Send me a note and ph number.

Hugs,
Christy

More than 1/3 of the world’s countries have abolished the death penalty. The US ranks in the world’s top 5 executioners along with China, Iran, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. (Gah)

Between 1972 and 1976 the death penalty in the US was suspended after it was found to violate the constitution.

The death sentence is not uniformly applied – just two per cent of murderers actually end up on death row.

95 per cent of death row prisoners cannot afford their own attorney.

95 per cent of executions last year were in southern states.

80 per cent of execution cases involve a white murder victim, even though half of all murder victims are African-American.

The average length of time between sentencing and execution is more than 12 years.

The lethal injection involves a drug considered inhumane by the American Veterinary Medical Association and banned in many states for use on animals.

Those statistics are shocking.

I agree with Gail’s idea as well. It makes a lot more sense to force them to ‘give back’ rather than just killing them off.

There’s plenty of flaws, agreed.

However, as for the putting them to work – many people don’t want that because the risk for escape, revenge (not repairing correctly) etc is just too high.

The reason I hold this opinion is because my brother works in corrections and my grandfather was a sheriff. I’m not sure there’s another solution and yes the evidence should be fairly concrete. However, the system we currently have is better than no system. We trust the jury to make the right choice and so, we let them make it.

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I know the system back home (yup and I mean NL) is lax compared to the US or Canada, but I also find NL TOO lax on many laws.

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Don’t let them or their estate reap the benefits of a book deal or provide a free university education. They’ve got lots of time on their hands; surely the state or region where they’re incarcerated can come up with a program that will put them to work to benefit society.

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I can totally understand how both of you feel, and I’d probably feel the same if someone did something to one of my family members. I can’t help but think of those who aren’t serial killers though. I’m not sure that all the men and women who find themselves on death row can be compared to the likes of Ted Bundy etc. I’m still really confused hehe

Sonya – I’d LOVE to hear what goes on here that we don’t know about! My husband often talks about how crime etc isn’t as bad here as in the US and now the prisons aren’t as bad. I always believed him!

Since living here and having a husband who works in the system here I can also say that it’s not always up to par and there are major issues that need to be addressed in this country AND how much evil has been committed here and how little the average person in this country even knows about.

I suppose there is no yes or no answer to all of this. For myself I can say that if someone takes the life of my child or husband I would end their life without thinking twice.

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Ironically, your example, Ted Bundy, strikes close to home. During his killing spree in the 70′s, he came through Salt Lake and even attended university in Utah. A woman who managed to escape him is from Murray, where I live. Do I think he deserved letters to brighten his day? No, I don’t. Did he receive them? Most definitely.

When I was in school, I came to find out that my teacher went to university with Ted Bundy for awhile. I asked his opinion on the matter and he told me “I was glad the day they executed him.” I think that sentiment is felt by many, considering that not even prison held him in, as he managed to escape.

I do believe there is room for improvement in any situation. As for the time it takes to be executed – this is due to the automatic appeals process. If a prisoner chooses to drop their appeals, as was the case with Timothy McVeigh, then their execution date comes quickly.

As for them being held in harsh conditions – I suppose I can’t really form an opinion on that, as each prison is different. I don’t think they should be treated like animals, no. But, I do think they should feel even a tenth of what they made their victim and the victim’s family feel.

Another example for you to read about that also happened in Utah is the Hi-Fi murders in 1974. Both of the criminals were put to death, though, it took some time due to appeals.

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