Let's assume Holmes is found guilty of all charges. Death penalty or life?

[Johnny Rico]

My vote: kill him.

[samsingh]

1. painful death penalty

[ananda]

2. Life.

I think the death penalty is wrong.

[southernyankeebelle]

131. I agree with you. Besides that it isn't going to bring the dead back. However, he'll

have to live the rest of his life in jail without ever getting out. Let him stew. Death is the easy way out.

[a kennedy]

144. Love you ananda

[Liberal_in_LA]

182. +1

[onehandle]

3. Prison is Hell. Far worse than death, and cheaper to the taxpayer. nt

[Freddie Stubbs]

94. Hard to believe considering the high number of repeat offenders

[AnOhioan]

4. Life.....why should the state commit the same crime, murder?

[Johnny Rico]

5. A lawful execution is not murder by definition.

[AnOhioan]

20. Matter of opinion

[cali]

21. ooh right. because if the state says it's not murder and that it's a lawful

execution, it is.

sheesh.

It's state sponsored killing. call it whatever else you want.

[Johnny Rico]

24. I agree that it is a state sponsered killing. That is accurate language.

Some state sponsered killings are justifiable and some are not.

[Ikonoklast]

198. KInda like what finally happened to you.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=profile&uid=280313&sub=trans

[Green_Lantern]

206. so...putting him in prison is state sponsored hostage taking...

It is the state's ability to punish criminals.

[Ken Burch]

116. Then again, it's the state that's writing that definition.

OK...we get it that you want to end the guy.

Don't assume that those who oppose the death penalty aren't just as sickened by what happened as you are. You don't have the monopoly on outrage on this.

[unblock]

129. ok, i know all about godwin's law, but,....

[movonne]

162. When you kill another person it is murder no matter the reasons...even war...

[pipoman]

190. That is if you are playing the game

"I can make up my own definitions", however if one is concerned with actual definitions this post would be false. It would be true to state..'When you kill another person it is homicide no matter the reasons...even war...'

[MicaelS]

41. Murder is defined as

Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being.

Note the word UNLAWFUL. If a state decides that a particular type of killing is lawful, it isn't murder.

[a kennedy]

145. Love you AnOhioan

[HappyMe]

6. I have to go with

death here.

[Xithras]

7. Same as any other criminal.

I don't believe that the state should kill anybody, but I believe that all life sentences should include the option of voluntary euthanasia after some arbitrary period of time. If he doesn't want to off himself, let him rot in a cell. He's only 24, so he's going to be staring at those bars for a LONG time.

[noamnety]

103. +1

Exactly my thoughts, I'm surprised to see someone else express them here.

[cali]

8. I am against the dp in all circumstances. no exceptions.

and I'm distressed at how many vengeful pro-dp supposed progressives there are here at du.

[Inspired]

56. +1

[ellisonz]

60. +2

[LiberalLoner]

154. +3

[a kennedy]

147. Love you cali

[markpkessinger]

173. +1 n/t

[WolverineDG]

9. Life

I don't support the death penalty & besides this guy is most likely insane.

[a kennedy]

149. Love you WolverineDG

[bigwillq]

10. Life

He'll get his in prison. And I hope it'll be slow and painful.

[cali]

12. ugh. your post is understandable, but really? is that really what you wish?

anyway, I doubt the guy will stand trial.

[Johnny Rico]

16. Yes. See my sig line.

[cali]

22. what a remarkably inane quote.

Of course, I've never thought much of Heinlein's work.

[Egalitarian Thug]

146. It's very appealing to the pubescent male mind. n/t

[bigwillq]

186. I hope he rots

He deserves every bit of inhumane punishment I hope is headed his way behind bars.

[Green_Lantern]

207. sure he will...most mass shooters are not insane

They are angry.

[elana i am]

11. life

i'm against death penalty.

besides, death penalty is the easy way out.

[a kennedy]

150. Love you elana i am

[booley]

13. Life

though I am biased against the death penalty anyway.

