Good news, Westerfield gets death penalty

[damo]

Glad to hear that. I hope that sentiment is universal.

 

[danacara]

I wish we'd given him life in prison if only for the costs involved. It's going to cost far more to execute him than to let him rot it out in prison in California for life, and I don't think he's worth the money.

And I'm not from the Midwest, but even we see our fair share of WWJD bracelets here in Jersey. And somehow, I just can't see Jesus celebrating the death penalty. For some reason, this never slows down the hang 'em high crowd. I just can't see Jesus doing this.

 

[we3luvdisney]

Originally posted by danacara
And I'm not from the Midwest, but even we see our fair share of WWJD bracelets here in Jersey. And somehow, I just can't see Jesus celebrating the death penalty. For some reason, this never slows down the hang 'em high crowd. I just can't see Jesus doing this.

Some Christians claim that we have no right to play God by pointing out the 6th commandment in Exodus 20:13 which states: "Thou shall not kill" But if one translated directly from the original Hebrew version, it is: "Thou shall not MURDER." And murder is defined in any dictionary as the UNLAWFUL killing of a person with malice and aforethought.

 

[we3luvdisney]

Originally posted by EROS
SOCIETY can be protected by LIFE sentences without the possibility of parole. Most of the civilized world chooses such a course. It assures that these animals will not harm an innocent again. Of course, when the masses crave VENGEANCE they're not appeased by such security..........they "need" their piece of flesh ........

Abolitionists claim that there are alternatives to the death penalty. They say that life in prison without parole serves just as well. Certainly, if you ignore all the murders criminals commit within prison when they kill prison guards and other inmates, and also when they kill decent citizens upon escape, like Dawud Mu'Min who was serving a 48-year sentence for the 1973 murder of a cab driver when he escaped a road work gang and stabbed to death a storekeeper named Gadys Nopwasky in a 1988 robbery that netted $4.00. Fortunately, there is now no chance of Mu'Min commiting murder again. He was executed by the state of Virginia on November 14, 1997.

Another flaw is that life imprisonment tends to deteriorate with the passing of time. Take the Moore case in New York State for example.

In 1962, James Moore raped and strangled 14-year-old Pamela Moss. Her parents decided to spare Moore the death penalty on the condition that he be sentenced to life in prison without parole. Later on, thanks to a change in sentencing laws in 1982, James Moore is eligible for parole every two years!

 

[damo]

Some Christians claim that we have no right to play God by pointing out the 6th commandment in Exodus 20:13 which states: "Thou shall not kill" But if one translated directly from the original Hebrew version, it is: "Thou shall not MURDER." And murder is defined in any dictionary as the UNLAWFUL killing of a person with malice and aforethought

You can't tranlate from the Hebrew version and a modern dictionary at the same time. Perhaps at the time when the Hebrew version was written, their definition of murder was different.

 

[EROS]

Originally posted by danacara
And somehow, I just can't see Jesus celebrating the death penalty. For some reason, this never slows down the hang 'em high crowd. I just can't see Jesus doing this.

As Christians and non-Christians alike are painfully aware, Jesus Christ was a VICTIM of state-sponsored killing ........

 

[we3luvdisney]

Originally posted by EROS
SOCIETY can be protected by LIFE sentences without the possibility of parole. Most of the civilized world chooses such a course. It assures that these animals will not harm an innocent again. Of course, when the masses crave VENGEANCE they're not appeased by such security..........they "need" their piece of flesh ........

There has also been major political hay made out of a nasty scandal involving a prisoner named Willie Horton and Massachusetts' controversial "Prison Furlough Program." Massachussets governor Mike Dukakis was genuinely committed to the program, and had worked hard to bolster it, despite serious public concerns. In 1976, he'd actually vetoed legislation that would have banned furloughs for first-degree murderers, defending the practice as an essential "management tool."

Thus, a decade later, in June of 1986, there was nothing in the law to deny convicted murderer Horton what was supposed to be a routine 48-hour leave.

Predictably, Horton didn't play by the rules. He fled, eventually arriving in Maryland, where, in April of 1987, he had pistol-whipped and knifed Clifford Barnes, then bound and gagged him and twice raped his fiancee, Angela. When the story of the furlough became known, Horton's brutality created a public uproar.

The Maryland judge who subsequently sentenced Horton to two consecutive life terms refused to extradite him to Massachusetts. "I'm not prepared to take the chance that Mr. Horton might again be furloughed . . . This man should never draw a breath of free air again," said the judge.

The scandal heated to a rolling boil. In April of 1988, embattled Massachusetts legislators finally killed the 16-year-old program -- without further resistance from Dukakis. Thank God!

