Death Penalty

[tinky winky]

The problem with the death penalty in the United States is not that we have it, but that in many cases we fail to provide indigent suspects with an adequate defense.  In the cases KatyF cites, the police/prosecutors took advantage of the mental condition of their suspects.  What is cruel here is not executing killers, but not taking the necessary care to ensure that the suspect IS a killer.  Defendants have rights for a reason.  Because our crime rate is so high, we are tempted to forget this.  The question of whether to have the death penalty and then how to carry it out are two separate issues.

[cactus]

In the old barbarian days, people settled scores first with swords, and later with guns...now we settle scores with lawyers and the best lawyer, not the best pistol usually wins the duel.
The question is not whether the mentally challenged should be executed but the way many cold blooded murderers with money can be acquited on the backs of a good lawyer.
Canada in the 1990s saw about 5 people who had spent anything from 2 to 20 years behind bars for murder declared innocent. Their crime?
Being too poor to hire a lawyer who would give careerist police and justice officials a good, lawful kick in the buttocks.

[HaileysMom]

Cactus,
You are right...O.J. Simpson.

[Joseph27]

Its somewhat ironic that indeed the death penalty in the US has given a number of defendants a 2nd chance insofar as it forced closer examination of a said trial and any incompetance by the law enforcement agencies is generally brought to life.  In many cases the police have been able to put someone in jail for the rest of their lives even though they are innocent and because they are not on death row - they dont get the attention that others get.

Back to the issue of executing the mentally retarded - I have tried to show some compassion but I just cant.  A sharp shot to the back of the head - simple clean

[HaileysMom]

I'm with you Joseph27.

[cactus]

I'm torn on the issue of the death penalty for while I acknowledge its necessity, I also know how easily the law can be made into an ass.

[This message has been edited by cactus (edited 07-08-2002).]