The state always considers what it does justified by law, whether it is or not.

But since I am highly unlikely to be on the jury, does it matter?

[a kennedy]

151. Love you booley

[booley]

199. thanks

what did I do?

[a kennedy]

200. Your stance on capital punishment.....

you indicated you prefer life, and I just said thanks, as I do too.

[WI_DEM]

14. since I oppose the death penalty I'd have to vote Life.

[a kennedy]

140. Love you WI_DEM......

[steve2470]

15. life in prison is far worse than death, imo. Being caged up like a rat is living death nt

[Cayenne]

141. A fate worse than death

I am very pro DP and would sooner outlaw life in prison as a sentence as it is very cruel. The pragmatic Chinese take the view that if a functioning worker is not recovered he is not worth sparing; that is they do no believe in long, damaging prison sentences but are very pro DP.

[a kennedy]

153. Love you steve2470

[steve2470]

188. aw thanks ! :) nt

[Upton]

17. Firing squad...

the shooters alternately armed with AR 15's and 12 Ga shotguns..

[Marinedem]

18. Oddly enough...

Oddly enough, I never support life sentencing. I do however support the death penalty.

Life sentences never made much sense to me. I also always thought that if the death penalty were somehow more expensive than life in prison, we must be doing it wrong.

I vote death. Quick, without ceremony or fanfare. Let him die in mediocrity.

[immoderate]

25. A good percentage of people sentenced for murder have been found innocent.

What would your answer be? Fuck 'em?

--imm

[cali]

29. perhaps I can help make sense of it for you.

if you make a mistake with sentencing an innocent person to life, you can do something- depending on when the error is discovered- in the way of restitution. You kill an innocent person, you can't bring them back to life. Does that make sense?

[Maine-ah]

104. but what about when you have someone like this

who is most certainly guilty. Now, as to whether or not he's sane...that's a whole 'nother issue - if an insanity defense prevails, then lock him up for life.

It's hard. I'm against the DP too...but some cases really push me to re-think it. People like this, or those that hurt children...but then I go back to my original thinking...it's state sanctioned murder. Let 'em rot for life.

[cali]

158. the problem is the innocent

who are convicted and killed- and for me the more encompassing problem is that it's state sanctioned killing.

[Green_Lantern]

209. anti-dp arguments are schizophrenic to me

Up further in the thread it was argued that execution is so much easier on the convict than life in prison. But then execution is discussed as if it is the worst thing the state can do.

The truth is the punishment of death is a greater punishment than life in prison in this country.

I doubt this guy had much appreciation for life anyway.

[NYC Liberal]

44. No, it means we're doing it right. The costs come from mandatory appeals

that take years to make their way through the court system. There are other costs involved in the heightened scrutiny required in a death penalty case as well. If we're going to kill someone then we have to have those safeguards -- considering many times even the ones we have don't prevent wrongful executions.

Life imprisonment cases don't require automatic appeals because there's no hurry. We can always go back and re-review the case. In a death penalty case, the person will be executed (obviously).

[immoderate]

19. The state should not kill people.

It becomes their most solemn function, and crazies try to emulate it.

--imm

[NNN0LHI]

23. I don't believe in the death penalty for anyone

This guy needs to be studied for future reference.

Don

[jp11]

27. +1

I'd stipulate he doesn't get to promote his crazy through books/tv interviews just let the scientists study him if they want and keep him locked away.

[a kennedy]

155. Love you NNNOLHI

[Fresh_Start]

26. life nt

nt

[a kennedy]

161. Thank you Fresh_Start

[HockeyMom]

28. Life without the possibility of parole

[a kennedy]

157. Love you HockeyMom

[Tejas]

30. Ask the survivors.

[Johnny Rico]

33. Given the numbers, that will almost certainly be a split decision.

[Nye Bevan]

31. Let him rot in a small cell for the rest of his life.

No drama. No appeal after appeal, dragging on for many years. No middle-of-the-night Supreme Court hearings. No international interventions from people like the Pope. No clemency hearings. No placard-waving demonstrations.

