By Ray

December 23, 2011 6:09 PM | Link to this

I probably won’t get to say all I want on this topic. For those using the Bible as reasoning against the death penalty, please consider the full breadth of scripture. Christ came to do away with evil doing and crime from the heart - outward. Christ was born, died and resurrected to provide an eternal opportunity of reuniting in Heaven. Crist paid a sin debt he did not owe. Christ did not abolish the laws of government or punishment. Christ endured an indescribable death at the hands the Romans. The primary reason today death penalty system doesn’t work as a deterrent is there’s too much greed and corruption in the system. During the 10-25 years of appeals and wrangling over what isn’t material evidence and the execution, the lawyers get rich while the convict gets a better lifestyle off the public dole than would provide for himself. Hence the death penalty, as a deterrent, is ineffective. Fix the system and make it work: Revamp the sentence structure and make sentence fit the crime including use of the death penalty; Shorten and limit the appeals time frame; Truth and innocence can usually stand on its own two feet; Do away with all parole boards; This way if someone doesn’t want to do the time, they may not commit the crime; Good behavior doesn’t send people to prison; Temporary “Good Behavior” shouldn’t be rewarded with shortened term. Fix the corruption in the legal system: People getting rich off others pain by permitting repeat offenders to run loose; Rogue police helping their buddies / informants, stealing money or selling drugs back out on the streets. The system has more dirt than just the “criminals” on death role.

By Joe

December 16, 2011 10:02 PM | Link to this

I applaud Pfeifer for his courageous stand. The death penalty has not cut down on murders, pure and simple. Check the facts. Christ by his death replaced did away with the OT concept of an eye-for-an-eye.

By Hmmmmmmm?

December 15, 2011 9:07 AM | Link to this

You are entirely correct, To Tell The Truth, I am a hypocrite also. However, I am not a person who thinks that abortion should be used as birth control.

By Tell the Truth

December 15, 2011 8:54 AM | Link to this

Hmmmmmm..think about it. You call SQ a hypocrite for being anti-abortion and pro-death penalty. Would it also be consistant to say that if someone is pro-choice and anti-death penalty be hypocritical for the same reason? Please explain the difference.

By Pat McGroinagin

December 15, 2011 8:46 AM | Link to this

Scientific advances in DNA analysis have freed innocent people. That is a fact. In older convictions where DNA does not exist, the sentences should be commuted to life. The other side of the coin is where DNA has proven guilt beyond a shadow of the doubt, it should render the appeals process moot and sentence should be carried out immediately.

By Hmmmmmmm?

December 15, 2011 8:36 AM | Link to this

Thanks, Nobody. Ol’ Squirrelly is a hypocrite, indeed. She doesn’t care if an innocent life or two gets snuffed out in her quest to play a vengeful God role.

By Hmmmmmmm?

December 15, 2011 8:35 AM | Link to this

Thanks, nobody. Ol’ Squirrelly is a hypocrite, indeed. She doesn’t care if an innocent life or two gets snuffed out in her quest to play a vengeful God role.

By Nobody

December 15, 2011 8:13 AM | Link to this

But, Squirrellygirl, you stated in another post that every life is precious. If every life is precious, then that includes murderers as well as the unborn, correct?

By WOW

December 15, 2011 5:38 AM | Link to this

Joanie, I am mearly stating that you are claiming that we sentence more blacks to prison and death sentences than any other race….which if you look at the percent of our country which is black and compare it to the percentage that is contained behind bars you are correct, they are the highest percentage racially. But do not make this into a racial statement where you are basically claiming that “liberty and justice for all” is not being upheld because of this racial spike….We are not telling these people to commit the crimes. So when I say that it is a cultural issue, I am stating that this is more directed toward their upbringing and society they live in. We do not target blacks, we give everyone a fair trial…So dont act like we treat African Americans differently which is what you seem to be conveying in your first statement.

