Texas death row inmate wants to die laughing

[kadzbiz]

... It has been proven that this is not effective as a deterrent and that executing a person costs FAR MORE than just locking them away for life.......We are not asking the guards to crack jokes for the man. We are honoring his last request. Until such time as we stop honoring those last requests for everyone, we need to allow it here.

Why IS it costing far more than locking them away? The process, when the offender is proven beyond any doubt should take less than a year from the time of arrest to time of execution.

I thought last requests were just for particular meals, not any request. Where is the line drawn as to what request one can have because I can think of some pretty good ones.

 

[Scuba Pete]

Why IS it costing far more than locking them away? The process, when the offender is proven beyond any doubt should take less than a year from the time of arrest to time of execution.

ANY? Or just a reasonable doubt. There have been many innocent people executed who were PROVEN guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Sacco, Vanzetti were the beginning. The system is FLAWED beyond repair which is why most CIVILIZED societies have gotten away from using it! We need to investigate just WHY those countries WITHOUT the death penalty have a lower per capita murder rate. VIolence begets violence.

I thought last requests were just for particular meals, not any request. Where is the line drawn as to what request one can have because I can think of some pretty good ones.

I have no idea, but unless you want to gag the man while he is being led to the slaughter, he can say pretty much what he wants to! Again, others are allowed to read scripture or pray... how is this ANY different than cracking a joke? Just because it offends YOUR sensibilities is not sufficient reason to deny this to him.

 

[kadzbiz]

ANY? Or just a reasonable doubt. There have been many innocent people executed who were PROVEN guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Sacco, Vanzetti were the beginning. The system is FLAWED beyond repair which is why most CIVILIZED societies have gotten away from using it! We need to investigate just WHY those countries WITHOUT the death penalty have a lower per capita murder rate. VIolence begets violence.

I have no idea, but unless you want to gag the man while he is being led to the slaughter, he can say pretty much what he wants to! Again, others are allowed to read scripture or pray... how is this ANY different than cracking a joke? Just because it offends YOUR sensibilities is not sufficient reason to deny this to him.

Yes, ANY doubt. IMO. If I witness a horrid crime, to me that's enough proof the person has committed it. If there is a REASONABLE doubt, then that's saying that there could be another alternative. If society does away with a person who is a murdering child rapist, then society has just lessened the chance of my child getting raped and murdered and I'm happy with that.

Like I said in my first post, I didn't check the link. Are you saying the guy on death row wants to crack his own jokes? At least reading scripture or praying shows some sort of redemption. And why shouldn't he be denied? Look what he denied others.

 

[angellous_evangellous]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19442912/

He didn't go through with it...

 

[Scuba Pete]

Yes, ANY doubt. IMO. If I witness a horrid crime, to me that's enough proof the person has committed it.

Unfortunately, people give false testimony either by design or by accident. Take a looky: http://www.csindy.com/csindy/2007-06-07/news4.html

Like I said in my first post, I didn't check the link. Are you saying the guy on death row wants to crack his own jokes? At least reading scripture or praying shows some sort of redemption. And why shouldn't he be denied? Look what he denied others.

So why allow anyone to have their "Fire Insurance"? I just don't see how you are going to stop someone from cracking a joke.

 

[Mercy Not Sacrifice]

How are they going to punish him any further? Give him a time out for bad puns?

The price being asked by the state is his life. You simply can't dictate that he has to be morbid during his own demise. The whole point of Gallows Humor is to cope with your own mortality. By all means, if we would allow this man to pray or read scripture but NOT tell a joke or three, then we are guilty of being biased towards religion.

You know, I had never thought of that. Great point.

Why IS it costing far more than locking them away? The process, when the offender is proven beyond any doubt should take less than a year from the time of arrest to time of execution.

1. Capital punishment in the US is riddled with errors and mistakes.
2. In part because of this, there has to be an elaborate system of tests and appeals.
3. Because of this, capital punishment costs taxpayers much more than life in prison.

 

[kadzbiz]

Unfortunately, people give false testimony either by design or by accident. ....So why allow anyone to have their "Fire Insurance"? I just don't see how you are going to stop someone from cracking a joke.

I read the articles. Of course, you can't stop them. I don't understand your fire insurance point. False testimony isn't good of course. CP isn't clear cut, society would have to sort out a few scenarios. I have my own limitations.

.....1. Capital punishment in the US is riddled with errors and mistakes. 2. In part because of this, there has to be an elaborate system of tests and appeals. 3. Because of this, capital punishment costs taxpayers much more than life in prison.

Well, it should all be addressed and put in place properly. Shameful.

 

[Scuba Pete]

I don't understand your fire insurance point.

Many who repent on the point of death are not truly repentant... they just want to avoid Hell. At this point their repentance is no more than mere "Fire Insurance" on their part, and we certainly enable this fallacious practice.

 

[kadzbiz]

Many who repent on the point of death are not truly repentant... they just want to avoid Hell. At this point their repentance is no more than mere "Fire Insurance" on their part, and we certainly enable this fallacious practice.

Oh yes. I've always thought that was c**p too.

 

[*Paul*]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070625/us_nm/execution_texas_dc;_ylt=AnykvNiJhGwajYLL2JbKA5tH2ocA

Well he should have Rodney Howard Brown come and lay hands on him then, thats histerical apparently.