Just let him quietly rot.

[a kennedy]

160. Thank you Nye Bevan

[backscatter712]

32. My intellect says life in prison. My emotional side says boil him in oil. n/t

[Reasonable_Argument]

34. Life

It's not the state's place to serve vengeance. Put him in a box till he rots.

[a kennedy]

156. Here here Reasonable_Argument

[Douglas Carpenter]

35. the death penalty is a reactionary step away from civilization and the kinder and gentler world -

Humane incarceration and whenever possible treatment and rehabilitation is a step toward civilization and the kinder and gentler world. To support the death penalty is to support the forces of reaction. To oppose the death penalty and support humane means of incarceration is to support the forces of progress.

[cali]

101. + quite a bit

[a kennedy]

167. Thank you Douglas Carpenter

[TheKentuckian]

185. Well said.

[Green_Lantern]

210. the reason we have prisons is we aren't totally civilized...

The dp won't change that.

[sasha031]

36. life, I do not believe in the death penalty

eye for an eye, and soon everyone is blind.
It accomplishes nothing, never to see the light of day is what he deserves.

Beautiful well written post Douglas

[a kennedy]

163. Love yo sasha031

[sasha031]

192. a kennedy thank you so much

Love you too, I don't feel so alone.
What has happened to liberal values, these were once a few of the basics. =^..^=

[kaiden]

37. Carol Chambers is the DA. She LOVES the death penalty.

She's out of office after this year, so this trial will be her swan song. Shoot, she may ask for and receive twelve death penalties.

[Dreamer Tatum]

38. Firing squad in a gas chamber while strapped to the electric chair.

That should do it.

[backscatter712]

42. Nah, too quick. Get medieval on his ass!

How about hanging, drawing and quartering?

[backscatter712]

51. If you're gonna give him the electric chair, make sure you "forget" to wet the sponge...

[B2G]

39. I'm not against the DP, but

in this case, I vote for life. So many of these incidents end in the death of the perp. I think a lot can be learned from turning his cell into a little psych ward and studying the hell out of him.

[a kennedy]

164. Thank you for this 'BUT' B2G

and it should ALWAYS be life.

[RedStateLiberal]

40. A life sentence is a fate worse than death IMHO.

Besides, I don't support the death penalty.

The only way I'd ever support the death penalty is if the system was absolutely perfect and no innocent people ever got sentenced to death and executed. Obviously that is not reality. If even one innocent person is executed then the death penalty is not worth any deterrence it might have.

[leftyohiolib]

43. i dont think there's any doubt to his guilt-so in this case no innocent person will be executed

[RedStateLiberal]

58. My point was about the death penalty in general.

If innocent people are getting put to death then I think there should be no death penalty at all - for anyone - even Holmes. Yes, there is no doubt to his guilt (and emotionally I want him to suffer and die) but I disagree with the death penalty in general based on the principle I explained.

[a kennedy]

165. Thank yo RedStateLiberal

[RedStateLiberal]

191. Anytime!

[NYC Liberal]

45. Life imprisonment.

[a kennedy]

166. Thank you NYC Liberal

[justanidea]

46. Death penalty

Im normally against it but in this case I make an exception.

[frogmarch]

52. At first I thought Life, but

then I remembered the news videos I saw of Richard Speck, the killer of those Chicago nurses back in 1966, enjoying parties in prison. He and his buds were whoopin' it up and laffin' it up, and in one video, there was Richard in a long blonde wig having a helluva good time and making funny faces for the camera.

Death.

[petronius]

47. Life w/ no parole. I oppose the DP, plus I want every opportunity to find

out what makes this guy (and those like him) tick...

[malaise]

53. Ditto n/t

[a kennedy]

170. Love you petronius

and ditto to what makes him tick....

[Green_Lantern]

211. won't happen

You can't analyze human behavior based on an artificial environment.

