By mike

March 18, 2011 7:45 AM | Link to this

I think everyone is missing the point. I am tired of paying hard earn money to keep these parasites alive. I believe in chances but when you go to jail I know this is going to be a hard concept for most of them but it is there responsibility to rehabilitate themselves. If they choose not to then I dont care what crime you went in for we will take you out back and cure your stupidity. It is your responsibility to rehabilitate yourself not mine. Life is full of choices you choice poorly got caught but now you can take care of yourself to improve your life so do it. If not we will take care of it for you.

By mike

March 18, 2011 7:43 AM | Link to this

I think everyone is missing the point. I am tired of paying hard earn money to keep these parasites alive. I believe in chances but when you go to jail I know this is going to be a hard concept for most of them but it is there responsibility to rehabilitate themselves. If they choose not to then I dont care what crime you went in for we will take you out back and cure your stupidity. It is your responsibility to rehabilitate yourself not mine. Life is full of choices you choice poorly got caught but now you can take care of yourself to improve your life so do it. If not we will take care of it for you.

By Squirrellygirl

February 9, 2011 1:26 PM | Link to this

If you take away the death penalty, where is the deterent for these criminals not to go ahead and kill someone? It’s one good reason to keep it. It’s a bargaining chip to get information from a killer where they put the body. Come on people, use your heads! You know those guys who raped those children and then set their beds on fire with them tied up in them? You don’t think they deserve the death penalty? I don’t see any other penalty fitting for people like that.

By Tricia

February 9, 2011 4:53 AM | Link to this

Mike R - “One last thing, you don’t believe the ACLU puts pressure on liberal politicians to craft laws they want?? They do… “ That is NOT what I said. And no, firing squads should not be an option. Perhaps you’d ask those people who served a lot of time in prison and were then found innocent because of increased technology if they wished they’d been executed. Pretty sure they’d disagree with your “I’d rather die” statement.

By DARRYL

February 8, 2011 10:37 PM | Link to this

Interesting discussion, with some good points on either side. References to Catholic Church’s handling of priest abuse are irrelevant. But there’s too little respect for the taxpayers’ rights not to forced to pay for housing these convicted criminals for decades. We reserve the death penalty for only the most severe cases. And the criminals’ guilt and sentences are decided by juries and and numerous judges, so they receive far greater due process than the victims.

By Mike R

February 8, 2011 1:55 PM | Link to this

Your impression is right on target. Utah seems to do it right. They use the Firing Squad to execute. Done by police volunteers too. For convicts put on Death Row prior to 2004 Utah gives them the choice—Death by firing squad or lethal injection. Last summer Ronnie Gardner chose to have the target placed over his heart…If I were falsely convicted of a heinous crime I think I might choose death over a life-sentence in a 6’ x 8’ cold concrete cell. What would I have to look forward too—Being raped by some of the worst human beings one can imagine?? One last thing, you don’t believe the ACLU puts pressure on liberal politicians to craft laws they want?? They do…

By Tricia

February 8, 2011 4:51 AM | Link to this

Mike R - Neither the ACLU or the Catholic Church can require any state body to do anything. They can request as can anyone. And you appear to have fallen back on “special pleading” (Cali’s not the best argument, ignoring that I also referenced Jersey). I’m sorry, that’s nonsense. The facts are clear. Implementing Capital Punishment is more expensive but I get the impression you’d rather put them up against the wall and shoot them straight away. Well now, let’s hope you are never falshly convicted of a crime. However, nothing you have said changes my orginal point which is “I believe that Capital Paunishment is morally repugnant”. To me the cost is a side issue. But as money appears to be the main reason anything get’s done in this country it’s the one that will lead (and has led) to the abolition of the practice of the Death Penalty. BTW, I’m neither Catholic nor religioius.

By fortressdayton

February 8, 2011 2:00 AM | Link to this

Coming from a church that once executed non-believers, that is quite a change. I would rather see them give up their abusive tax shelter and stop protecting abusive priests. But then again, religion is based upon the abuse of the individual. Maybe that is why so many Roman Catholic clergy ended up executed themselves after the revolutions in Mexico, Cuba etc., since they help perpetuate the slavery and poverty in those countries. Outside of church buildings we shouldn’t have to hear the voices of these hypocrites.

By Mike R

February 7, 2011 2:01 PM | Link to this

California probably isn’t a good example—They’ve only had 13 executions in the past 35 years. It doesn’t cost more to execute a person than keep them in prision for life. It COSTS more for the LAWYERS. It’s a good deal for them—It’s a Cash Cow industry for some. There are at least twice as many attorneys for a death penalty case than a life sentence case. Studies show it takes attorneys twice as long to prepare for dealth cases—evidently they rush through preparations for life sentences. The court treats jurors differently for death cases. In Life-sentence cases jurors aren’t sequestered at taxpayer expense like death-penalty cases. Attorneys don’t use (pay) as many “experts” to justify locking and throwing-away the key for life-sentences as they do for death sentences. It’s the costs of the Lawyers that make it expensive not the per dose cost of $351.10 of sodium thiopental. In ohio 48 out of the 157 Death Row Inmates have been there for over 20 years!! Over 30% of Death Row has been there since 1991 or earlier. The only thing that does is keep lawyers employed and is used as a marketing ploy by the ACLU to pander for contributions. How soon before the Catholic Bishops and ACLU require the same expensive court costs for Life-Without-Parole-Sentence?? Then they can explain how costly that is and mass murderers should only be given a few years in prison—You know, because it’s cheaper.

