The “Water Cooler” is a feature on Claycord.com where we ask you a question or provide a topic, and you talk about it.
The “Water Cooler” will be up Monday-Friday at noon.
After a 16-year halt, it was announced this week that executions for federal inmates on death row will resume in December. Five inmates are scheduled to be executed between December 2019 and January of 2020.
QUESTION: Do you think this is a good move by the federal government? Or do you think they should just have to spend the rest of their life in prison?
Talk about it….
I’m strongly in favor of the death penalty. I don’t care what it costs, who knows if it’s a deterrent, but it sends a strong message. You play, you pay. Do not pass go. Do not collect two hundred dollars. You made your bed, you’re lying in it. You made your mother proud. Enjoy the execution.
Go for it, kill ’em all. The five men scheduled to die in December and January killed a lot of people including children.
Time to send them straight to hell.
I think life in prison is more punishment then death. But it is expensive to keep someone locked up. So I am all in for the death penalty.
I’m all for the death penalty. If you kill someone, you should be killed in the same manner. Clear off death row and save us all some money. They say it’s inhumane because it “might hurt” I guess it didn’t hurt when the murdered the person/people that ended them up on death row? I have zero sympathy and we need a governor and court system that will support it. It was voted in by voters and that idiot Gavin Newsom has essentially ended it stating “we’re better than that”. I guess what the votes want doesn’t matter.
Not in favor of the death penalty. Too expensive, and it eliminates all possibility of a falsely convicted person from proving their innocence. Keeping an innocent person in jail for any amount of time is deplorable and if I was in that position, I’d much rather be released after spending 25yrs in prison for a crime I didn’t commit, than learning I would be killed for it.
Such a complicated topic though with lots of hypotheticals, it’s hard to answer. With that being said, child molesters should be executed immediately.
If they haven’t proven innocence after 20 years, it is because they are not innocent. Even after 10 years. If DNA says they did it, they did it.
You’re not in favor of the death penalty but child molesters should be executed immediately.
What if the child molester is later found innocent? Oops, too late.
By the way, all five of the men scheduled to die have been convicted of killing children.
You had a decent post until your last sentence. SMH. Think about it: what if the child molester turns out to be innocent? And how is that any more hideous a crime than plain first-degree murder?
My last sentence was due to me not hearing about any child molesters spending time in jail falsely accused. I’ve seen accounts of innocent people charged with murder, and released decades later on new DNA evidence. Haven’t heard the same outcome for chomos. That doesn’t mean it has never happened, and just because I haven’t heard of it doesn’t imply all convicted child molesters are 100% guilty.
Concord ygnacio: I know what your saying, that I contradicted myself and you’re right. I look at molestation and rape of a child as torture. Worse than murder? I don’t know, maybe. It’s how I feel. Open to discussing further.
Kevin I agree. It really is tough. I want people to have opportunity to be found innocent, I think I saw something on the news not long ago of someone being released after a long sentence that was found innocent. I do think that child molestation and rape should have a life sentence (if you are against the death penalty), just as murder would. If you think it’s ok to torture children and adults just to get your rocks off then you don’t deserve to be in public. Why should the rest of us have to suffer because you can’t control yourself? It really ruins peoples lives when things like that happen.
why wait…. today is good…………
These five guys don’t deserve to live another day. They are not human. I think if we went from trial to guillotine we would make killers think twice before they kill someone. Beheading many of them is not as bad as what they did to their victims. Most people have no idea how many senseless murders are committed every day in our country.
The death penalty is wrong and disgusting. An eye for an eye is not the answer. We are better than that.
Plus, an innocent man was just released from prison after spending 30 years there for a crime he did not commit. Good thing he was not sentenced to death.
What’s the difference? You think he has a life now, after 30 years in prison?
Maybe we’re better than that, but they weren’t.
cy ~ I’m betting you have never known anybody who was murdered.
@chicken little Would you be ok being the person to give a lethal injection on an innocent person? We have to live with our decisions. It’s really easy to say “kill them” and vote in favor but remember, when you fill in that dot it’s giving the approval to end any life that ends up on the table, innocent or not. Easy to say yes when you don’t see it every day and it’s only talked about on this page. I know there are some people out there that truly deserve death but really it’s just revenge and now we’re not looking at the bigger picture. Life in prison isn’t easy so it should satisfy you and still leave opportunity for someones name to be cleared, 30 years or not. You are not that person so who are you to say his life was wasted and he shouldn’t live?
I’m for the death penalty and I’m for sending the message that there are consequences to actions. Criminals at all levels – petty to murder – have had the last word for far too long. AND THEY KNOW IT. It’s time to make them pay. As far as falsely convicted go… I’m sorry it happens, but it does and it always will. The numbers I’m sure are small compared the number of guilty slime who should not be on this earth for what they’ve done. We can’t stop justice from being served based on the possibility that someone might get sent to the chair who was innocent. That’s ridiculous! Doing a better job investigating might be the answer there.
Just like family detentions and the travel ban, this is policy designed only to placate the president’s base. Judging by the comments, apparently it works for them: “I don’t care what it costs” (more than incarceration), “who knows if it’s a deterrent” (they DO know, it’s not), “kill them all” (being that rates of incarceration for black and brown people are higher, this is a dangerous sentiment to have in this climate).
Black brown or white what’s the difference. If they are incarcerated it’s because they committed a crime and were found guilty by a jury. The Democratic way of handling crime has done nothing but made it worse here in California.
Since you’re quoting my comments – I didn’t vote for Trump, But I am a moderate Republican. You have NO idea if the death penalty is a deterrent, and neither do I. At least I’m being honest. You’re following the liberal mantra. Try learning to think for yourself.
The difference is that black and brown people, as well as those in lower socioeconomic groups are consistently convicted for crimes that whites get off for. Its a big problem and one that is documented over and over again.