[hamsterjill]

48. I'll wait for the psych exam results

If he's legitimately mentally ill, and I don't think that can be determined by any of us as bystanders, regardless of our experiences with the mentally ill, nor can it be determined by one televised court appearance, then I'll have a little more compassion towards him than I do right now.

But as some commentator said over the weekend, if he is determined to be sane, if there is a situation where the death penalty should be levied, wouldn't this be THAT situation?

I'm generally opposed to the death penalty, but there are some situations where I think it should be considered. I'm having a hard time with all of the pre-planning that obviously went into this assault.

[hifiguy]

49. Life - every last day of his life.

Executions should be reserved only for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

[a kennedy]

169. Thank you for this partly.....but I do not believe in ANY EXECUTIONS.

[RevStPatrick]

50. I don't think the state should ever take the life of its citizens.

Therefore, I would like to offer a solution.

In a capital case, such as this one, the convicted person should be given a choice between life in hell... ummm... I mean prison, or death. If they choose death, then someone related to or close to the person who was a victim of the convicted should be the one to "do the deed." That person would then be "registered" as a murderer, and any stigma that would go along with that.

Yes, there are people who would be thrilled to be registered as a killer. And yes, I understand that "the victims did not have a choice, why should the convicted?"

However, I do think that this addresses mine and many other people's ethical problems with the state taking the life of its citizens.

I don't, of course, think that YOU, or anyone other than a member of a jury should get a "vote" on what the penalty should be...

[gopiscrap]

54. Life

Death is vengence and one of the biggest problems our society has is it penchant for violence and "an eyte for an eye" mentality!

[a kennedy]

172. Thank you gopiscrap

[Democrats_win]

55. CO is a de-facto non-death penalty state.

We have the death penalty, but never use it. People are saying that if this Joker isn't killed, than no one should be. HOWEVER, it should be noted that another terrible killer, Nathan Dunlap, the Chuck E Cheese killer, still has not been killed after nearly 20 years. (Note this killing was also in Aurora! Dunlap was just as terrible as this Joker. They both deserve the worst!)

Coloradoans must still see Dunlap's ugly smirking face now and then when the newspaper puts his picture in the newspaper in matters relating to his death sentence. Maybe WE would be better off if they just called the whole thing off--his death sentence. Let these killers rot and give us and the victims a break. Do we want to hear about this Joker for 20 more years?

[Panasonic]

108. I knew one of the managers from that Chuck E Cheese Massacre - met him after the fact

and the fact it was close to my best friend's house was very scary (less than a mile)

I met the manager in college after the fact. He didn't want to talk about it much, which is understandable.

[soccer1]

57. Life with no chance of parole. I don't support the death penalty.

[Taverner]

59. Life. But then again I'm against the DP

The DP would be too easy for him.

Leave him in the general population for about a week.

[sellitman]

60. A eye for a eye and soon we are all blind.

If killing is wrong, it is wrong no matter who is doing it.

[Johnny Rico]

65. "If" killing is wrong. Key word. It depends on the circumstances and who is being killed.

I would assert that the lawful execution of a mass murderer is not wrong, and is in fact a public good.

[sellitman]

196. "If"?

We couldn't be further apart on this if we tried. I am wondering what if anything we agree on.

Gun laws - Nope
Capitol Punishment- Nope


You voting for Obama?

I am.

??

[Odin2005]

62. Death.

[madokie]

63. I say make him live every fucking day that its possible for the body to stay alive

I want him to suffer day in and day out. If you kill him he won't be suffering any longer. Put him in a cell and throw away the key. Let him be reminded every day why it is too.
Some people deserve dying but this dude deserves to live with what he did for a long long time.

[warrprayer]

64. The death "penalty"

is nothing more than a modern lynching. The most racist institution in America.

[Bluerthanblue]

66. life.

We will never be able to begin to stop the premeditated intentional taking of human life, by justifying doing so under the banner of "Government".

That includes drone strikes and covert assignations.