By Bill

December 15, 2011 2:37 AM | Link to this

Watching the local news seems like there is a lot of black-on-black crime but there is quite a bit of white on anyone crime. Also, when someone is put to death there is a 100% chance they will not commit the crime again. I’d say that finalizes it.

By FixIt

December 14, 2011 10:38 PM | Link to this

Without the death penalty, there is always a chance that a murderer will get out of prison via a court ruling, change in the law, pardon by a governor or President, parole, escape, mistake, etc. It’s all happened before. If the problem is unequal application the death penalty, then simply fix that part of it.

By Truth

December 14, 2011 7:25 PM | Link to this

This issue has been studied and studied and studied. The findings - even though blacks commit more of the crimes than whites, taking those numbers into account, you are still 10 times more likely to get the death penalty if you are black than if you are white. That makes no sense other than it is simply a product of prejudice and racsim. If blacks are dispropotionately given the death penalty (after taking into account the gross numbers committed per race), then something is seriously flawed with the system. Its more revenge than it is justice anyway.

By TheInsider

December 14, 2011 6:49 PM | Link to this

It is not the guilty that we should be afraid to execute. It is the innocent. Is the execution of 1 innocent for every 99 guilty acceptable? I submit, that it is the reasonable citizen that says no ratio is acceptable and, therefore, no to the death penalty.

By compromise

December 14, 2011 5:58 PM | Link to this

What the heck, let’s split the difference. Twenty years. In the electric chair. On “simmer”.

By ted

December 14, 2011 5:53 PM | Link to this

I’m a nobody. A lowly human being. Not jesus. Not GOD. I hope that we, GOD’s children, can someday grow up and mature to being “GOD-LIKE” in our wisdom. Until that day, we shouldn’t “play” GOD. Jesus and GOD obviously had more wisdom and resolve in making their judgements in all things and directing the actions of mankind. Like ignorant children claiming the wisdom of our parents and making bad choices, the death penalty advocates claim the wisdom of GOD, making sinful choices. Punishment based on revenge didn’t seem to be GOD’s way. Yet, some of us let our emotions (including love & compassion) swell up in us as a raging beast, demanding we snuff out GOD’s gift of life…in the name of vengeance. Nowhere along this path will we become GOD-like souls, worthy of the blessings heaven holds for us. I am just a lowly human being, but I have learned one undeniable and valuable lesson each child of GOD must learn; CONTROL YOURSELF. Don’t let rage, anger, disgust… even love, consume you so as to cause you to lose sight of GOD’s plan for you. Don’t play GOD.

By Adam

December 14, 2011 4:55 PM | Link to this

If they are without a doubt guilty and deserve the death penalty. One bullet will solve it all and I’ll pay for that bullet personally. Rather than feed and provide shelter for them forever.

By Thinkaboutit

December 14, 2011 4:53 PM | Link to this

@Joanie, How can you say we cant learn from other countries, our country is founded on values/morals we adopted by learning from other countries. As a police officer, we do not want to get rid of the death penalty. It is used for people who deserve it. We have the finest Criminal Justice system in the world. I’m not saying we can be better, we can always be better!!!!

By RD

December 14, 2011 4:48 PM | Link to this

God approves of death penalty…Romans 13:4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

By RD

December 14, 2011 4:43 PM | Link to this

God, Placed authority on earth to exacute judgement..Romans 13:4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

By Laurel

December 14, 2011 4:31 PM | Link to this

Finally: a voice of compassion and reason. At the point that one innocent human being died unjustly because of the death penalty, it was time to repeal and condemn this barbaric law.

By ed

December 14, 2011 4:26 PM | Link to this

Squirrellygirl I’m black and I agree with you.

By Tom

December 14, 2011 4:24 PM | Link to this

I may be old but, my brain is not getting soft. Put them to death. As a former police officer I say if you commit the crime you do the time. And eye for and eye. If a officer of the law is killed during the commission of a felony, murder of a child or, aggrevated murder put the person to death without appeal.

