From: ChuckKuecker (ckuecker@mcs.net)
Date: Tue Nov 24 1998 - 17:25:58 MST
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At 07:15 AM 11/24/98 -0800, you wrote:
>
>First of all, by definition, the death penalty is not murder.
>
>Murder: 1) to kill a person unlawfully and with malice. (Websters
>new world dictionary)
>
>Second,I feel that the death penalty is the appropriate punishment
>for the unlawful and malicious killing of a fellow human being.
>
>I feel that the death penalty has it's problems however, it is
>often applied with a racial bias, and when it is decided upon, it
>takes too long to administer.
>
>I do not feel deterrence is a prerequisite for it's existence, but
>I feel that if it was applied fairly, equitably, and quickly, it
>could have a deterrent effect.
>
>Supporting arguments for/against?
>
>
>Brian
>Member, Extropy Institute
>www.extropy.org
>
It's been a while since I had the luxury of sitting down to write,
but here goes:
The death penalty is indeed a proper solution to the problem of those
persons who have shown themselves to be dangerous to others and
incapable of being salvaged. In the future, we may have the means of
repairing the mental problems of these individuals, but for now, I
believe it is kinder to put them down as one would a vicious animal,
without suffering.
The biggest problem I have with our present system is that the
penalty is applied more as a method of earning political brownie
points for prosecutors than as either a deterrent or as justice.
Witness the many persons released from Death Row in the recent past,
and the present situations in Illinois where more than a few times
sentences have been overturned based on flawed prosecutions or missed
evidence.
Here, some of our lawmakers have come out against a proposed
moratorium on executions, sayiong that 'it's too bad if an innocent
dies, but we have to act tough'.
Until the justice system can make absolutely certain decisions of
guilt and motivation, I would advocate eliminating the death penalty.
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Chuck Kuecker, President
C K Enterprises, Inc.
326 Deveron Circle
Cary, Il 60013
USA
(847) 639-2771
(847) 516-1410 FAX
ckuecker@mcs.net
www.mcs.net/~ckuecker/
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