NJ Gov. Corzine bans death penalty (Families upset)

[Greenwood]

Corzine signed a bill that makes NJ the first state in more than 40 years to ban the death penalty.

Naturtally, the families of murder victims are upset. Can't say I blame them.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-12-17-newjersey-deathpenalty_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip

[Midlodemocrat]

1. An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind.

There's no such thing as closure when a loved one is murdered. Executing someone for 'closure' is a false promise.

[Greenwood]

4. I can see your view. However.....

something just does not sit well with me when someone kills another human being and totally destroys another family.

And, then that person gets "free" food and clothing for the rest of his life. In addition, they get "free" medical and dental care. Throw in counseling for good measure.

And a family is left to mourn for years.

Something is really wrong with that, in my opinion.

[Midlodemocrat]

5. The death penalty only creates more victims.

The family of the executed. It's a loss-loss for everyone. Executing someone will not bring people's loved ones back and state sanctioned murder is wrong on every level.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

6. You've never done prison time, have you?

Free food?

Given the choice between life behind bars and the death penalty, I'd beg somebody to kill me.

[vi5]

10. So, you trust the justice system THAT much, huh?

I'm against the death penalty but not because I think there aren't people who deserve it or I think that it's not in some way justice.

I just don't trust our justice system to make the right call on this stuff. I really don't. It's not that I don't see the allure or that I wouldn't feel the same way if it impacted my family. I just don't trust the system. I don't trust the judges to get it right every time, I don't trust the juries to get it right, I don't trust the prosecutors or the cops to get it right every time. And that's why I don't want it and don't support it. And my family knows my wishes as well in the event that anything ever happened to me at the hand of another human being.

[TheWraith]

20. Would you be "free" living in an 8' x 8' steel box for the rest of your life?

No choices, no friends, no lovers, no trips or variety or hope for the future. I don't think so... no matter how much free prison gruel and orange jumpsuit material they hand you.

[calteacherguy]

33. Would you rather have a system in which innocent people are murdered by the state? nt

[TechBear_Seattle]

2. Having the state commit murder will not bring back their own dead family members n/t

[rucky]

16. That says it all. n/t

[Dr. Strange]

22. Neither will sentencing the killers to prison.

Should we open the prison doors?

[TechBear_Seattle]

24. How does killing people show that killing people is wrong? n/t

[Dr. Strange]

25. We put kidnappers in jail.

How does taking away someone's freedom show that taking away someone's freedom is wrong?

[TechBear_Seattle]

27. We don't murder them, however. n/t

[Dr. Strange]

28. That's true, but it doesn't answer the question.

How does taking away someone's freedom show that taking away someone's freedom is wrong?

[PresidentObama]

3. Good. Killing someone for killing someone else is stupid and insane.

[Greenwood]

7. Well, it would prevent them from killing another human*

.

[Midlodemocrat]

8. If the death penalty were truly a deterrent, there wouldn't have

been any need to apply it to the second criminal. The execution of the first would have been deterrent enough.

[Greenwood]

9. This one hits home to me....

My bias and emotional attachment comes through very strong on this issue.

I suppose I stand alone on this one.

[maddiejoan]

11. I sincerely hope so.

The Death Penalty is completely barbaric and has no place in civilized society. NONE.

[Greenwood]

13. Must disagree...

I think the death penalty is useful in some cases.

[maddiejoan]

14. Good for you.

I think it's horrific and should be abolished.

[Midlodemocrat]

18. I would venture to say that yes, you probably do.

At the very least, there is minimal support for the DP on this site.

[CTLawGuy]

29. China, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the Sudan

agree with you.

[Nutmegger]

12. That's great news!

Good for the NJ legislator and the governor for standing up against this barbaric practice.

[Greenwood]

15. So, it is a good thing that folks like Charles Manson.....

and others like him are still alive? The night stalker?

Wow.

[denem]

19. No, it's good if one innocent person is not executed by mistake.

[Vickers]

21. Charles Manson has gone from being a scary icon to a pathetic

old freak. I'm glad he wasn't martyred.

Here's the irony: I am generally pro-capital punishment, but the Manson case has almost brought me all the way around for the reason I state above.

[Dr. Strange]

26. There are a lot of bad arguments against the death penalty.

I find myself increasingly ambivalent about the issue; but I think yours is a pretty good argument.

It may not apply to every killer, but looking at the joke that Manson has become, as opposed to some mythic figure, it sure looks like letting him live was the better choice.

[LostinVA]

34. "Wow"

Oh brother.

[denem]

17. My take: The Death Penalty is too dangerous to put in the hands of any governrment

There is nothing, NOTHING, that can't be faked. Pictures, video, witnesses, DNA mistakes - you name it. Every fiercely totalitarian regime reserves the death penalty for itself as the ultimate sanction against dissent.

More broadly, I believe that the State has no more right to kill it's citizens than an individual: ie. Self Defense.

And yes - the judicial branch is, by definition, government.

[Beacool]

23. Good for my neighbor and governor!!!!!

Too many innocent people have been sent to death row. There should be a moratorium on all death sentences, new technology has proven that a fair amount of people have been sitting in jail for a crime that they didn't commit.

[rasputin1952]

30. The DP is not Justice, it is vengeance...

It has never been a deterrent; cannot bring a victim back to life; Life w/o parole ensures that the perpetrator cannot kill again, (outside of the prison walls)...and most importantly, if there is evidence that comes up in the future that exonerates the individual, at least they have a chance to live something of a life after they are released.

In the past, innocent individuals have been put to death, thereby serving no purpose other than a state sanctioned murder, while the actual killer still roamed the streets. If for any other reason, avoiding state sanctioned murder of an innocent individual should put the brakes on the whole DP situation.

[LostinVA]

35. "The DP is not Justice, it is vengeance."

Excellent!

[slick8790]

31. For once I'm proud of my state. n/t

[calteacherguy]

32. I would advise them to take comfort in the fact

that innocent people will not be killed by the State of New Jersey.

Vengeance isn't worth that horrible price.

[Hieronymus]

36. Corzine is a hero.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

37. "Naturally?" What about this?

http://www.willsworld.com/~mvfhr/

http://www.mvfr.org/

[saltpoint]

38. Corzine has this one right.

Agree that opposition to his signature on this bill will prompt opposition on some fronts, but his position is a thoughtful position, and IMO the superior one.

Good for Governor Corzine.