Don't repeal, just speed it up a bit.

I support the death penalty!

I agree and those who have confessed should have there date with the needle sped up as well.

This is one of those issues that people are passionate about and like some of the other topics on this site, I have seen 500 comments on a subject and not one person changed their mind.

We all too often forget about the victims. The sentencing system is convoluted and flawed. Life means, what? Certainly not life. How about life without parole. Really?

Leave the death penalty on the table and let the victims families decide - if the case meets the criteria.

Death is applied in many way in this complex world. The trials at Nuremberg after WW II. The war on terror and the drone strikes. Civil strife. Religious strife.

Emotion is just one part of the complex question.

Nick, well done on the quality of the presentation on this important topic.

No way death penalty all the way

To anyone who opposes the death penalty please walk in the shoes of the family of a victim before you make a decision of opposing. I am a family member of a victim the convicted was found guilty without a reasonable doubt but he continue to live on, have visitation rights to see his family and friends through visitation, right to an education as well as other prison freedoms at the cost of the taxpayer. The victim’s family only has photos, memories and a grave site. Again put yourself in the shoes of the victim’s family before you decide if you’re for or against.

I don't support it.

For most of us being in prison would be pure torture, for the criminal element, it is part of their life style..not necessarily torture! Crimes of murder deserve to have the death penalty as a possibility...absolutely!!

Heather, I would think you would change you outlook on this issue if your child, mother, father or any other family member was murdered. and this person was convicted without a reasonable doubt and with DNA proof.

I support the death penalty 100%. Positive DNA, walk them right to the gas chamber. Everyone forgets about the victims. Did they have a choice in how they died? Do you think they would want to be found on the side of the road or in an empty building? The criminals have all the rights now because they are alive. We need to change it NOW

Certain crimes are so horrible that the ultimate penalty is waarranted.

Hmm, that's tough.
On one hand, the death penalty can help with the feelings of the victim's family/friends. But is it Justice or Revenge? What is the justice system to do?

I kind agree with Buzz Beeler. It should be left up to the family to decide. But there should be a time limit of at least 3 years. That gives the family time to make a logical decision and not an emotional one.

But what about other options? Life in prision? It really should be a life of labor with all the proceeds going to the victims family. The death penalty is hardly a deterrent.

Surprise, I oppose the death penalty. From an economic perspective it costs more today to kill a convicted murderer than to keep them alive in jail for the rest of their life.

From an emotional perspective, much more difficult to deal with and I respect the position of those in favor of the death penalty. Another issue to consider is the significant number of "convicted" murderers who have now been set free due to the DNA evidence that proved they did not commit the crime.

And as Buzz said, we will not change a single mind on this issue on this thread.

I think the State of Maryland should repeal the death penalty.

I believe in God. I believe that God became man in Jesus Christ. Because of that belief I believe that the message of sin and grace is not aimed at distinguishing ourselves from others, but is a call for all of us to repent of the presumption that we are in any position to make such distinctions. In short, judge not, lest ye be judged.

Second, I believe that as soon as any culture or judicial system begins to make value judgments about the lives of its citizens, persons, fetuses, etc., it loses the moral high ground a nation of the free would want to impart on the citizens of the rest of the world. When this happens the loss of freedom is not long to follow. My visit to Dachau Concentration Camp this past summer branded a word into my psyche. The word "undesirables." A collection of people a society deems unfit for a particular society. A murderer deserves punishment. Punishment he/she receives. To obliterate is to term an "undesirable." Criminals also repent and ask forgiveness.

To the families of victims I would say that revenge will not ameliorate their loss. I've read many stories from families that say that the death of the perpetrator did nothing to satify their loss. Revenge is unhealthy to the individual and society.

Our judicial system has too many examples of innocents on death row. Imagine the families of the innocent when an innocent is executed.

@ Paul: where are the facts/figures to support what you wrote about costs?

Again without a reasonable doubt with DNA and or a confession. I would even give the option of one repeal (only) if not over turned set a date of 30 day to be executed. Life in prison is a luxury to these people. And Life is not life in the state of Maryland these killers can be out within 10 to 20 years of their sentence. So where is the justice for the victims families?

