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Death Penalty

alabama

Well-known member
Death Penalty

I see that a debate is on going in the US Supreme Court as to whether of not lethal injection is cruel and unusual punishment. I find this disturbing and wondered how others felt.
First, why is the US Supreme Court even looking at this? Should this not be left up to each state just like the legality of the death sentence? Each state should be able to choose if and how the death penalty is carried out. Why is the federal government deciding this issue? Understanding that the Supreme Court’s only job is to intrepit the construction how can they say that hanging is cruel or unusual punishment when it was the method of chooses when the construction was written.
Second, What is the reasoning behind implementation of the death penalty? I don’t think it is revenge but it is to act as a deterrent to the worst of crimes. By knowing that the penalty may well be death, it is thought that some crimes will be prevented. This makes me wonder if maybe hanging in public may not act as more of a deterrent. If murderers and the likes are hung on the courthouse lawn and everyone in allowed to attend, then potential criminals will get to see first hand what will happen to them. It may make them think twice. And if deters one crime is it not worth having saved the life of a good person by the public execution of a convicted killer.
Third: Why not expand the list of crimes that warrant the death penalty. Like add home invasion to the list. Or even arson in some cases.
What are y’all’s thoughts on this. Am I barking up the wrong tree. Is it worth trying to push and write our congressmen about. How else are we going to get a handle on crime today. I just don’t know. I wonder if I sent this to the Supreme Court if they would read it. I wonder who over there to send it to and how to send it.
 

Mike

Well-known member
Supreme Court reviews Alabama inmate's bid for stay of execution
1/31/2008, 11:18 a.m. ET
The Associated Press


ATMORE, Ala. (AP) — Alabama death row inmate James Harvey Callahan faced lethal injection Thursday as the U.S. Supreme Court considered his bid to halt his execution until the high court rules on the method of execution.

Callahan's attorney turned to the Supreme Court with a request for a stay on Wednesday after a federal appeals court lifted a stay granted by a Montgomery judge.

The Supreme Court on Jan. 7 heard oral arguments in a Kentucky challenge to lethal injection, a case that has delayed executions nationwide. A ruling in that case is unlikely before spring.

Alabama uses lethal injection in its executions, and questions about the procedure led to a death row inmate being granted a stay by the nation's high court last year as his execution neared.

In a 2-1 decision Tuesday, the Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals lifted the stay of Callahan's granted by U.S. District Judge Keith Watkins in Montgomery on Dec. 14.

The court said Callahan waited too late to challenge the method of execution.

Callahan's execution was set for 6 p.m. Thursday at Holman prison near Atmore. He was sentenced to death for the kidnapping, rape and murder of Jacksonville State University student Rebecca Suzanne Howell on Feb. 4, 1982.

Authorities said she was abducted from a coin laundry in Jacksonville and raped before being strangled and dumped in Tallasseehatchee Creek.

In lifting the stay, the 11th Circuit ruling said it did not make any finding on "the relative merits of Callahan's constitutional claim because we conclude the claim is barred by the statue of limitations."
On Dec. 5, the Supreme Court stopped the execution of another Alabama death row inmate, Tommy Arthur, one day before he was scheduled to die by lethal injection at Holman prison. That stay also stemmed from the pending Kentucky case.


Copyright 2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
*******************************************************

The man above in this article (James Harvey Callahan) abducted my best friends fiancee one night while we (my friend and I) were together working.

He took her from a laundromat in Jacksonville, Al and bound her with duct tape. He then kept her for about 4 days in his trailer in the woods, all the while torturing her.

Becky was found about a week later floating in a creek below his trailer.

Makes me sick to think about how long it has been since the trial and how long he got to live after killing Becky in such a demented way.

I would love to do the execution myself....................
 

kolanuraven

Well-known member
I have always said that if you commit a murder and are put to trial and found guilty of that murder and given the death penalty....you should be put to death the exact same way you murdered your victim.
 

Shelly

Well-known member
At least you have the death penalty in the States. Up here we don't and in my honest opinion, I think we should. There have been countless cases where death should've been the sentence. If I had a say, I'd be all for it.
 

backhoeboogie

Well-known member
alabama said:
Death Penalty

Second, What is the reasoning behind implementation of the death penalty? I don’t think it is revenge but it is to act as a deterrent to the worst of crimes.

I agree with the deterrent.

Also, many offenders are repeat offenders.
 

Mike

Well-known member
backhoeboogie said:
alabama said:
Death Penalty

Second, What is the reasoning behind implementation of the death penalty? I don’t think it is revenge but it is to act as a deterrent to the worst of crimes.

I agree with the deterrent.

Also, many offenders are repeat offenders.

The recidivism rate for inmates put to death is exactly ZERO!
 

cutterone

Well-known member
As I said yesterday about Sadam, this country no longer has the guts to fight a war, discipline our children, or deal with criminal justice. Punishment is punishment and needs to be accepted as a deterant. It should be swift and incisive.
 

Mrs.Greg

Well-known member
Shelly said:
At least you have the death penalty in the States. Up here we don't and in my honest opinion, I think we should. There have been countless cases where death should've been the sentence. If I had a say, I'd be all for it.
For sure!!!!!Instead we let murdering pedophiles out of jail to pro create :evil: :mad: Our justice system SUCKS!!!!!!!
 

Frankk

Well-known member
I guess you folks wouldn't mind if we killed a innocent person occasionally just as long as you got your revenge.
 

alabama

Well-known member
I sent my opinion to my senators Shelby and Sessions in Washington. If all works out, we can start building a gallows in Montgomery soon.
 
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