[Johnny Rico]

68. Government "Covert assignations"...what does the recent Secret Service sex scandle have

To do with this?

(just funin' ya...!)

[Bluerthanblue]

69. should have used my

own 'misspelt' assisination rather than trying to be correct. I didn't think that looked right.

[Duer 157099]

67. Whatever it is, I say it include the right to autopsy his brain

That brain needs to be evaluated carefully to find out what went wrong with it.

[white_wolf]

70. Life.

Aside from the issues of accidentally executing the innocent, the DP raises some major questions. Once you give the State the power to kill it's own citizens, what power can you not give the State? The DP essentially says your life belongs to the State and they have the power to take it away when they see fit.

[get the red out]

71. Life

He needs to be analyzed to see what made him do this.

[rrneck]

72. Nope. Life.

Killing people is wrong. Every time. It doesn't matter why.

Sometimes its necessary, but it's never right.

[FedUpWithIt All]

73. I do not support the death penalty at all. n/t

[reflection]

74. Life.

Having spent a very short time in jail, I think life in prison would be worse than death.

[seabeyond]

75. forever in prison. doesnt mean life, necessarily. i am opposed to DP. nt

[bluestateguy]

76. Life in prison w/out possibility of parole

I oppose state sponsored executions.

But what the other prisoners do to him, that's not my problem.

[Democracyinkind]

77. Give him the choice

Execution or life in some form of incarceration.

I think with the element of choice I could overcome my natural opisition to death sentences.

[Alduin]

78. I am anti-death penalty.

I hate state-sanctioned murder.

Make him rot in prison.

[KamaAina]

79. Life

DP reduces society to his level.

[MicaelS]

80. I would normally vote Death...

But if he gets the DP, then there will be those fighting to get his sentence commuted to Life in Prison. And his lawyers will drag out appeal after appeal, and all that just gets him more of what I think he wanted, which is lots of publicity.

I say Life Without Parole at ADX Florence, 23 hours a day in a cell for the remainder of his life. He's young, he might do 60-70 years.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Penitentiary,_Florence_ADX

[permatex]

81. That's a tough one

I'm generally against the death penalty, however I'm kinda torn on this one.

[marsis]

82. I'm thouroughly for

the death penalty.

But in todays' United States with crooked DAs (political climbers), lame judges, government sci-op programs, and a tiered judicial system that lets, in many cases, the wealthy buy their way out I no longer trust our "processes".
So, no.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

83. Well EarlG gave the OP the DU version of the death penalty:

MIR Team (EarlG) banned Johnny Rico
Reason:
Repeat troll, banned multiple times

[Hassin Bin Sober]

91. Don't get too drunk...

Two new registrations were just nuked by MIRT:

"Robert H"

"heinlein fan"


Face it, johnny, we're just not in to you and your heinlein clap-trap.

[ellisonz]

93. Good for Admin/MIRT.

I called that one a repeat troll like 6 months ago.

[ellisonz]

92. I'm going to set out the troll bait again.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1240126570

[cali]

102. thank goodness.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

193. Now that's a death penalty I can actually support.

[Blue_In_AK]

84. Life.

I don't believe the death penalty is ever warranted. Give him some time -- lots of time -- to think about what he did.

[JitterbugPerfume]

86. this case is difficult

but I still do not support the death penalty

[Comrade_McKenzie]

87. Life. I oppose the death penalty. It is barbaric...

And makes those who carry it out and watch it as despicable as the criminal.

[cbayer]

88. Time in a forensic psychiatric facility until *well* (if that ever happens), then

transfer to prison for a life sentence without possibility of parole.

[amandabeech]

97. If he spends time in a forensic facility, it will be because he was found incompetent to stand trial

I doubt that he will ever be well enough to then stand trial.

Look at Hinckley. He's still in St. Elizabeth's in DC, and he's not going anywhere any time soon.