By Squirrellygirl

December 14, 2011 4:22 PM | Link to this

2 men wanted to rob woman, and one of them was molesting her while they held a gun to her head. Because she saw their faces, they decided to kill her. Woman was shot 4 times, 1 of those times with a sawed off shotgun through her hand to her face, which was the bullet that actually killed her. She begged for her life and asked them to pray with her before they shot her. Neither of those men got the death penalty. I think we need more conservative laws and judges who will use the death penalty vs. letting murderers get off with life time jail penalties!

By Squirrellygirl

December 14, 2011 4:05 PM | Link to this

I don’t care what color you are, if you kill someone, you should look forward to paying for it with your life. And yes, the death penalty is a deterrent for some not to go through with murder. If you take that away, you take away what may be a useful bartering chip to finding that loved one’s lost dead body. America doesn’t need to look like Europe. People came from all over the world to this country. Once you come to this country and are a citizen, you are an American. You can no longer claim allegiance to another country nor their laws, like Shariah Law, for example.

By Joanie

December 14, 2011 4:03 PM | Link to this

WOW, what do you mean “cultural” ? It sounds like you are saying that more Blacks are on death row because more Blacks commit crimes because it is their culture. That is extrememly offensive. And beam, I have traveled to four continents and 23 countries and I read 2-4 books per week. It is not just EU countries that don’t have the death penalty. Perhaps you aren’t as well travelled or well read as you think you are. I agree that the US has lost respect of other nations and if you have actually talked to people from the countries you claim to travel to, you would find that the Iraq War is a big factor in that. Another factor is the belief of many Americans that we are better than everyone else and can’t learn anything from other countries.

By Squirrellygirl

December 14, 2011 3:54 PM | Link to this

Jesus told us that Israel would be surrounded by enemies, and that when they say, “Peace, Peace” sudden destruction comes. Don’t tell me that Jesus didn’t believe in the law of the land, and that murderers should be allowed to live to murder again.

By Squirrellygirl

December 14, 2011 3:50 PM | Link to this

Yeah, the guys that raped that little girl and tied her and her sister to their beds and lit them on fire…they don’t deserve the death penalty. No. They should spend their lives in comfort watching tv and thinking about their own futures. That’s right. Noooooo. That’s not right. They killed some innocent people, and those innocent people cry out for these men to die. Even their deaths don’t bring them back, but it is justice. Don’t tell me the death penalty isn’t a good reason to keep some evil people from killing someone…

By Tomas

December 14, 2011 3:49 PM | Link to this

This barbaric practice is long overdue for retirement. Civilized countries do not have it and many will not extradite criminals to the US who might fact it. Let’s face it-it is REVENGE and that is all. There is nothing Christian about it but Old Testament. Jesus never preached supporting the killing of anyone. Also, it has been proven that life without parole is cheaper to pay for than taking someone all the way through the process.

By Jim

December 14, 2011 3:48 PM | Link to this

@Ohiodale, We agree on this one for same reason. There are folks on death row, who have been acquitted through DNA. That alone should tell us something.

By SCOOP

December 14, 2011 3:41 PM | Link to this

ohiodale, thank you for pointing out a very important fact. But I would also challenge your next statement that “innocent people have been put to death”. Do you have evidence of that? Also, I would hope Justice Peifer would recuse himself from future death penalty cases, since he has now prematurely taken a stance on all such cases.

By ohiodale

December 14, 2011 3:25 PM | Link to this

African americans are 10% of the population but account for well over 50% of the crimes. So your statement makes no sense. BTW, I am against the death penalty but only because innocent people have been put to death. I do not think is inhumane to kill someone who murdered someone else. I am personally against it but its not high on my list of concerns with all the other issues in our society.

