new drug Florida plans to use to execute prisoners may be "risky" to them. The physician's testimony is in response to a contention by the inmate's attorneys that sodium thiopentol would subject the inmate to a "substantial risk of serious harm". But... HELLO FLORIDA... It's also pretty risky to inject people with lethal poison, dontcha know?
  • There have been documented instances of mentally ill inmates being forced to take medication to render them sane enough to realize they're being executed. Uh... WHAT?
  • Prisoners have guards positioned outside their cells 24/7 after being placed on "death watch", in part to prevent them from committing suicide. YOU'RE KIDDING, RIGHT?
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27 comments:

  1. I'm not for the death penalty for the possibility of innocence. I don't think I could take that chance, because there is no way to absolutely know the guilt unless you are the person.... that and... well, killing is against the law, but it's ok to kill if it's an inmate?

    But yeah, those three bullets you posted are ridiculous!

    Visiting from the blog hop :)

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  2. Thank you again for joining Footloose and Fancy Free. Have a great weekend!

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  3. I'm not for the death penalty either but I guess at times you have to place yourself in the midst of the ppl who are victims to crimes place to understand why someone might vote for it.. : ( Hello there.. Officially following you from Boost My Blog hop today.. Lovely blog.. Awesome posts.. Settling in to read some more.. ;)) Hope you can stop by my blog sometime.. I'm Marilyn from http://theartsygirlconnection.blogspot.com .. Ciao :))

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  4. Hi, I am your newest follower from the Blog hop. stop by some time!

    Sabrina

    Sabrinassillys.blogspot.com

    http://sabrinassillys.blogspot.com/

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  5. Hi there, I'm Teresa from NanaHood and you thanked me for linking up on your Thursday blog hop. I just wanted you to know that I am a follower and visit daily. I always enjoy your posts. You have a friend in southern Kentucky!

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  6. I'm with you - I don't get it at all. I disagree with the death penalty and have to wonder at the idiocy of the people who think the three points you have above make sense.

    Thanks for sharing

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  7. You write a lot of good sense. Indisputable, in fact.

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  8. Have you seen the movie The Life of David Gale? What an excellent movie that was. It really makes you think long and hard about the death penalty.

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  9. I'm against the death penalty as well. I love your arguments as many of those who are proponents of the death penalty make no sense in their reasoning.

    Stumbled your post.

    Cheers,
    Tracy Screaming Sardine

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  10. There are definitely cases that have been proven innocent much later, years into prison and for those people I must agree that if the death penalty would have been applied, innocent people would have been executed. I don't think this subject can be taken lightly but I do think the death penalty should be given in specific cases, those of which have been proven 100% guilty, DNA evidence, witnesses and a plethora of other evidence. Our country is against the death penalty anyway but no matter which way it is, there are always downfalls in the judicial system...Innocent people go to jail and guilty people barely get any punishment, or get off all together. It's nuts. IMO!

    Your 3 points are very valid; they make no sense for any point of view.

    Stopping back from the Stop and Stumble hop; Stumble liked and Google +1'd this post. Thank for stopping by. :)

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  12. Ugh. All I can say is I am so glad we don't have the death penalty in Canada.

    Stumbled you. My post is: http://www.mapleleafmommy.com/2011/08/our-holiday-weekend-indoor-bbqs.html

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  13. I think God is the ultimate judge. Of course we must mete out punishment here on earth to some extent, but I wonder how many of those put to death on Death Row might have come to a saving knowledge of Jesus if given more time.

    New follower from a blog hop. Please follow back:

    Full Cart Full Wallet

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  14. Thank you for joining in the Planet Weidknecht Weekend Hop. I hope you gain many new followers and meet some new friends. Be sure to stop by next week and link up again.

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  15. I struggle with the death penalty too.

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  16. I feel there is a huge difference between being mentally incompetant and knowing the difference between right and wrong. A lot of those who commit crimes - such as murder - are mentally flawed in one way or another. Our prison system is crowded enough as it is...why make it even worse with life in prison?? They are using our resources and spending our money even though they've done something so unfathamable as killed another human (or humans). I am a fan of the death penalty if imposed correctly. Let God sort them out.

    New blog hop follower!

    WM

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  17. Thanks for sharing on the NOBH:)

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  18. People are not exactly rational or logical or reasonable or sensible sometimes. And people who get elected are less so than normal. Even folks who are appointed have this problem. It may be a side effect of power. This explains the rampant stupidity in the justice system I think.

    I'm sure God will fix all that when he takes over. Till then...we are stuck with it.

    Stumbled this.

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  19. Hi, Im a new follower, loving the blog!Found you off weekend hop blog. I would love to invite you to follow me:
    J'S REVIEWS AND GIVEAWAYS
    Im new and in need of some followers, Thanks so much! have a great day!

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  20. I can agree with your point of view here. There are many innocent people in prison and yes it is usually those who can not pay for their own defense.

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  21. The most terrible thing about the death penalty is finding out that person is innocent.

    Found your blog through Mingle Monday bloghop!

    The Twerp and I

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  22. I found you through Monday Mingle. I'm a new follower.

    I guess if my family member had been brutally murdered, I'd feel differently (I'm assuming), but I personally would NOT want to be responsible for taking someone's life.

    I hope you'll visit me.

    Bless you!
    Beth

    http://mydestinysharinghope.com/

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  23. Although I believe God has the final say, I still struggle on what the right thing to do is now for those that are completely, unmistakeably guilty. Great post, and lots to think about!

    Stumbled you! Here's mine! http://thereynoldsmom.blogspot.com/2011/08/how-to-eat-cheap-on-vacation.html

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  24. I really don't like the thought of any human being killed. But when I think of the victims that were hurt,and killed(a lot of them children), I think the convicted should have to pay with their own life. If there is DNA proof I have no problem with the death penalty. I think a lot of times after the crime and trial is over, the only person people are concerned over is the criminal and what is humane for him/her, and they forget about the victim and what they had to endure. Also, I don't think it's right for a convicted child rapist and murderer to get to live his life in prison with three meals a day, a hot shower and TV, Computer time, recreation, and free education. Where is the justice in that? Great thought provoking post.

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  25. I use to be all for the death penalty, we use it a lot here in Texas but as I've grown I've realized that we will never completely know 100% that we are doing the right thing by taking another humans life. If someone killed my family I don't know if I could handle taking another persons life because of it. I think life in prison is a better solution, but I think all of the prisons should also be reformed to be like Arizona's Tent City.

    I'm visiting from Mingle Monday!

    ~Amber
    bennettupdates.blogspot.com

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  26. Hi,there. Thanks for passing by and participating in Monday Mingle at ToughCookieMommy.com. Hopefully, I will see you back every Monday.

    P.S. Have we connected on Facebook yet?

    http://facebook.com/toughcookiemommy

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  27. I've never been for the death penalty, however, watching the Casey Anthony trial from beginning to end was sure persuading me in the other direction. I can't believe they would even give a mentally challenged person the death penalty.

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