No wonder CA is bankrupt......

[CYCLE_MONKEY]

I read a couple articles recently where it said they spent $4 BILLION(!!!) to kill only 13 scumbags (about $308 million per scumbag). It's not the cost of executing them (what, $.25 per bullet?), but the endless appeals. THAT needs to be fixed. If the jury of their peers decides these mangy scum did something so heinous as to be put to death, get on with the process already. I remember reading another artical where a defendant ASKED for the death penalty because he was sure he'd never actually BE executed, and the accomodations are better. Sheesh...

I totally disagree with the statement that it's NOT a deterrent. If they told me speeding was punishable by the death penalty, well, guess what, I wouldn't speed anymore. Perhaps for SOME of the total crazies, it isn't a deterrent, but is that in fact due to the fact that nobody in the Socialist Commune of CA actually DOES get executed? I'm guessing that is in fact the case. You line up the 721 inmates on death row and execute them all tomorrow (guilloteen?) , guess what, it'll be a MAJOR deterrent.

http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/deat...death-row-year

http://www.minyanville.com/dailyfeed...g-californias/

http://www.fnsa.org/v1n1/dieter1.html

http://www.deathpenalty.org/article.php?id=42

[laspariahs]

I totally disagree with the statement that it's NOT a deterrent. If they told me speeding was punishable by the death penalty, well, guess what, I wouldn't speed anymore.

When people say it's not a deterrent, they do not mean VS. a fine, they mean VS. life with out parole. Your example is completely off base. I'm sure you would stop speeding if they threw you in prison for the rest of your life as well.

[rforsythe]

When people say it's not a deterrent, they do not mean VS. a fine, they mean VS. life with out parole. Your example is completely off base. I'm sure you would stop speeding if they threw you in prison for the rest of your life as well.

That's probably entirely subjective based on CM's employment status at the time...

[stubbicatt]

I guess each is entitled to his own opinion.

I personally do not see "justice" in splaying someone out on a crucifix, 10 years after a conviction, and, after wiping off the injection site with alcohol to prevent the possibility of infection, pumping him full of poison.

[grim]

I guess each is entitled to his own opinion.

I personally do not see "justice" in splaying someone out on a crucifix, 10 years after a conviction, and, after wiping off the injection site with alcohol to prevent the possibility of infection, pumping him full of poison.

Watch Dane cook much?

[Nick_Ninja]

That's probably entirely subjective based on CM's employment status at the time...

[CYCLE_MONKEY]

When people say it's not a deterrent, they do not mean VS. a fine, they mean VS. life with out parole. Your example is completely off base. I'm sure you would stop speeding if they threw you in prison for the rest of your life as well.

True, but I tell ya life for these people in prison isn't so bad. In fact, when some of them get out in the REAL world, they can't handle it, and purposefully do something to go back. If these people are that bad, kill 'em and get it over with, poste haste. Yes, there is going to be the inevitable innocent, but, having spent some time in the joint as a kid, there's far, far more guilty walking the street than innocent sitting in jail. AND, most are only in for what they got caught for, many of them did things far worse that they didn't get caught for.

And I agree with Stubbi, why waste a clean needle on 'em?

Oh, and Ralph, tell me, what IS my employment status now then?

[laspariahs]

True, but I tell ya life for these people in prison isn't so bad. In fact, when some of them get out in the REAL world, they can't handle it, and purposefully do something to go back. If these people are that bad, kill 'em and get it over with, poste haste. Yes, there is going to be the inevitable innocent, but, having spent some time in the joint as a kid, there's far, far more guilty walking the street than innocent sitting in jail. AND, most are only in for what they got caught for, many of them did things far worse that they didn't get caught for.

They become institutionalized not because it's so great, but simply because they get used to it. Freedom is hard, making choices is harder than being told what to do all the time, and when you get used to not having that freedom, well you want to go back to what you are used to. I don't think you can equate your experiences to those in for life with out parole. Personally it would be torture to have to sit around and watch my life slip by, much more so than just killing me.

[CYCLE_MONKEY]

They become institutionalized not because it's so great, but simply because they get used to it. Freedom is hard, making choices is harder than being told what to do all the time, and when you get used to not having that freedom, well you want to go back to what you are used to. I don't think you can equate your experiences to those in for life with out parole. Personally it would be torture to have to sit around and watch my life slip by, much more so than just killing me.

Having been there, with juvies in for murder, rape, etc., though not for life, and seeing enough interviews with people in there over the years, they just adapt, and it just becomes life in general for them. In fact, for some, the conditions IN jail/prison are better than what they face on the street.

If they're that dangerous, I say whack 'em and be done with it. I totally don't buy it that it's not a deterrent. In part by the fact that nobody ever gets executed. Start shooting/poisoning/fryin' them en masse, and you'll see a major shift. And if not, at the very least, hey, you cleaned house!

[Clovis]

Personally, if I committed a crime and faced a life sentence without parole, I would rather be executed. Being in a prison is scary, having no hope (of release) is torture.

The average cost per inmate is around $44,000/year. Consider that:

The average household income in the US is $48,000/year and there are over 2,000,000 people locked up in the U.S.

