There has been a lot of media coverage concerning the death penalty in the past couple of weeks due to the state of Arkansas rushing to execute eight death row inmates before one of the drugs used in the procedure expires. In fact, the state of Arkansas executed two convicted killers within hours of each other. This of course has escalated the debate over whether or not capital punishment is still a viable way to protect society from some of its members, who seem to be little more than animals.
One man executed, had raped and murdered a woman, and then attempted to murder her eleven year old daughter.
Right here in Delaware, the state’s capital punishment laws have been set aside by the courts, due to procedural issues. It seems because Delaware judges had discretion in sentencing a person to death, and could overrule a jury, and because the burden of proof did not have to meet the “beyond a reasonable doubt standard”, the court decided to stay all executions and to commute the sentences of those on death row to life imprisonment.
This included the killer of Georgetown police officer Chad Spicer, who was shot in the line of duty.
Which brings me to today’s sad news. A Delaware State Trooper has been shot and killed in the line of duty outside a WAWA, in Bear Delaware. It is an ongoing situation. I am sure I share every citizen’s prayers for the family and friends of this slain officer. Let us all pray for our law enforcement officers, and all citizens of this great state, because when these officers are not safe, no one is safe.
Of course social media exploded with calls for bringing back the death penalty to Delaware almost immediately. One might ask why that is? Since there are any number of stories about people being shot and killed in the state all the time. So why is it only when a law enforcement officer is murdered, do we see and hear this outcry for the death penalty in this way?
Please, no one should misconstrue my making this point as being opposed to the death penalty, or that I do not feel for the loss of this officer, and the many others who have given their lives to protect the citizens of this state. I do support the death penalty, not as a deterrent, not as justice, but as protection. We cannot allow these people to either return to society and kill again, nor should we warehouse them and run the risk of them killing other inmates, or prison guards. We have an all too recent example of this as well.
My point here is, if we as a state are going to call for the death penalty, then let us call for it to be applied equally. Let us remove qualifiers such as “law enforcement officer”, or extenuating circumstances. Let us simply say, if you are convicted of murder, if you take a life, then you are sentenced to death. You get three appeals, and then the needle.
As the debate here in Delaware over reinstating the death penalty has moved forward, I have actually heard law makers propose a compromise of, “well how about we just have the death penalty for people who kill police and other first responders”.
Really? Please do not minimize the lives of my family and friends in this manner. If someone kills my wife or child, I am just as devastated as the family of the officer killed today. So why should his killer face a harsher penalty? This would send the message, don’t kill a cop, because you’ll fry, but it’s okay to kill a house wife, or a child, because then you’ll get three hots and a cot. All you’ll have to worry about is whether I am able to smuggle a weapon into the courtroom and blow the back of your head off. But that’s okay, because I’ll get three hots and a cot.
From all reports, the person who shot and killed this officer today is a prime candidate for the death penalty in my view. Not because they killed a cop, but because they killed without a thought, or concern for life. This type of person is likely to kill again, if given the chance. This is why the death penalty should be administered as protection for society. And apply it equally and without prejudice.
We as citizens of the state of Delaware should call on all our legislators to put aside their political bias and preconceived ideas on this matter, and reinstate the death penalty in a manner to pass the courts, and do it now, this session.
“My point here is, if we as a state are going to call for the death penalty, then let us call for it to be applied equally. “ – Frank
The death penalty will never be “applied equally” to the police who murdered Freddie Gray, Philando Castille, Derek Hale, Eric Garner and on and on…. so let’s not pretend that the death penalty can or will ever be equally applied.
No matter how much a violent murderous scum bag deserves to die, it’s a totally different issue than should the state be allowed to murder it’s own citizens.
I have no problem with keeping an animal caged for life. But they should be caged with their own breed, isolated in a remote location. No television, no basketball. They must grow their own food, and govern themselves. No visitation from anyone, anytime.
I also believe that Congress should create a US Court of Capital Appeals. All death sentences would automatically be reviewed by the CCA- a tribunal- consisting of two judges with at least ten years of bench experience and one judge with at least ten years of forensic experience, preferably FBI.
The CCA would have three options. One, deny the appeal, and remand the case to the state Supreme Court for routine appeal. Second, hold a de nuovo trial and adjudicate accordingly. If the conviction is upheld, the US Supreme Court will have ten days to either grant or deny habeas corpus. If denied, execution of sentence will occur ten days from such order. Third, the CCA can remand to the court of original jurisdiction with instruction(s).
It is known that not all defendants receive competent legal advise, and it is known that some prosecutions are essentially railroad jobs. The US Court of Capital Appeals would go a long way toward alleviating these discrepancies, while at the same time, expedite execution of sentence in cases where guilt has been affirmed.
Delacrat, would you suggest doing away with jury trials?
So Mouse, you’re ok with allowing these people to have the chance to kill another innocent person, be it a citizen, a prison guard or even another inmate?
Rick would you also ban them from playing baseball, or did you choose basketball for a reason?
Rick would you also ban them from playing baseball, or did you choose basketball for a reason?
Do I need to list all sports? Okay. Ice and field hockey, volleyball, curling, soccer, gymnastics, baseball and softball, track and field, skiing, bowling, tennis, rugby, swimming, diving, surfing, golf, badminton, croquet, roller derby, white water rafting, kayaking, darts, football, lacrosse….
Good enough, or do you need more?
Was just wondering why basketball was your first choice, I might have gone with weight lifting.
No, you weren’t “wondering.” You were trying to intimate that my post was “racist,” since I mentioned basketball, and thus, was inferring that the prison population is black.
Well, since that was your intent, the fact is that the black Delaware prison population is somewhere around 55-60 percent. The black population in Delaware is around 22-24 percent. Thus, a vastly disproportionate number of blacks commit crimes in our state- this fits in with the general national trend.
And while many black inmates are convicted drug dealers, the disproportionate aspect also applies to rape, murder and so on.
Of course, it’s all the fault of slavery- which ended in 1865.
I don’t think it’s good to have a culture where the state is allowed to kill it’s own citizens
Do conservatives ever self reflect on the morality of their political goals of obsessive blood lust for the death penalty, resentment against religions that aren’t their own, resentment against illegal Hispanic immigrants, resentments against minorities, women and the poor and sexual obsession contrasted with their get government out of my life mentality? I mean most psychologists would see this personality type as having mental illness.
Somehow Mouse’s lack of an appropriate response, in the name of fluffy feelings, to those that kill prison guards and execute state troopers, because the state should not kill it’s own who cannot live by the basic social contract, “Thou shall not kill”, rings hollow. I suppose we are not to engage in free speech, if it offends, nor defend ourselves if it requires a gun. “We hold these truths to be self-evident”, obviously is not self-evident to democrats. God help them when evil threatens their loved ones and their community. As their spokesperson Ms. Maria Harf said, the terrorists just need jobs….
And Rick, do all blacks play basketball?
And Rick, do all blacks play basketball?
Why don’t you ask them?
I play basketball and I’m a short white guy, go figure
I bet Suzzie sits home with some red necked man excitedly waiting to kill someone who breaks into her house