[cbayer]

98. That would be my prediction as well.

[amandabeech]

99. I'm glad to see someone here who sees things the same way.

Lots of folks seem to want to write off the possibility that this guy's mental health may have declined somewhat quickly perhaps due to the onset of schzophrenia or bipolar disorder.


Love the sailboat!

[cbayer]

100. I would put money on it. Now the debate will be whether or not he should be

medicated so that he can stand trial. Always a fascinating debate and I have strong feelings about not medicating these people against their will for the sole purpose of standing trial.

Thanks! I love the sailboat, too. I live on one and this .gif pretty much sums up my life.

[amandabeech]

105. Interesting point about the medication.

I'm sure where I stand on it. A medicated perp makes a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity more difficult to obtain, even if the perp really was and is.

The medication, though, doesn't make the person completely sane, especially with schizophrenia. It just stops some of the worst symptoms. The patient's thinking is still screwed up, although not to the same extent.

Living on a sailboat! How wonderful!

[cbayer]

114. But medication can make someone meet the criteria for standing trial.

That's the dilemma, particularly if there is the possibility of the death penalty.

Do you make someone sane enough to kill them?

Living on a sailboat is heaven!

[amandabeech]

123. If the medication makes him able to stand trial,

it doesn't mean that they were sane when they did the deed, although it is much harder to get judge and jury to understand the situation. I don't like that at all, which I think is similar to your position.

One way to get around this is for the defense attorney to submit a motion for psychiatric evaluation at a place that is not a prison hospital, because I think that psychiatrists and psychologists who work at those places are more like to find the person sane enough to stand trial when the majority of outside clinicians would see schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or other serious mental illness.

I think that some numbnuts doctor from the New York prison system attributed this to the guy's inability to get a date. That's pure Freudian. Freudian analysis has been abandoned by the vast majority of MDs, PHDs and PsyD's (PsyD is a degree in clinical psychology--and clinical psychology only). That's not the kind of doc who fully understands mental illness in the modern sense, as far as I'm concerned.

Treatment of the treatment of persons with a serious mental health problem varies by state. Texas clearly would find a way to fry the guy no questions asked. Massachusetts would probably put him in a mental facility for a good long while like DC did with Hinckley. I don't know where Colorado is between theses two end positions.

I love boats, but I do occasionally get seasick, so living on one full time wouldn't be possible for me, unfortunately.

[cbayer]

135. Able to stand trial vs. not guilty by reason of insanity are very different, you are right.

The first pertains to the ability to aid in your own defense, the second to your state of mind at the time the crime was committed.

There is a great diversity among personnel at forensic facilities. Some have been there forever because they are pretty cushy jobs. BUt there has been a significant influx of younger, specialty trained psychiatrists that are phenomenal. I know several of these people personally and their expertise is unequaled. These are the ones judges want to hear from.

I don't know where Colorado is on these issues either, but we shall see.

Funny thing is I get seasick as well. It has abated over the years, but it's still there. When we are under sail, which we are frequently, I can't go below decks at all. But it's worth it in the long run.

[jaysunb]

159. Hinckley would be out but he picked the wrong

person(s) to shoot.

[Kalidurga]

90. Prison til dead.

Put him in the general population. Run the tape of the mother who lost her 6 year old.

[Robyn66]

95. Life in prison

I dont beleive in an eye for an eye and he belongs in one of the prizons where they keep the terrorists out in the AS desert.

[hatrack]

96. Life - far cheaper for us, far more unpleasant for him

nt

[Panasonic]

106. Solitary confinement, no contact with anyone

except for the chow. 23 hours in, 30 minutes for rec and shower, and 30 minutes for commissionary.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

107. I vote for Death by Shootin Squad or Solitary Confinement for LIFE.

[Politicalboi]

109. Death

I believe that is the right punishment. And the way he dies should be left up to the victims if they so want to choose. Why should this bastard get a peaceful death with a needle. I feel if the families of any murdered victim wants to see the fucker fried, shot or hung, if they can live with it, why not. Why let the cowards choose their death, when they didn't give their victim a choice.