 

[Jenzebelle]

I don't find this to be joyous news. It unsettles me to think how gleeful some people are when met with news that someone is condemned to death- regardless of the evil deeds that person did.

 

[we3luvdisney]

Originally posted by danacara
And I'm not from the Midwest, but even we see our fair share of WWJD bracelets here in Jersey. And somehow, I just can't see Jesus celebrating the death penalty. For some reason, this never slows down the hang 'em high crowd. I just can't see Jesus doing this.

Many Christians would claim that Jesus changed or abolished the old law and directly opposed the death penalty when he saved a prostitute from being stoned by saying, "Let he among you who is without sin, cast the first stone." John 8:7 and when he said, "Judge not, that you be not judged." Matthew 7:1. But Jesus himself told us that He did not come to abolish or change the Law, but to fulfill the Law:


"Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."-Matthew 5:17-19

 

[EROS]

 

[Lanshark]

Eros,

I posted a poll on the DB last week about capital punishment. I would love to have your opinion on the thread. You know how boring the DB has been the past week

 

[anniet]

And of course a " eye for and eye" is the right and moral thing to do!!

An eye for an eye just leaves everyone blind.

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

I am deeply saddened by this decision.

 

[Sunny]

This man deserves to die, now. Do I feel good about that? Absolutely not. But sometimes the right thing to do is painful. I hated this man through the whole trial and as soon as I heard his fate, saw his shaking and his tears, my heart melted a little. I'm ashamed of that (my heart melting, not my approval of him dying).

I'm glad someone brought up the Pamela Moss case. That murderer is up for parole every 2 years now. Also, there was the case of Arthur Shawcross who killed 1 or 2 kids years ago, did his time and was released. He then went on to kill numerous women. He needed to die years ago also.

I don't understand why this man was shaking and tearful when he heard death. I thought death was part of his life. Why should death scare him now? Because it's him and not a little girl? This little girl died a violent death, they reported last nite that some of her teeth were found in the back of her throat. He needs to go away, far, far away.....

 

[damo]

Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."-

Can someone explain this to me? Is there a word or two missing in there?

 

[WillyJ]

Adam,

I made the point that Justice Department figures show that on average, states with the death penalty have higher per capita murder rates then states that don't, and most countries with the death penalty have higher murder rates then those that don't.

It's not a "theory"; it's a fact, and I don't see how the situations you cited even pertain to what I what wrote much less "disprove" them. . .

As far as someone serving a life-term killing again in prison; that's a valid point, but of course since under the current system it takes on average 15 years from time of sentencing to actual exacution, even those given the death penalty have opportunities to kill again in prison. .

And I also feel like what I wrote was done in a respectful manner to opposing point of views, so please save your disrespect and "yadda yaddas" for those who can't seem to do that. .

 

[Big Dude]

Willy, maybe I was not clear and concise as to what statement you made that I feel was not true. The examples I cited had everything to do with that statement.

Originally posted by WillyJ
As far as the death penalty being a deterrent- it isn't. Obviously it does insure the person being put to death won't kill again (if they in fact were guilty of the first one), but a life term with no parole accomplishes the same thing at less cost.

The 2 examples were that of corrections officers being killed/murdered by someone serving a death row sentence. (The person being put to death did indeed kill again).

The "yada, yada, yadas" were in place of the figures that you used in the original post and were meant as no disrespect. The was meant as "there are also other views besides your own"!

Perhaps being a moderator, you can get the smiley removed so it is not misconstrued as being disrespectful by anyone else. If I have offended you in any way, I apologize. It is not my intent to cause undue discomfort to anyone on these boards.......(unless it's my brother EROS and only because I care about him )

I wish you a great rest of the day.

Kind Regards,

Adam aka Big Dude

 

[bumcat]

stated by Eros - Jesus Christ was a victim of state-sponsored killing.............


Wow, that is one powerful sentence!! I like that one, Eros.

 

[WillyJ]

Adam,

I appreciate you taking the time to explain what you meant, and I apologize for taking it wrong- no harm done.

I know this an emotional issue, and I sincerely respect any view points that differ from mine. I think everyone agrees a person who would abduct and murder a child deserves to be removed permantly from our society; we just have different view points on the best and fairest method.

 

[we3luvdisney]

Originally posted by damo
Can someone explain this to me? Is there a word or two missing in there?

King James Version

17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to 1fulfil.
1 Psa 40:8, Matt 3:15, John 4:34, John 8:29, Heb 10:7, Heb 10:9

18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the 1law, till all be fulfilled.
1 Isaiah 2:3, Isaiah 42:4, Isaiah 42:21, Micah 4:2, Romans 3:31, Heb 8:10

19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least 1commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach 2them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 1 Rom 7:7, 1st John 3:4
2 Matt 7:12