[EMAIL PROTECTED] (William J. Foristal) writes:
>No 3
>Hi Sody,
>
>Oooh, you're really treading dangerous ground when you support
>executions
>to eliminate "burdens of society". IMO, it's a lot easier to justify
>locking someone up for 25 years than it is to justify killing them.
>In
>Hitler's time the Jews were considered burdens of society and they
>were
>systematically killed. I bet there are people in this country right
>now
>who would argue that the old the sick and the lame are burdens to
>society. I don't think a "burden to society" argument is very strong
>to
>support a death penalty.
>
>But I DO agree that the penal system must be structured to provide
>medical treatment where required as well as rehabilitation, where
>possible. Killing them all is simply not an option, IMO. And unless
>you
>are going to kill them all you will simply have to find a way to
>justify
>locking them up for whatever time periods are called for, including
>the
>rest of their lives for some individuals.
>
>IMO, the debate over the death penalty is quite separate from the
>debate
>over how prisons should be operated and how prisoners should be
>treated.
>
>Bill
>Bill as you so often do you made me think. My first thought is to
>disagree. If people are sentenced to death by Courts duly established
>by
>the law than such action is within the per view of justice. The only
>way I
>can see to support euthanasia, assisted suicide or abortion could
>only be
>as an action of a duly appointed judge and jury acting in accordance
>with
>law.
>Let see if in the few minutes I ve got I can present a case. I do not
>support punishment of the criminal Oh I don't mean spanking or one
>friend
>of mine recommends a return to stocks and pillory. Maybe not a bad
>idea as
>punishment for some crimes such as spray painting graffiti on public
>or
>private property. Public drunkenness, use of marijuana, generally
>speaking
>the crimes of youth growing up and testing their wings.
>What good does it do to punish a thief? Does the victim get his
>property
>back? It is more important to make the thief recognize that such
>conduct is
>against the best interest of society. Certainly sending those two
>kids
>from Jonesboro to jail won't do the victims any good. Does oursociety
>have
>the knowledge and patience to teach these two how to be good
>contributing
>members of that society. Maybe these two can be redeemed, but there
>are
>many in prison who are beyond our ability to reform or our capacity to
>forgive. We commit a greater crime than theirs sentencing them to a
>life of
>hopelessness rotting for the rest of life in jail.
>I have to think more on this comments welcome.
HI Sody,
But then it comes down to who is going to make the distinction between
those worthy of reform and those who we must kill because putting them in
prison for the rest of their lives would be a terrible thing to do. If
that's the case, then the solution is simple. You give the prisoner the
option. Execution or life without parole.
Another place where your theory seems weak is that there are many
prisoners who are beyond our ability to reform or our capacity to
forgive, yet have not committed crimes that qualify for the death
penalty. Or who have enough money to hire lawyers who can spare them
from the death penalty. I still think the function of the penal system
for SOME prisoners is to keep them away from society and to punish them
for their crimes.
Bill
>
>
_____________________________________________________________________
You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail.
Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com
Or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]
Subscribe/Unsubscribe, email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
In the body of the message enter: subscribe/unsubscribe law-issues
