KILL 'EM..EYE FOR AN EYE..and stop putting people on death row for years..decades..they should get one appeal and then death..im tired of having to pay for them to sit in jail..no more life in prison either..do the three strikes and then after those three..kill 'em..they havent changed after that many chances then they wont at all..

I always thought using the same method the killer used was the right way to carry out the death sentence. But I know this would not be humane and my second choice would be to fire a steel rod at the back of the head where the neck and head connect. This is how we killed cattle for a long time at Armour's and it still works today. The animal rights group has approved it as the correct method and we can use it on these animals too.

killing people for killing people does not make a shred of sense. dang, booher, two times i have agreed with you.....kinda scary, huh?

Well heritage, how about you foot the upkeep bill on these people who go around taking innocent lives. I must agree that those who kill should be killed in the same manner they killed. I bet that would be a huge deterrant for some of these animals.

I agree dead is dead. But I still don't understand why in the world we spend so much time, energy and money on deciding which way is the most humane way. Did these people give one moment of thought as to whether they were being humane when they were raping, torturing, shooting and/or stabbing their victims? I seriously doubt it. I think instead of pouring all of our compassion out on these people who feel not one iota of remorse for their actions we need to think about the victims and the families that have been left behind.

I vote for hanging. It has that old timey feeling of tradition. I feel a Trails West button idea coming on.

rush, maybe you can come up with some figures to back up those claims of the death penalty and its efficacy? as to the cost, and the issue of deterrence, i find not one valid study which can substantiate your assertions.

i KNOW that there are wrongful convictions. since i used to be a hard core supporter of the death penalty, i feel that i can speak fairly on this issue. dehumanizing ourselves by attempting to seek retribution is not the solution. it is less expensive to try non-death penalty cases, less expensive to house the accused and convicted than to kill them. certainly when we take matters of the life and death of any human being into our own hands, the cost to that society is boundless.

Heritage:

I’m in favor of the death penalty – not for retribution – but to get the low-life’s out of our society so we don’t have to worry about them killing any more of us or our loved ones.

Who cares if it is or isn’t a deterrent? I can say one thing with certainty though – the executed person won’t kill again. That is a big deterrent.

The cost factor is due to the bleeding heart liberals pushing for stay after stay and appeal after appeal.

I saw the perfect solution in a movie several years ago. A Russian citizen had killed close to 50 children. Since he admitted the killings and led police to several of the buried bodies there was no doubt he had committed them. After his death sentence was handed down he was led out of the courtroom to the basement. He was taken to a room with nothing in it but a drain in the floor. The guard put a bullet through his head and let him fall over the drain.

I believe these animals should be killed the sameway they killed their victims. why in the world are we worried about being humane to people who obviously aren't human to begin with.

Did they kill their victims in a humane way? Or did they torture them to death? I feel that the punishment should fit the crime. Kill them the way they killed their victims. Don't worry about being humane about it.

welcome to the wild wild west. i think that it is demonstrative of the viewpoints expressed here that we, as americans, now seek to emulate russia. lovely.

well heritage i wonder how you would feel if your 17 month old son was beaten to death, stomped on, and left for dead. i suppose you would forgive that person correct? or drug dealers break in and kill your whole family, or your child and his fiance. wild west my a**. sometimes i think other countries have it right. kill someone other than in a self defense situation or a true accident, you pay with your life.

Studies have found that a prisoner who receives a life sentence ultimately costs the state less money than one on death row. This is due largely to the long appeals process that death row inmates use, while those serving life in prison often just accept their sentence.
Bottom line, the death penalty costs taxpayers much more money than it takes to support a prisoner for life.
(Read "America and the Death Penalty" by Galliher for the whole story. That's the best book on the subject, IMHO)

your right, the appeals process takes quite a bit of time, and money, and that is a good thing, even with life sentences, innocent people are convicted of crimes. that is why the appellate process is there. maybe we need to start in the PA's office and hold them accountable when they screw up and convict or charge the wrong person.