[RebelOne]

110. Death penalty n/t

[Avalux]

111. Life in solitary confinement.

A much worse fate IMHO, than death. Alone with his thoughts for the next 60 years or so. I don't mind paying for it.

And occassionally, a guard needs to dress up as Batman and just stand in front of the cell door staring at him.

[longship]

112. I appreciate those who call for death penalty.

Except for those who would call for a torturous death.

But I am 100% against the death penalty.

Life in prison with no parole.

[Carolina]

121. "Life in prison with no parole...."

costs us a fortune that could be better spent elsewhere.

No doubt about guilt, so no qualms about execution.

Also, no parole doesn't mean no escape. Ted Bundy's last victims in Florida were because he ESCAPED! There is no escape with execution.

[AntiFascist]

113. Is the death penalty really a good deterrent?

I know a lot of people are screaming for the death penalty in this case, but if the killer was suicidal to begin with maybe he wouldn't have minded the propect of humanely being put out of his misery, and he still gets all the infamy that goes along with it. I would think a greater deterrent, although more costly for the prison system, is the prospect of life in prison without the possibility of parole.

[Ken Burch]

115. Keep him alive to think about what he's done

Also, profile the guy and learn from him...that way we can figure out how to stop things like this from happening.

I hate what Holmes is accused of doing(remember, there still hasn't been a trial)but killing him, however emotionally satisfying that might be to some of us, doesn't change anything and doesn't help anything.

Don't go to the lowest level. Don't give up your humanity. If you do, whatever it is that drove the killer to do this wins.

[aikoaiko]

117. Heinous crime? Check. Certainty of agency? Check. Mitigating circumstances? dunno yet

I need to hear more about the context of his actions, but I'm doubtful there will be compelling mitigating circumstances.

[Riftaxe]

118. if found guilty the death penalty is appropriate

So far the recidivism rate for those executed is 0%, which is a hell of a lot better then for those sentenced to life in prison.

[mzmolly]

119. Life.

Let him ponder his actions, into old age.

[Carolina]

120. Death

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

122. Life. I'm not a fan of capital punishment

and I see no reason to use capital punishment in this case.

But, if he's executed, I won't mourn his passing.

[littlewolf]

124. Life w/o parole ....

this crime certainly falls within what is justified under the DP ...
and I support the DP however I am starting to reconsider this position ...
and rather then a bunch of lawyers getting paid in his auto appeal ..
let some correctional officers get paid to guard him ....

[veganlush]

125. use treatment to

...try to get him out of his demented state. If that works, then kill him. If it doesn't work, keep him locked up.

[veganlush]

126. build him a special cell

...directly beneath a public restroom. His cell will double as the septic tank. make it a pay toilet. Proceeds to the victims and families.

[unblock]

127. life. let's not add to the culture of death, please.

seriously, i think we need to encourage the idea that killing people is in no way "justice".

i think that would actually go a long way toward minimizing these senseless killings.

[TNLib]

128. Life

But honestly I don't think this guy is going to survive in prison very long.

[DinahMoeHum]

130. Life in prison: the death penalty is not harsh enough.

If that fuck wants martyrdom, DON'T give it to him.

Let him rot in isolation for the rest of his natural life.

And by "natural life", I mean, if he develops cancer or some other debilitating disease, DO NOT go to any means to keep him alive. Let the ailment take it's natural course.

For a self-righteous fanatic who has no remorse or forgiveness of heart, life in prison is far worse punishment than death.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

132. Life. I oppose the death penalty in all cases.

[dogknob]

133. Life w/o parole will kill him cheaper and quicker than the death penalty n/t

[Scuba]

134. Life, as a deterrent to anyone planning to go out in a blaze of glory.

[Electric Monk]

136. OP is PPR as a repeat disruptor. Go back to free republic, you gun loving death loving troll.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1240126570

[Zanzoobar]

137. Deadski. Now.

[a kennedy]

138. WE, AS A COUNTRY, ARE BETTER THEN "KILL HIM"

Really, the death penalty??? why??

