I don't see it as being the choice you are putting out. You can still keep murderers and rapists away from future victims and not kill innocent people. You put them in prison for life. And yes you will make mistakes sometimes and innocent people will go away for a long time, but at least the chance remains that they can get out.

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lambaste me not

Still, I think we need to agree to disagree.

FYI, my serious lack of faith in the criminal justice system has a lot to do with my refusal to back off one inch with convicted criminals. I cannot get past the thought that we are asking innocent women and children to pay the price for any lack of resolve we may have with criminals.'

I would rather have the death of an innocent man on my conscience than to allow a little child to be brutalized or murdered. Thats just where I draw the line and I understand you see it differently.

At least you are being honest.

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lambaste me not

I don't always make it, but I am always trying.

But, I would like to remind you that during Illinois Governor George Ryan's term, 12 people were executed. During that same term, 13 people were exhonorated. Are you comfortable with that, a flip of a coin?

http://talkleft.com/new_archives/000698.html

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lambaste me not

of the sentence?

There is a difference.

A person who commits a double murder that is so violent that open caskets are not an option can have the sentence commuted to life without the possiblity of parole if certain conditions are met. If some or all of the 13 fall into this sort of category, then I cannot say your numbers will make me change my mind.

I read your response but I don't understand it. Some or all of 13 what?

12 people were executed, but 13 were exhonorated. Makes you wonder how many of those 12 were innocent. if if that many were found to be innocent in the same term.

There has to be a point where you at least question it.

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lambaste me not

Of the 13 people who were not executed, how many were found innocent of the crime and how many had the sentence commuted to life in prison?

If you could prove that 13 out of 25 were innocent of committing murder, then you would have a compelling case. If the 13 had their sentences commuted to life because of some technicality, then its a matter of debate as to whether we should see the 13 guys with commuted sentences as examples of why the policy should be changed.

I mean, if 13 guys were guilty of violent murders but had some reasonable doubt about the aspect of premeditation or something, then I cannot say I am any more sympathetic. If 13 guys were innocent of murder, however, then we have a much different story.

I think I understand what you are saying. The 13 people are people who were totally exhonorated due to DNA testing. It wasn't shady like reasonable doubt issues raised by bad lawyers. It really concerns me that so many poor people are being sentenced to death due to having overworked public defenders on their side.

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lambaste me not

If half in the state are proven innocent by DNA evidence, then I agree executions should be suspended indefinitely in Illinois until the judicial system can be reformed and a reasonable level of confidence is restored. 1 out of 2 is not a supportable number even in my book.

I would still keep the inmates in a life without parole mode until the mess was straighted out, but this matter has to be addressed. Actually, the implications go way past death penalty issues. If they are getting it wrong half the time, then potentially thousands of convicts are being wrongfully held in prison.