D.C. Sniper Execution

[storm5510]

John Allen Muhammad, the mastermind of the 2002 sniper attacks that terrorized the suburbs of the nation's capital, is scheduled to die by lethal injection Tuesday evening at a state prison near Jarratt, Virginia.

Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine denied a clemency request from Muhammad's lawyers, closing off what is likely to be his last avenue of appeal.


"Having carefully reviewed the petition for clemency and judicial opinions regarding this case, I find no compelling reason to set aside the sentence that was recommended by the jury and then imposed and affirmed by the courts," Kaine said in a statement.


The Supreme Court denied Muhammad's appeal on Monday. He is all but certain to be executed at Greensville Correctional Center at 9 p.m. ET.

Since time and memorial, mankind has been doing this as a means of punishment. It doesn't seem seem to bring victims and their relatives any true sense of closure. Some of these people sit on death-row for years or even decades. The point sort of gets lost.

[CRGreathouse]

Originally Posted by storm5510

Since time and memorial, mankind has been doing this as a means of punishment.

Immemorial?

Originally Posted by storm5510

It doesn't seem seem to bring victims and their relatives any true sense of closure.

I don't think that's the intent.

[Prime95]

Originally Posted by storm5510

It doesn't seem seem to bring victims and their relatives any true sense of closure.

That's an inaccurate generalization. For some it does provide relief.

[Fusion_power]

There are enough examples of the death penalty being applied to innocent men and women to make me leery of it. But in this case, there is no doubt he is guilty and there is no doubt he would do it again if he got out. I'm glad he is gone. Good riddance.

[storm5510]

Originally Posted by Prime95

That's an inaccurate generalization. For some it does provide relief.

It may for some, but not all. I was watching Larry King and he had the brother of the FBI agent that was shot at the home improvement store. He basically said he didn't feel any different afterward. He only stated that he felt Malvo should have been executed also.

There was an individual from California DOC on the program. He made reference to over 250 on death-row in that state. This number speaks clearly to a system bogged down withing itself.

[flouran]

Originally Posted by Fusion_power

There are enough examples of the death penalty being applied to innocent men and women to make me leery of it. But in this case, there is no doubt he is guilty and there is no doubt he would do it again if he got out. I'm glad he is gone. Good riddance.

So your line of reasoning is that sometimes the correct way to punish people who kill others is by killing them?

[Mini-Geek]

Originally Posted by flouran

So your line of reasoning is that sometimes the correct way to punish people who kill others is by killing them?

I believe that's what he's saying, and I agree.
I think I see where you're going with this ("but then shouldn't you also kill the one(s) who killed the killer, and so on ad inifinitum?"), but there is a big difference between a murderer's killings (usually motivated by greed, anger, insanity, or some combination of these, done by one to a few individual(s), and kills those who are innocent of any major offense) and capital punishment's killings (usually motivated by justice, given a fair trial with a jury and chances to appeal, and kills those who have murdered and/or committed other very serious crimes).
Whether you think capital punishment is right and good or not, I think you should acknowledge that.

[Prime95]

Originally Posted by storm5510

It may for some, but not all.

I never claimed it brought relief to all. In fact I explicitly stated it brought relief for some.

Compare that to your original post where you state without any qualifications "it doesn't seem to bring...closure". I suspect you're conveniently ignoring cases that do get some closure because it doesn't bolster your arguments against the death penalty.

He made reference to over 250 on death-row in that state. This number speaks clearly to a system bogged down withing itself.

This is an equally effective argument for executing quicker.

[Dougal]

the best way to do this is life in prison, (i.e until the criminal dies.) and made do hard labour.this is punishment, death penalty is far too easy on some criminals.

[philmoore]

Originally Posted by Dougal

death penalty is far too easy on some criminals.

I agree, the prospect of spending 40 years breaking rocks would be a much more effective deterrent. Most mass murderers have a death wish anyway, why indulge them?

[CRGreathouse]

Originally Posted by Dougal

the best way to do this is life in prison, (i.e until the criminal dies.)

I understand incarceration is cheaper, too.

Originally Posted by Dougal

and made do hard labour.this is punishment, death penalty is far too easy on some criminals.

Originally Posted by philmoore

I agree, the prospect of spending 40 years breaking rocks would be a much more effective deterrent. Most mass murderers have a death wish anyway, why indulge them?

Would this cause 8th Amendment problems? I honestly don't know.