so what do you think??

Question

i think that new jerseys deceision to ban the death penalty is a real bone head mistake. first of all the old addage of "if you cant do the time don't do the crime" is appliclicable and capitol punishment DOES deter crime... just look at the statistics after the reinstatement. furthermore i think it is our responsibility to rid society of these unconsionable knuckle heads if only for the protection of others. life in prison without the possibility of parole is absurd and costs the tax payers billions of dollars that could be spent in other areas to benifit those that need it the most. why should we keep these social misfits in prison and allow them to have cable tv, access to libraries, provide them an education, give them access to gyms to improve their bodies when the majority of the populus cant even afford these percs themselves. its a slap in the face to hard working law abiding citizens in this country. i say fry their asses and be done with them.

Answer 1

New Jersey did the right thing and in the right way. It instituted a year long study legislative commission before taking up an abolition bill. I've included a link to the commission report, below.

You don't have to sympathize with criminals or want them to avoid a terrible punishment to ask if the death penalty prevents or even reduces crime and to think about the risks of executing innocent people. Your question is much too important to settle without thinking about these.

125 people on death rows have been released with proof that they were wrongfully convicted. DNA is available in less than 10% of all homicides and isn’t a guarantee we won’t execute innocent people.

The death penalty doesn't prevent others from committing murder. No reputable study shows the death penalty to be a deterrent. To be a deterrent a punishment must be sure and swift. The death penalty is neither. Homicide rates are higher in states and regions that have it than in those that don’t.

We have a good alternative. Life without parole is now on the books in 48 states. It means what it says. It is sure and swift and rarely appealed. Life without parole is less expensive than the death penalty.

The death penalty costs much more than life in prison, mostly because of the legal process which is supposed to prevent executions of innocent people.

The death penalty isn't reserved for the worst crimes, but for defendants with the worst lawyers. It doesn't apply to people with money. When is the last time a wealthy person was on death row, let alone executed?

The death penalty doesn't necessarily help families of murder victims. Murder victim family members across the country argue that the drawn-out death penalty process is painful for them and that life without parole is an appropriate alternative.

Problems with speeding up the process. Over 50 of the innocent people released from death row had already served over a decade. If the process is speeded up we are sure to execute an innocent person.

Answer 2

There are no statistics that show that the death penalty deters crime. The murder rate is lower in states that do not have the death penalty.
The death penalty is not cheaper.
The death penalty HAS been given to people that have later been undeniably found innocent. I am not talking released on some stupid technicality, I'm talking solid DNA evidence.
See http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/FactSheet.pdf

Answer 3

Amen-Amen-Amen-I'm from TX. and the death penalty here is used quite a bit. I know a lot of the criminals have been freed due to DNA, but I say test first, then execute if the facts are there.

Answer 4

We are going to support them for at least 15 years while the appeals flow, so I don't see much difference.