Now you’re spreading lies to excuse bad behavior.
Mr Yeah,they are commiting serious crimes at 6 x the rate of Caucasians,so of course,some and most,will get convicted,because they are guilty.Are you related to Obama?
Politically brilliant move by Trump.
This democrat debate will include a question on the death penalty, and all the liberals will state their objections. Those executed will be the worst of the worst, and their crimes will be headlined as each is executed. Trump looks strong, dems look pathetic.
Personally I would replace the death penalty with life at hard labor and no communication with the outside world.
They all would claim disability,and making them work could create a lawsuit in their favor,nice try ,but fail,fail.
All though I’m for eye for an eye. I would be infovor off a mandatory at the age of 18 . You would have to stay 8 hours in jail. As community service. Better deturnet then the cost to kill. Stocks and blocks worked also. Little bit of spit on the face and a wack of a stick on the ass. By the public would shape this place right up.
Is Scott Peterson one of the 5 inmates to be executed?
In 2004, he was convicted of the first-degree murder of his pregnant wife Laci Peterson and the second-degree murder of their unborn son Conner in Modesto, California, and in 2005, he was sentenced to death by lethal injection.
These executions only apply to death row inmates that were convicted of federally-charged crimes and are housed in federal prisons. Peterson was tried and convicted in CA state court. He’s on death row in Ca state prison San Quentin.
Death penalty for murderers seems like the punishment is proportional to the crime. Do it!
Life w/o parole means the worst of the worst enjoy schooling, healthcare, hobbies, a slew of advocates who downplay/attempt to rewrite their convictions, continual suffering by the victims families and the possibility of being released in the future (it’s all happened)…
I have always said………There should be NO death row .There should only be a death room with no waiting line or back up of any kind. give em the needle/a little electrical volt/or by firing squad or the good old fashion way ….get a rope find a tree.
Two wrongs don’t make a right. What if they gave their life to Christ while on death row and are helping other inmates do the same? Thou shalt not kill, right?
Of course they will claim they have found Christ. Better off to send them to meet him and be judged there if they really have
Then the “saved” inmate can meet Christ that much sooner.
then they should be gassed gor stupidity.
Read about their crimes. Hideous, sick and twisted.
Who remembers the great comedian Robin Harris on the death penalty?
“Gotta go? Gotta go!”
No more incarceration costs for the five after December! Sixteen years overdue! Justice delayed is justice denied. If the governor can simply overturn the vote of the people, the people should send the governor packing next election.
This is by the late Professor John Senior, professor of the humanities at Cornell University and the University of Kansas:
Justice is simply the social good, and it must therefore be done. It is defined as “giving each his due” – cuique sum, “to each his own.” A man is due his life because he is a living thing; it is his nature to have life; and, since it is also his nature to be moral, if a man commits a crime, he must be punished because punishment is retributive – punishment is the penalty due the criminal in justice to him. Proportioned punishment is due him, too, and you cannot deny him that right without yourself committing an injustice against him deserving punishment in turn. The judge who fails the criminal in punishment himself incurs a greater guilt.
I guess Mr. Newsom did not have the grades to get into Cornell.
If the death penalty isn’t a deterrent, why do murderers so often try to plead it down to life in prison? And why do they spend the whole time they’re on death row filing one appeal after another? If death were the easy way out, wouldn’t they just take it?
And even if it’s not a deterrent, it certainly cuts down on recidivism.
Thanks CL… you nailed it.
It cuts down on recidivism, but it’s not murderers who are filing appeals. It’s their attorneys. Deterrent and pleading down are apples and oranges. Deterrence means stopping you from committing the crime in the first place, not your attorney doing his/her job, and pleading down – which is what they’re paid to do.
You can be strongly in favor of the death penalty (I am) and not be ignorant about it.
Congratulations progressive liberal democrats, ya just fell into another Trump trap from which there is NO escape. Another perfectly executed, pun intended, plan to have democrats self label and self destruct.
Over 1,000 democrats seats LOST (state and federal levels) under obama with assistance from reid, schumer and pelosi.
Many voters will see democrats as being sympathetic with death row child killers. Absolutely brilliant strategy to allow democrats to again self destruct under leadership or lack there of from pelosi.
The bloodlust I see here from my fellow Claycordians is truly, deeply disturbing.
Try having a loved one or Police Officer ( I was friends with 2) killed & they are living in prison or get released…Rose Bird got 16 or so out years ago before “Life without Parole” started — we are too easy on bad people. You really have no clue.
@Matt, just the opposite…. Peace of mind and closure for the victims/family. Justice.
I’ve been back and forth over this. I don’t have a problem with killing murders, but I’ve seen too many death row inmates exonerated of the crimes they were convicted and sentenced for for my own comfort. I also think the being put to sleep kind of deaths, or even a quick painful one (quick meaning less than 20 minutes) when they know what’s in store and have been well prepared for in advance is too good for some murderers. The death penalty costs taxpayers a lot more money in the end than keeping them locked up for however long they may live, but for heaven sake BORE THEM TO DEATH. If I were to do to someone any of the kind of things that get people condemned to be put down, the idea of living the rest of my life locked up is that it would be more torturous than death. Death is the easiest way out. IMO keep them locked up without too many niceties. Just enough to keep them mentally competent with just a monthly hour of sky and fresh air.
I gotta disagree.
If death would be preferable, suicide or getting murdered in prison is an easy thing to accomplish.
They all want to live every single minute more that they can.
I don’t believe an execution is more expensive that keeping the worthless scumbags alive, in custody…. year after year after year.
There’s a whole bunch of good stuff here! https://tinyurl.com/y6xesyae
Those who kill by the sword should die by the sword. Do unto others.