[freethought]

139. Personally I think he'll get the death penalty

However, I would not be surprised if the inmates in whatever prison he's sent to wind up stabbing him to death with a shank.

[lunatica]

142. Flame bait

[redwitch]

143. Dear Johnny

Rethink this post. Please. We are becoming insane. Just like him. Please, enough already.

[Ineeda]

189. Johnny's gone. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

[Egalitarian Thug]

148. As always, life. The death penalty is just one more example of uniquely American insanity. n/t

[rdking647]

152. death by slow torture on the courthouse steps

its not "cruel and inhumane" to do that to a mass murderer. and the deterent effect would be priceless

[Ezlivin]

168. Life

Then examine him for the rest of his life to try to better understand people like him.

[markpkessinger]

171. I am unequivocally opposed to the death penalty in all instances n/t

[markpkessinger]

174. Besides the fact that I unequivocally oppose capital punishment . . .

. . . I want to wait to see the results of any psychiatric evaluations before jumping to a mentality of vengeance.

[a kennedy]

175. OK, sorry, can't love all the "lifers" .....

but you all know who you are....NO to the death penalty, and to all that feel this way. We are better then that.

[petronius]

187. Love to you too, a kennedy

[indivisibleman]

176. Life. Death penalty is barbaric.

We don't rape people who are convicted of rape.
We shouldn't murder people who are convicted of murder.

[RumNcoke]

177. Life.

[madinmaryland]

178. Life. Living in a 64 sq. ft cell for the next 60 years is a better penalty than death.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

179. I have a bigger concern.

I am against the death penalty. However, my concern is that if he is found not competent to assist in his own defense he may NEVER go to trial at all.

My personal opinion, if you are charged with a violent crime that would get you more than a year in prison, and you aren't competent to stand trial or whatever, they keep should you locked up until you are competent.

[cherokeeprogressive]

180. Life with a box in his cell...

The box should contain a razor blade, a cyanide capsule, and a .45 with one round in it.

There should be a mechanism that allows the guards to lock the box after viewing the contents/before the door to his cell is opened.

[madrchsod]

181. life

he`ll wish he was dead....

[wellst0nev0ter]

183. Life

I think enough people have been killed.

[MrSlayer]

184. If this isn't a capital case nothing is.

It's an open an shut, no doubt about it case. There is zero chance that they have the wrong guy. It's a pretty easy call. The whole process from trial to execution should take a day, two at most. But nothing is ever that easy.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

194. I guess it's Johnny Muerto now. nt

[MrScorpio]

195. I oppose the death penalty in all cases. nt

[slackmaster]

197. Life in prison, or life in a secure psychiatric lock-up

Depending on whether or not he's mentally competent to stand trial.

Stripes or solids.

[get the red out]

201. Life in prison

I would love for researchers to study this guy for a long time. I would hope someone would. We need to know more about why people do such horrible acts.

[patrice]

202. Life, no parole, work 6 days a week, to earn proceeds that go 100% to victims families, mandatory

counseling with tests, like academic tests, that must be passed at an acceptable level.

[Jackpine Radical]

203. Life.

The DP is never justified in an intact society that can afford life imprisonment.

[Vincardog]

204. !00 years for each count Consecutive. Then possibly parol after he completes 50%.

[Green_Lantern]

205. I don't believe the death penalty would be wrong in this case...

Unless the guy is just crazy.

But if the guy did it just to do it then he should face execution.

Life in prison may seem bad to us since we're not sociopathic killers but someone like this may just enjoy the attention and not care about the isolation from society.

He doesn't seem too worried about going to prison and to him prison may not be so bad.

And also he gets to look forward to interviews and studies where he gets all the attention he wants.

Or he can be executed and forgotten as the nothing he is.

[part man all 86]

208. Multi-life sentences back to back and released into general population.

Yeah that's the ticket.