Yet another death penalty poll

[Pushed To The Left]

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

1. None Of The Above. How Bout, Against The DP, But Don't Give A Fuck About

what will or won't happen to Tookie tonight. I don't condone the DP, but I also ain't gonna lose a wink of sleep tonight over feeling sorry for a 4 time murderous brutal thug piece of shit that still to this day won't apologize for his crimes. So again, fuck the DP, and fuck tookie.

[billbuckhead]

3. I'm sad for our society and absolutely not for this multiplemurdering thug

I don't see how this doesn't lower California down to Tookies level. That being said, hopefully keeping him alive is worse for him.

[bammertheblue]

6. I completely agree

Killing people because killing people is wrong is just....stupid. It's like whacking your kid because they hit their friend.
Hopefully living with what he did and knowing he's never going to get out of jail is a worse punishment than death, like you said.

[MercutioATC]

10. That's where I am...sorta.

I'm undecided on the DP and I couldn't give a shit about Tookie.

[MrModerate]

2. Not to be cold, but for me it's a matter of practicality . . .

The effort put into trying to execute anyone is a huge waste. It's cheaper to throw people in jail and weld the cell doors shut. And if you're into vengeance, a more miserable fate than a clean death strapped to a gurney.

I used to think that I was opposed to the state killing anyone, but about 20 years ago, Ted Bundy came up for execution and I couldn't help myself -- my heart said, "kill the fucker."

And that's when I decided that the death penalty needed to be abolished.

[Maat]

4. I agree, MrModerate (n/t).

[Lorien]

5. My psychology professor in college said that states with the death penalty

have the highest rate of violent crime. It was the subject of a long discussion in one of our classes; why does a death penalty cause an increase in homicides? Are murderers really just self loathing suicidal loons who are too cowardly to off themselves, so they try to get the state to do it? Why do states continue to use the death penalty when it has the opposite effect on deterring violent crime? (Probably because the people love vengeance).I admit that sometimes I feel that someone is so vile that they don't deserve to live,but I won't support the death penalty because of it's effect on the crime rate (plus there's no doubt in my mind that innocent people are sometimes killed because of a corrupt system).

[GoneOffShore]

9. Well said,

and despite all the ranting on this board about how "Tookie deserves it" and "he should apologize", "He should admit it", the end is still the same. Death penalty = vengeance. Pure and simple.
As we mature as a species, perhaps we will get the idea that the "Death Penalty" makes no difference to those people who commit crimes without remorse, and that a life spent behind bars, contemplating what you've done, is a far worse fate than dying at the hand of the state executioner.

[Zynx]

7. I oppose the death penalty on principle.

That said, I have zero sympathy for Tookie, nor do I feel he should have gotten clemency for being Tookie.

[sojourner]

8. how bout opposed to tookie's death just as much as any other death...

on death row. that is reason enough for opposing it. not favoritism, not redemption, none of the heart-rending stories being told. the death penalty is wrong.

[Tom Rinaldo]

11. I am in the oppose death penalty, oppose this execution group

But I don't think I would support William's being put to death now even if I did support the Death penalty in other cases. I might argue that retribution should have been much more swift, but since Tookie has already been let live for 25 years he has shown beyond any doubt that he poses absolutely no threat to society and instead is actively giving to society, killing him at this point becomes a hollow and meaningless act for society to insist on. His case is either an argument for no death penalty or for a swifter death penalty, and for me it is very much the former.