Heritage:

That sounds like a typical liberal knee-jerk reaction to an opinion that differs from yours. You profess to be a Republican; however, I think you must be a RINO (Republican in name only).

Since 1981 I’ve lived in or traveled to 33 countries around the world. While I still think America is the greatest country in the world, we can still learn things from all of the others, including Russia.

I see absolutely no sense in keeping someone alive that will never be a useful contributor to society and that poses a danger to society. Why keep violent criminals in prison for the rest of their lives where the guards and other personnel can and are assaulted and/or killed by them? Even worse is to have idiot liberals lobby to free a convicted murderer that kills again.

I’ve pasted a link below to an article about Jack Henry Abbott, a convicted murderer who wrote a children’s book while in prison. Norman Mailer, a flaming liberal, went ga-ga over him and started lobbying for his release so that society wouldn’t be denied his talent as an author. Once Abbott was released he killed again and was convicted again. Even after this, Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon named their baby after this killer.

Read the article below. It also talks about cop-killer Abu-Jamal-Mumia being revered by ilk such as Margaret Cho as an “art terrorist” and a political prisoner.

http://ace.mu.nu/archives/142682.php

since i co-chaired the block committee and ran the precinct divisions in fl which ( i am now ashamed to admit) put # 43 in office, dalearch, i think i qualify as full fledged republican. sadly, the party has been corrupted by right wing, single issue SOCIAL conservatives. i am a fiscal conservative who reserves the right to make my own decisions on gays, abortion, euthanasia, stem cell research, gun laws and the death penalty.

it is philosophically conflicted to assert that we have the right as judge and jury to take the life of another human being. this discussion is actually about capital punishment, not about letting murderers free. that is an entirely different topic, and only muddies the water.

The letting murderers free debacle is absolutely part of the discussion on capital punishment. It is more justification for the death penalty in that it stops liberals from freeing dangerous criminals into our midst.

pedophiles have the highest rate of recidivism in the nation, life in prison or death? they will offend again, even tho some have been chemically castrated. maybe we should put them on an island and let them have it out with each other, may solve our problem, i didn't believe in the death penalty, but i do now. why waste our time and resources on these people who CHOSE to take another person's life. maybe if they knew they were going to die it would be a deterrent, but we know that isn't the case. the person that killed my grandson is narcisistic and a psociopath, with no conscience whatsoever, so why keep people like that around if they get the death penalty?

rxyrch:

Put them on an island with no Vaseline or K-Y Jelly.

ok my last comment wasn't offensive or shouldn't have been. so i don't know why it was removed. any idea

rxyrch:

I didn't get to see it before it was removed. Send me an email and tell me what it was.

Heritage,
It costs roughly $35,500 dollars/yr to keep a prisoner locked up in California. Charles Manson, for example, has been in prison roughly 37 years. If my math still works that's about $1.3 million, that is just to keep him in prison, that doesn't count all of his appeals and such that the taxpayers have to foot the bill for. That is only ONE convict. I have no idea how many prisoners are incarcerated in the United States serving life sentences but think of the millions of dollars involved. Think of the ways this money could be spent. What wonderful things have these killers done since being taken to prison that you feel justifies the dollars spent keeping them alive? Please explain why you feel it is "right" to keep them alive, putting a massive financial burden on taxpayers.

rax, notwithstanding the philosophical issues, the fact that the justice system in this country is broken and dysfunctional would be my first argument against the death penalty ( it IS irreversible?). since 1973, 129 people have been designated as wrongfully convicted on death row, and Released By The Court. in missouri, notably, the case of larry griffin stands out. griffin was incarcerated in 1981, and executed in 1995. he maintained his innocence to the end, and it is widely accepted that this man was executed for a deed which he did NOT do. the most frequent cause of wrongful conviction is eye witness testimony. as the saying goes, "to err is human, to forgive divine.".

like rxyrch said, you haven't lost someone close to you to a murderer it's not as easy as you think to forgive and forget anything. how humane was kerns when he stopped a 17 month old to death, and how about the more recent one, that zane, he basically played kick ball with that little girl, or the two drug dealers that killed an innocent couple while they slept, and thank God the kids weren't home. i am guessing if you asked anyone of those victims family members they would tell you they could pull the switch or give the injection without thinking about i twice.