I would rather see convicts either rehabilitated if possible or executed. I don't see the point of imprisoning a person for life.

[CYCLE_MONKEY]

Personally, if I committed a crime and faced a life sentence without parole, I would rather be executed. Being in a prison is scary, having no hope (of release) is torture.

The average cost per inmate is around $44,000/year. Consider that:

The average household income in the US is $48,000/year and there are over 2,000,000 people locked up in the U.S.

I would rather see convicts either rehabilitated if possible or executed. I don't see the point of imprisoning a person for life.

Here's a solution: Exile them, and pay some 3rd world african nation to take these exiles in at $1k a head. This way, we don't stand even the remote chance of executing an innocent person, and for a one-time fee of $1k, it's the cheapest solution yet. BUT, warn these clown that if they ever set foot on American soil, that they will be IMMEDIATELY executed without a trial. This is your second chance, take it. This way, whether they live or die depends stristly on them.

[Zanatos]

I don't think the death penalty is much of a deterrent because people who kill are usually so enraged they can't think logically - or they are so crazy they don't worry about the consequences.

When I lived in Khamis Mushait, Saudi Arabia, I witnessed some public "be-handings" where authorities would punish thieves. Guess what. Pickpockets were working the crowd during the "event."

Contrary to popular belief - they don't cut off a thief's hand. They crush it with a big hammer, then rush the guy to a hospital where a doctor amputates it. (Apparently, too many thieves were dying of blood loss and shock when they used to slice off a hand with a sword.)

The idea behind removing a thief's right hand is that he will then have to use his left hand for everything. (In Saudi, most bathrooms don't have toilet paper.)

[modette99]

The idea behind removing a thief's right hand is that he will then have to use his left hand for everything. (In Saudi, most bathrooms don't have toilet paper.)

You started good here but failed to say, they use their right to eat, and you NEVER never use your left hand. If you go to traditional event you better not ever use your left hand for food, it is a very big no no, an insult and a way to get your ass beat....using ones left hand is what you use to clean your butt with.

Hence for a thief it makes it hard to eat properly, and in affect no one will share food with you. Also reason behind the which hand to wipe and eat with is to not spread diseases.

[modette99]

As for this topic, I say shoot the guilty on the spot outside the courthouse and call it good.

[stubbicatt]

Watch Dane cook much?

Dane cook?

Is that the character from the Muppet Show a/k/a "the swedish chef?"

[The Black Knight]

You started good here but failed to say, they use their right to eat, and you NEVER never use your left hand. If you go to traditional event you better not ever use your left hand for food, it is a very big no no, an insult and a way to get your ass beat....using ones left hand is what you use to clean your butt with.

Hence for a thief it makes it hard to eat properly, and in affect no one will share food with you. Also reason behind the which hand to wipe and eat with is to not spread diseases.

Have the dumbasses never heard of soap and water???

[grim]

Have the dumbasses never heard of soap and water???

If you had ever been there you would know the answer to that question is no..no they have not!

[CYCLE_MONKEY]

Have the dumbasses never heard of soap and water???

I'd rather they had heard of toilet paper......

[CYCLE_MONKEY]

Dane cook?

Is that the character from the Muppet Show a/k/a "the swedish chef?"

Veerdy! Veerdy!

[The Black Knight]

If you had ever been there you would know the answer to that question is no..no they have not!

Nope never been there and have no desire to go. I guess I'm not surprised that they haven't.

[csmith]

Have the dumbasses never heard of soap and water???

They created the concept of 0. What more can you possibly expect from them?

[MattTLS]

There are those in prison whose guilt is without question, but just because a jury of your peers may find a person guilty of some charge certainly does not necessarily make it so. And while it might be easy to accept that some innocents will end up in prison and/or lose their lives with their freedom having been wrongly taken away, and that this is simply one of the unfortunate problems our society holds, I guess I would just ask what is the worth of the time that makes up one's life?
http://www.innocenceproject.org/

[CYCLE_MONKEY]

There are those in prison whose guilt is without question, but just because a jury of your peers may find a person guilty of some charge certainly does not necessarily make it so. And while it might be easy to accept that some innocents will end up in prison and/or lose their lives with their freedom having been wrongly taken away, and that this is simply one of the unfortunate problems our society holds, I guess I would just ask what is the worth of the time that makes up one's life?
http://www.innocenceproject.org/

Everyone I met was guilty as hell, and of a lot more than they caught them for.

Yes, sometimes there will be mistakes, they are few in the grand scheme of things. And, here's the important bit: If we execute one innocent, then we lose one life. If we let one killer loose on a technicality, he'll kill again....and again.....and again. Especially true for pedophiles. Well, the ones that don't go to work for Penn State after their release that is.... There's far more at stake. For these reasons we need to make sure the right guy gets fried, but, c'mon, 20 years of appeals and $4 BILLION to fry 13 scum is fiscally irresponsible to us taxpayers. Line 'em up and mow 'em down.

Like I said, to please both sides, we should just DNA-test, fingerprint, and brand anyone doing, say, >20 years, or second-time offenders, and exile them as I said. Let them live or die in some shithole African nation's desert, but whatever, they can't return on pain of immediate death, no other country will take them, and they're no longer our financial problem. Brilliant!