"Amendment VIII: Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted."
So you want to abolish the death penalty. My question to you is why?
To Henderson Hill and Rob Smith and your all out effort to try and abolish this, why?
Your argument about how the criminal justice system is abused for the folks of color is appalling, and as for the death penalty? Well, since 1976, 56% of white people have been executed to 34% black. I'm a little confused as to how you get your information.
If somebody goes and murders another person and is convicted of first degree murder (premeditated), why shouldn't they get the death penalty? In the case of Commonwealth v. Huguely (2010) is it fair that George Huguely gets to mercilessly kill Yeardley Love and only get convicted of second degree murder (intent to kill or seriously injure) and serve 23 years? Why shouldn't he get life in prison and sentenced to death for taking the life of another human being?
Murder is murder is murder...
Why is it that people who TAKE THE LIFE of another person get to appeal their case and have a second shot at life? Their victim doesn't get that chance, so why should a murderer? When someone appeals because they are far away from home, I would say, "well, your victim is a lot farther away than you are so I have no sympathy for you."
To me, it is confusing where the criminal JUSTICE system can only protect the criminal but not the victim. In the case of a senseless murder, the victim does not have a voice. The victim does not get a chance to get on the witness stand and say how broken they are and how their life has changed so immensely. It's because they're dead.
The death penalty serves as the victim's voice. It serves as justice for the family of the victim who's life was taken abruptly and unjustly. Justice should be for the victims, not the people who commit crimes. Murderers should not be allowed to appeal and be granted parole. Kidnappers and child molesters and rapists and gang members and drug addicts should not be allowed to get off easily because they get to complain about their unfair life now in prison. Everyone gets a fresh chance at life everyday we wake up and we are home in our own beds. When you go and break the law and get caught, your life is now in the hands of the government and the judges and courts, so that's something that criminals should remind themselves daily when they are sitting in their prison cells. They had the chance to make a life for themselves. You don't need to kill to have a long and fruitful life and when you choose to do so? Why isn't it fair that your punishment can be death too? Think about that the next time you hear about a young college student being murdered by her alcoholic ex boyfriend out of jealousy or after people commit mass murders and you want them to still have a chance at life.
If you take the life of another person than you've given up your rights to life as well.