I do not consider capital punishment a philisophical issue at all, I consider it an issue of public safety. Would you rent a spare room to a "wrongfully accused" death-row inmate? I doubt you would. The biggest problem I have with our Justice system regarding capital punishment is that a person sentenced to death gets more than one appeal and death sentences are not carried out immmediately.

I have been reading the ridiculous comments of this "heritage" person for way to long so I decided to register.
If you kill another human being you should be put to death period. If the crime was witnessed by at least one reliable individual or other means of positive identification (DNA, video etc.) the criminal should get their justice moments after the guilty verdict is reached. I feel the same way about sex criminals and those that abuse children, the elderly, handicapped or even wild animals and pets as well. There is no cure for someone that commits these offenses and time behind bars is basically criminal college where they just learn how to not get caught the next time.

rax, i most certainly would "rent a room" to a wrongfully convicted death-row inmate. the operant word is WRONGFUL. the law is not always right, and the most frequently reason for wrongful convictions, prowrench, are so-called "reliable" eyewitness testimonies. it is interesting that some posters here who support the death penalty so vigorously have resorted to using vulgarisms and name calling. additionally, i have never advocated releasing those convicted of heinous crimes. life in prison is my preference to yet another killing.

if God forbid, anything happens to anyone in your family where their life is taken, write back and tell us how you feel then. and you are right, basically capital punishment is state sanctioned murder, however the state isn't just putting this person to death for no reason.

deb, i feel that your situation is so difficult. the person (who is still walking around the streets of this city ) who killed your little guy should not be out, but in prison. it is completely understandable that you are sick to death of waiting for justice to be served in your case. i wonder often why the paper is not following this story and keeping it in the public forums. this is an example of justice ( or complete lack thereof) gone horribly awry.

Heritage - you are correct when you say the majority of wrongly convicted people are the victims of eyewitness testimony. With the advancements in forensics and DNA there should be little doubt who committed a crime. And everyone on deathrow today should have access to the science that was not available to them when they were convicted. Unfortunately politics comes in to play in some of these instances and yes innocent people have been put to death.

However, some of the crimes committed could not be punished appropriately any other way to ensure these people will not offend again other than the death penalty. Take John Couey for instance. The man has an extensive arrest record, do a wikipedia search on him, there is too much to print here, but Jessica Lunsford was not his first victim. The first one he actually killed, but not his first ruined life. Then let's look at the fellows from TX that drug the man to death behind their pickup because he was black or whatever reason they came up with. Do you honestly think, these guys deserve to live their lives in prison, where they are housed, fed, clothed, excersized, can watch TV, go to the library, file frivolous law suits every time they get a hair cross ways. FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES! To me that is a way better life than they offered their victims.

heritage, yesterday was a very sad day for heather, roxy and their family, it was caden's 4th bday. a lot of tears. but i am sure if you ask sara beth mccoys family if they are at peace that the monster that murdered their daughter is in prison for life, i am sure they would tell you no. the watson's asked for the death penalty against the monsters that killed their son and his fiance, but the prosecutor declined. would putting these people to death give any of these families relief, maybe. at least they would know these people could never harm another living human. and what a slap in the face to know their tax dollars are being spent to support the same people who committed these horrendous crimes.

i am so sorry to hear that young caden's family continues to suffer. hopefully there will come a day when you can all find peace. i do hope that soon his killer will be bought before the law AGAIN.

rush, being from florida originally, i am only too familiar with john couey. the man is an animal, and he should be locked up for the rest of his life. as i said , i am only recently arrived at the notion of being against taking a life to pay for taking a life. for myself, better to have that accused face his own demons, either in this life, or in the one that follows.