By Tricia

February 7, 2011 11:56 AM | Link to this

Mike R - Whether you think my logic is flawed or not does not change the fact that it is massively MORE expensive to execute a convicted prisoner then to keep them in prison for life. It was the primary reason as to why New Jersey abolished the death penalty. The most basic research on Google will back up my premise.

By Tricia

February 7, 2011 11:51 AM | Link to this

Some info for Mike R Financial Facts About the Death Penalty Report of the California Commission on the Fair Administration of Justice “The additional cost of confining an inmate to death row, as compared to the maximum security prisons where those sentenced to life without possibility of parole ordinarily serve their sentences, is $90,000 per year per inmate. With California’s current death row population of 670, that accounts for $63.3 million annually.” Using conservative rough projections, the Commission estimates the annual costs of the present (death penalty) system to be $137 million per year. The cost of the present system with reforms recommended by the Commission to ensure a fair process would be $232.7 million per year. The cost of a system in which the number of death-eligible crimes was significantly narrowed would be $130 million per year. The cost of a system which imposes a maximum penalty of lifetime incarceration instead of the death penalty would be $11.5 million per year. Commission on the Fair Administration of Justice, June 30, 2008).

By Mike R

February 7, 2011 10:41 AM | Link to this

Tricia, your logic is flawed. You say the cost of the Death Penalty is high ‘cause of the number of appeals. Do people that receive a Life Sentence waive their rights to appeal(s)??

By Lisbeth

February 7, 2011 9:12 AM | Link to this

The Catholic Church is veering left. It lost all moral credibility when it allowed pedophilia to go on by Priests and tried to keep it covered up. Bad people exist everywhere and in every religion, but the cover-up by leaders is on a whole other level of evil.

By Thelma Slade

February 7, 2011 6:33 AM | Link to this

The death penalty is tool for society to use, only in exteme cases. It may cause criminals to reconsider. As for the clowns that call it hater’s posts for expressing their opinions about related issue such as gun rights- you are a neutral nutcase! I support our gun rights. Our government is supposed to protect us from evils and wrong doings. Who is going to protect us from our government? I support gun rights, I am opposed to the Mayor Bloombergs, George Soros, Van Jones and Cass Sunsteins. These people are socialists that believe the government knows best how to tell us to live our individual lives! I will fight against that as long as I can!

By Tricia

February 7, 2011 4:39 AM | Link to this

The Death Penalty is morally repugnant. There is something extremely disturbing about calling for another human beings death out of revenge. You would have thought that the human race has moved on. No one, and I mean no one has the right to end another life. And to the person who doesn’t want their taxes going to “keep them alive”. You should be aware that the cost of implementing the death penalty (due to the number of appeals available) is vastly more then the cost of keeping someone in prison. I’m always amused by supposed “Christians”. The hypocrisy is astounding.

By ed

February 7, 2011 12:27 AM | Link to this

Sorry kjb. Your right I am wrong. The hate dripping off some of these posts is unreal. Especially from some of these people who claim to have religion.

By KJB

February 6, 2011 8:56 PM | Link to this

ed, The Bishops didn’t call on Strickland and the Democrats in Ohio to end abortion because it is a federal law. They do call on federal lawmakers to end it all the time and every year they hold a March for Life on Washington D.C., so get your facts straight before you criticize and create more scandal.

By KJB

February 6, 2011 8:00 PM | Link to this

I would like to commend the Catholic Bishops for standing up for what is right. They stood up for the Jews during WWII and the Chief Rabbi in Rome Converted to Catholicism afterwards because of the actions of the Pope. Also, by seaking counseling rather than prison, they did what the Psychiatric community told them to do when dealing with the only 1-2% of priests that were involved in the sex abuse scandal, which by the way is a much lower percentage than society in general. It’s ok to criticize the Catholic Churh. In doing so, you are actually paying it a compliment, because it shows you believe it should be held to a higher standard because it was founded by Jesus. Unfortunately, the unspotted Church is made up of sinful people just like every other institution on earth. All the more reason to be grateful we have the Catholic Church.

By jimbo

February 6, 2011 6:50 PM | Link to this

Moral and religious issues aside, there is something disturbing about the state having the power to decide to end a citizens life.

By tiredofit!

February 6, 2011 3:38 PM | Link to this

pedophiles belong in jail not in the pulpit not teaching school in jail.

By LA

February 6, 2011 1:44 PM | Link to this

Interesting that these bishops call for “just punishment” while in the past they have demonstrated their moral courage by ignoring or covering up the loathsome abuse of children by some of their brethren. What a bunch of hypocrites!