By Rick

December 14, 2011 3:18 PM | Link to this

Katie the only reason it cost more is the Liberal courts and lawyers that allow this to go on for years. If guilty with, no doubt, then execute them

By beam

December 14, 2011 2:58 PM | Link to this

For all those attempting to compare us to radical “uncivilized” countries because we still have the death penalty, get a life. Please expand your mental horizon by traveling physically, as well as mentally through reading. You should quickly appreciate that the more the US attempts to adapt the legal and moral laws of such civilized places as we find in the EU, the further we sink in the world both economically and socially. Yes I travel abroad quite a bit and find that today, the US has the least support and respect internationally than any time since the 70’s. Again, get a life and respect the US and the foundation we were founded on, we will all win.

By Katie

December 14, 2011 2:56 PM | Link to this

zman is correct - look it up. Pursuing the death penalty costs taxpayers more than keeping a person in prison for life.

By NYB

December 14, 2011 2:19 PM | Link to this

Every one of you who are against the death penalty…I hope you never ever have a loved one’s life taken by some heinous crime. Trust me, if you did, then your views would change. And those of you turning this in to a “racial”issue, get a life.

By WOW

December 14, 2011 2:18 PM | Link to this

Joanie, you are trying to turn this into a racial issue. If you actually look at the statistics which are posted by the federal bureau of prisons as well as other sites, you will see that yes indeed 40% of the death row inmates are African American…however African Americans are also 40% of the prison population who are not on death row. You are acting like the government sentences more blacks to death than any other race which is not true, because if you do look at those statistics you will see that the percentages per race of inmates facing the death penalty are almost identical compared to those who are not! Do not turn this into a race issue when it is clearly more of a cultural problem….

By AJ

December 14, 2011 1:59 PM | Link to this

Just one more way to keep spending tax payers money. If you commit a heinous crime such as murder you in turn should be punished by death just the same. You’d be surprised the people who actually don’t mind prison. So make it easy on someone who commited murder. Feed them, clothe them, house them and let them claim to find God while the taxpayers foot the bill!

By Realistic

December 14, 2011 1:58 PM | Link to this

California gave Scott Peterson the death penalty for killing his wife and unborn child. With the death sentence comes numerous automatic appeals which the tax payers will pay to fight. Now, Califonia kills less than 1 person per year and there are over 600 people on death row in californina. The math tells you that Peterson will never be executed and will die in prison. All this has done is cost the california tax payers millions of dollars for no reason. The death penalty is no longer an ethical or moral question. Its a question of basic MATH.

By Joanie

December 14, 2011 1:54 PM | Link to this

139 countries do not have the death penalty. Do we really want to be in the same group as countries like China, Iran, Somalia, Syria,North Korea, Yemen? How can we possibly claim “liberty and justice for all” when African Americans make up 10% of the population, but 40% of death row inmates?

By zman

December 14, 2011 1:50 PM | Link to this

Hey guys- Since the tax payers pay the bills for fighting all the appeals, it is actually CHEAPER to keep them in prison for the rest of their lives than to put them to death. That is not my opinion, that is fact. Feel free to look it up.

By Alan

December 14, 2011 1:48 PM | Link to this

Every civilized country in the world abolished it a long time ago. In refusing to give it up, the USA is in good company with most of the Arab world and a few banana republics. Only the least educated among us still hang on to the “Eye for an Eye” notion from the Code of Hammurabi.

By olivia

December 14, 2011 1:27 PM | Link to this

I am so glad that he has seen the error of his ways. The death penatly is just a means for county prosecutors like Deters to kill black men.

By Justice

December 14, 2011 1:26 PM | Link to this

Why should we change the law. If they kill someone they should be put to death. We as tax payers are already paying for their stay why should we have to pay for the rest of their life. I believe if you are convicted of murder or any other charge that you can get the death penalty on you should immediatly be put to death.

By george

December 14, 2011 1:24 PM | Link to this

Time to elect his replacement. The brain of some people soften with age and I am afraid that is the case here. Another flip-flop by a politician.

By American

December 14, 2011 1:07 PM | Link to this

Time to boot Pfeifer off the bench? I think so!