General comments- I am opposed to the death penalty for a myriad of reasons, and if pro death penalty folks want to get to the bottom line, I will even oppose it because of the economics involved. While I am a person who believes in limited federal power, this is a case where I think there should be a federal law eliminating executions. I never claim to be totally consistent, as you will see in a moment.
Concerning this particular case- beyond the personal feelings I have concerning the death penalty, I just don't understand the refusal to allow more time for investigation using techniques that may or may not prove a person's innocence. Certainly DNA evidence has cleared many folks wrongly convicted. As I understand it (and I certainly could be wrong because I didn't make a lengthy study of this case) there was no direct evidence to link this fellow to the murder. Especially in light of recent studies which show how unreliable eye witness testimony is,, why continue with his execution. All that said (and here is where I am inconsistent)- I must admit that I was not unhappy that Timothy McVeigh didn't go thru all the machinations of appeals and accepted his execution. If anything ever cried out for justice, it was his calculated, cold-blooded attack on folks he didn't know.
7 comments:
It's sick. Not sure what else to say.
Makes me sick.
General comments- I am opposed to the death penalty for a myriad of reasons, and if pro death penalty folks want to get to the bottom line, I will even oppose it because of the economics involved. While I am a person who believes in limited federal power, this is a case where I think there should be a federal law eliminating executions. I never claim to be totally consistent, as you will see in a moment.
Concerning this particular case- beyond the personal feelings I have concerning the death penalty, I just don't understand the refusal to allow more time for investigation using techniques that may or may not prove a person's innocence. Certainly DNA evidence has cleared many folks wrongly convicted. As I understand it (and I certainly could be wrong because I didn't make a lengthy study of this case) there was no direct evidence to link this fellow to the murder. Especially in light of recent studies which show how unreliable eye witness testimony is,, why continue with his execution. All that said (and here is where I am inconsistent)- I must admit that I was not unhappy that Timothy McVeigh didn't go thru all the machinations of appeals and accepted his execution. If anything ever cried out for justice, it was his calculated, cold-blooded attack on folks he didn't know.
I admit that I'm fairly inconsistent here too. On one hand, what happened in this instance is appalling. Truly.
On the other hand . . . Jeffrey Dahmer -- admitted to his guilt, did some ATROCIOUS things, etc., so . . .
the death penalty is all well and good until "you" are the miscarriage of justice , then its not quite such a good idea.
Im glad we don't have it
horrific
I used to not have an opinion on the death penalty. Now I do. I am against it. Who knows...I could change my mind in the future.
Post a Comment