By Keep The Deterrent

February 6, 2011 9:25 AM | Link to this

Keep the death penalty. I don’t want my tax money used to take care of a person who has made the choice to murder. They have demonstrated they can’t live within the laws of society and must be eliminated. Remove the death penalty and you will remove any deterrent to pay the ultimate price. Enough of this “kinder/gentler” crap. Remove the fear of losing ones life if they take another and lose control of civilized behavior in society.

By ???

February 5, 2011 10:08 PM | Link to this

Oh look, something else the Catholics have wrong.

By Time to Close

February 5, 2011 7:48 PM | Link to this

It is time for DDN to shut down all comments. The morons who attack on these boards have ruined it for those of us who would like to have a rational discussion. Instead we have to filter through the hater’s posts. DDN END ALL COMMENT BOARDS NOW!

By Jeremy Natonelli

February 5, 2011 3:55 PM | Link to this

The death penalty is so minute compared to the other problems this nation carries. Jobs overseas, training and new technology too far in the future, companies that sent jobs overseas lacking patriotism, socialists wanting to tell us how to live and think- what we are allowed to say, control our healthcare. Nuts! We have to stand up and stop these clowns. I vote conservative and hold these representatives to not turn politically correct on us!

By Brock Kenie

February 5, 2011 3:46 PM | Link to this

Death row would be a crushing place to find yourself in. I do, however, understand that if you murder someone it might be reasonable to think you could receive the death penalty. The folks speaking about Soros, Bloomberg, Van Jones and Cass Sunstein have it right. They are a problem for our society. They use their wealth and/or position to bully their will to take away our freedoms.

By Tim

February 5, 2011 7:26 AM | Link to this

“Look at all the lonely people, where do they all come from”.

By JIM

February 5, 2011 7:03 AM | Link to this

They have a right to their opinion. If this was a trend about Martin Luther Kings birthday, any disrespectable comment the ddn would pay a reporter overtime to erase those comments.

By ed

February 5, 2011 5:01 AM | Link to this

I am a catholic. Leave the death penalty in place. Did they call on Strickland and his democratic party to end abortion.

By Correction

February 5, 2011 12:42 AM | Link to this

To Guilty…you didn’t “misspell” rosary…you called it rosemary. There is a big difference. So you point out what the Catholics did 100s of years ago…but the fact is that you’re still a moron today.

By EyemNotFree

February 4, 2011 10:48 PM | Link to this

Blood thirsty predators require the death penalty.White collar criminals afraid of getting caught by their victims.

By Guilty

February 4, 2011 10:05 PM | Link to this

Guilty is guilty as charged. My “sin” is mispelling Rosary, John. Unfortunately the people who feel guilty about the guilty dealings by the Catholic church have much more to worry about than a mispelled word, do they not?

By Eliza Gravano

February 4, 2011 9:23 PM | Link to this

Oh how difficult it would be to consider taking away the death penalty. Does it not discourage murder? Yes, Mr. Richards, this George Soros and Mayor Bloomberg have extended themselves to take on or rather take away our gun rights. Guns don’t kill people. People kill people. Van Jones and Cass Sunstein are also enemies to our liberties, our freedom. Freedom to speak as we wish, to stand against a socialist society could end if we don’t stand up against these people.

By Harold Richards

February 4, 2011 8:17 PM | Link to this

I agree that the death penalty is a serious punishment and issue. Certainly worth debate with the politically correct absent. The Muslim that killed so many at Fort Hood- I could handle pushing the button to fry him. What about all of the other terrible things happening to our country. The Net Neutrality thing is just a means to eliminate comment from conservatives. George Soros and Mayor Bloomberg, with great wealth and socialism, are extreme anti-gun characters. Our country has much to be concerned about. From death penalties to our right to protect ourselves.

By Answer, John

February 4, 2011 6:31 PM | Link to this

Answer about papists assisting Nazi’s, John….not helping shield Jews…Cortez and his rape & pillage…Rome denying/lying about their pedophile priests…and now having the gall to abolish the death penalty. Death is Rome’s history, John. John…you’re the moron…an evil one at that….

By John

February 4, 2011 6:17 PM | Link to this

Rosemary beads? I guess I applaud Microsoft for making the PC easy enough for morons to use.

By Guilty

February 4, 2011 6:05 PM | Link to this

The Bishops must still feel guilty for helping the Nazi’s cook the Jews and Cortez and his Catholic brethern killing Montezuma and the Aztec Empire. Handing out a few Rosemary Beads, molesting a few boys, and defending the actions of couple of serial killers should atone for their prior actions.

By rj

February 4, 2011 5:06 PM | Link to this

Hear, hear! The bishops have lost their integrity, though they still look mighty fine in their pretty robes.

By rocky clay

February 4, 2011 4:44 PM | Link to this

Who cares what catholic bishops think? Executions are Biblical based. Dont they read the bible? Oh they got there own version a MISSLE? Whats this

By Hang

February 4, 2011 4:42 PM | Link to this

I call on the bishops, cardinals and the Pope to end all sex abuses among “so called” celebete priests. When that is done the other will be done.