his appeal will be heard on aug. 19, hopefully it will be denied and he will be in prison before halloween. however, he should be among those waiting on death row as far as i am concerned. what he received was a joke. as far as facing his demons, this man is a Sociopath, he doesn't believe he did anything wrong. anyone with this type of mental disorder, doesn't believe they did wrong, they won't live with their demons. in some way they believe the victim deserved what they got and society is better off. so why prolong anything, let them meet and answer to their maker.

deb, i truly hope that the appeal is denied. i can't imagine how on earth it has lasted this long. this wait must be incredibly cruel for all of you. are you organizing any kind of protest or moment of remembrance for the day?

what day, the day he finally goes to prison? whether this sounds crude to anyone or not, i hope the family has a party. and celebrates what little victory they received.

i meant to say what little justice they received. but the point to this whole blog is about capital punishment. at one point i didn't believe in it, i do now.

august 19.......... will you have a rally for caden, and to bring the attention of the community to the way this case has been so long in coming before the court? can i ask, will the courtroom be closed, or is the case being held in open court? is there a gag order? i am honestly puzzled at how long this matter has taken, and completely flabbergasted that the accused is free on bond. as to your reversal on capital punishment, i can completely understand, as i hope you can realize that i moved the other way on that issue. isn't is hard how events can shape our lives?

heritage - I understand growing in one's self and changing opinions on issues. I've done it myself, and have gone the opposite of you. The "matter" that you are referring to is a murder of an 18 month old baby, not some traffic ticket gone awry. I don't want to chastise, but don't trivialize this absolute miscarriage of justice.

i do not see how on earth you could possibly read any trivializing into my comments. i simply don't think it would be appropriate to bring up all the horrific details here. i am suggesting that something be done to bring this incomprehensibly senseless death and the apparent lack of any pursuit of justice in this city out into the open by some kind of demonstration on the court date. i suggest that if the court is open that it be packed with people who abhor the violence which was wrought on that little baby, IF and ONLY IF the family/and their representatives finds that kind of situation appropriate, or productive.

If that demonstration happens, I will be there right beside you I hope. We stand together.

I will also say, that even though I am not a member of the family and only know what has been said in the paper, court, as well as the forum on KQ that is no longer there, I have sent letters to Sam Graves, Charlie Shields, Matt Blunt and various local politians regarding the charges filed in this case. To date, I regret to say, I've had no response from any of them.

heritage - I do owe you an apology. My blood BOILS when I think about this case and everything that went wrong, and unfortunately I chose to read something into your comment that simply was not there. Please accept my apology.

rush, not to worry. it is so hard to "read" in print what is actually in one's heart. i have read so many of your well thought comments, and i respect our differences and your mindset when we agree to disagree.

Rush20 i don't know who you are, but thank you and the family thanks you. roxy has also sent letters to all that you have mentioned regarding sentencing issues, and other things that i don't want to alert those agencies to. the whole family is frustrated and josh rich, who was like a dad to caden and his brother, had a stroke in may which the family feels this case and the stress it has put on the whole family caused in part. with the appellate court in jeff city, i don't know that you can sit in court. the family has wanted to protest the way the whole case was handled, maybe a protest of some sort may bring attention to the case. one atty for dfs has been reprimanded at roxy's request. however there are many unanswered questions. if the family knew there was suppport for them, they may try to do something. it is almost like they carry a scarlet letter around with them. and actually the monster and his family continue to make comments indicating that roxy or heather beat caden and caused his death. if you truly knew these people, you would know that accusation is ludicrous. these people are the type that would give you the shirt off their back if you needed it. and those kids always always came first. if you would like to contact the family and show your support feel free to send a private message. maybe we could organize something on that day at the victim's memorial, which by the way, no one in the caden's family was invited to.

by the way josh is only 29. it seems the public can go to jeff city and listen to the argument. geez, wonder what they would think if roxy and the family showed up.

I just wonder if these death row imates think it was humane what they did to their victims?

I could care less how they dispose of these crazy people and they aren't worth anything to themselves or to anyone for that matter.

Everytime they scream about cruel punishment they should write in detail exactly what they have done to deserve being on death row, I bet the victims would have liked to have some say how they were going to die and when.

Get with the program and get rid of them all, the sooner the better.