DC sniper Muhammad set to die by lethal injection

[whalerick]

Here are my fundamental issues with capital punishment:

1. I'm not willing to give the government the power to execute its citizens. The government already has enough power and its agents often abuse it.

2. It doesn't deter anything and there's a fundamental reason why. People commit crimes because they believe they won't get caught and not because of the punishment. They've done study after study and the results seem to be consistent. Criminals really only fear home owners with guns.

I'm a pragmatist and like to ensure my money is spent wisely. I hold no allegiance to a political party or any dogma for that matter. I'm also keenly aware that people sometimes abuse their position. What better way to solve the crime problem then to allow citizens the fundamental right of self-protection. Personally, this would have been MY first amendment to the Constitution.

Cheers.

I think you're right, in that all the other Amendments DO hand on the 2nd Amendment. The only truly free people are armed people. Keeps the government on its toes

I'm not going to argue with you about the merits or perils of capital punishment. Too much heat, not enough light in that discussion.

Skol! (another way to say cheers)

[whalerick]

Oops, just read back my last post, in the first sentence, should read :"......in that all the other Amendments do hang (not hand, as I wrote) on the 2nd Amendment.

Sorry about that.

[wyohman]

Oops, just read back my last post, in the first sentence, should read :"......in that all the other Amendments do hang (not hand, as I wrote) on the 2nd Amendment.

No problem, I knew what you meant. You can click on "modify" and change your post.

Cheers.

[whalerick]

No problem, I knew what you meant. You can click on "modify" and change your post.

Cheers.

Thanks! I rarely have to modify 'em, but now I know

[BigSkiff]

I think a good old public hanging would be a good thing for this piece of crap. It doesn't matter to me if deters crime or not. I think many folks would find some satisfaction in seeing this guy go down, wiggle and kick, and then fill his drawers. Yes, I know that's sick and a bit perverse but so were the crimes this guy committed. I do agree it would have no useful effect as a deterrent to crime.

[texastaurusguy]

I think the Constitution is pretty clear on the issue - as long as the punishment isn't 'cruel and unusual', it's okay to execute the heinous.

Wyohman, it's interesting that you don't like the government executing people, but the alternative is trusting the government to keep them behind bars for the totality of their sentence. The real merit behind the death penalty is, that they will never commit a heinous crime again. I've never had any illusions about capital punishment being a deterrent, except that once executed, they won't be bad anymore.

[Jake3501]

When is the event supposed to happen, I think Texas has already done a few while we've been dicussing this one? I sure have no problem with executions when they have the right party. If they earned it, they should get just punishment. Period, end of sentance and sentence, end of scumbag!

[45 Forever]

I do agree with capital punishment if they have good hard evidence. However I have a problem with circumstantial evidence sending someone to their death. To many mistakes and DA's that need a bad guy to make the people feel safe. Nefoong sp for example in the Duke rape case.

[wyohman]

Wyohman, it's interesting that you don't like the government executing people, but the alternative is trusting the government to keep them behind bars for the totality of their sentence. The real merit behind the death penalty is, that they will never commit a heinous crime again. I've never had any illusions about capital punishment being a deterrent, except that once executed, they won't be bad anymore.

I don't trust the government either when it comes to locking people up, however if they are exonerated (as many are every year), they can be released. Also, there are no reasonable alternatives that I've seen.

Being innocent doesn't make them any more alive.

Cheers.

[texastaurusguy]

I don't trust the government either when it comes to locking people up, however if they are exonerated (as many are every year), they can be released. Also, there are no reasonable alternatives that I've seen.

Being innocent doesn't make them any more alive.

Cheers.

Perhaps a new thread should be opened on capital punishment.....I don't want to hijack this thread any further.

Back on topic.....I don't think that there is any doubt about this guy having been the sniper. This should be a 'clean kill' in anybody's book, IMO.