Wimpy Liberals of this state decide what court decisions to enforce. Just look at the same sex marrige issue, majority of people don't want it, The Lib minority elite do. Therefore we must accept it. Same for Death Row. Voters (Patch Survey and just about every servey ever done) want it, but these damn minority Liberal Polititians get to decide. Think they repersent your constiuants views? They Don't. They only represent Party Line. Party Line. Party Line...Just watch the tax increases...Libs Love em. So count on more and more taxes. When will this State ever stop gov't spending increases and make the tough cuts. Oh they can't, goes against the LIberal PARTY LINE. Our kids and their kids will never be able pay the debt we have incurred. They are determined to destroy capitalisism at any cost. It's their montra, more and even still bigger gov't can, and will, solve all your problems.
You will take it, and like, or we will silence you and your opinions.

Interesting internet find for all you that oppose the death penalty.

http://www.wesleylowe.com/repoff.html

Paul, Not in the state of Maryland life is not life.

BK,
In my opinion cases before DNA could be somewhat questionable but with today science technology in a cases of murder and the DNA evidence is there it’s a no brainer execution.

Why have the 2 different sentences? A life sentence should be just that, you spend the rest of your living years behind bars. Look at the repeat murder offenders. I’m in agreement reform is needed in the criminal justice system. I believe in the death penalty but if that sentence life without parole is the only other option. . But guess in the liberal state of Maryland they think they can rehabilitate a murder.

Not to get off topic to far but whatever happened to hard time? I believe if our prisoners paid for their crimes through hard times meaning working to feed them, working to keep the upkeep of the prisons, working on chain gangs to serve the community in which they committed the heinous crime as well as other hard labor details it may deter them being repeat offenders. But we the taxpayer houses them, feeds them, educate them, pay for them to watch cable TV have use to the internet, give the ability to become stronger through physical fitness as well as many other privileges. In my opinion we need to turn the hands of time back to the early part of the century for prisons and tell the ACLU to kiss you know what. So for all you people who oppose the death penalty do you oppose hard labor in prisons?

I believe a getaway driver who did not commit the murder can still get life, thus the 2 different sentences

Now that is apples to oranges. A getaway driver or someone that has close dealing to the murder but did not commit the actual murder is an accessory to murder which fall under different statute. Which then I may agree to life with parole.

I totally support the death penalty in the state of Maryland when it is warranted. If the state has the DNA and other forensic evidence to prove their case, the ultimate penalty should be meted out to individuals for the committing of certain heinous crimes. There needs to be justice for the victims and their families, but it needs to be carried out in a timely manor. Individuals that are given the death penalty should have the right to appeal, but not a lifetime of appeals and if not overturned than the sentence needs to be carried out immediately.

Not only do I support it, I say let's speed it up. If evidence and a jury of peers finds a suspect guilty, take em' to the chamber. I have no desire to pay for their meals and tv for countless years while money-hungry scum lawyers play the system for people who don't deserve to be in society with our children.

This case illustrates an interesting study. I'll have to go back into my archives and find the study, but the crux of the story is that the professor doing the research was doing so to show the death penalty does not reduce crime.

Needless to say he was quite shocked when after completing his research and publishing it, he actually proved himself wrong.

This case involving Lawrence Singleton illustrates why the current justice system is quite flawed and the professor's study revealed that in fact it does work. As soon as I find the link, I'll post it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawrence_Singleton

I support the Death Penalty. With modern DNA evidence and a record of past crimes, it is easy to put people down that need it. In any case however, where one is not sure if it was" murder" or " self defense" life in prison should still be an option. There has to be a supreme punishment for those who wish to commit murder so others will not think to do it. Perhaps that young Hopkins student that was killed a few years ago on St. Paul street would still be alive if his attackers knew that if they were caught they would face the death penalty.

I consider it embarrassing that this country still allows the death penalty. We are one of the only civilized nations to still have this penalty. In fact, only in the past decade or two have we banned the execution of juveniles and the mentally disabled.

Many here people tout "modern DNA evidence." The fact is that the majority of offenders are convicted w/out such evidence; more often than not, that kind of evidence isn't available. What DNA evidence has shown us, in the cases where it has become available after past convictions, is how serious a problem false convictions are. In a system where guilt can never be guaranteed, I am much more comfortable wrongfully holding someone in prison for life than wrongfully murdering them.

The cost is another issue--as some mentioned, significantly more costly than holding someone in prison, as some had mentioned. The reason for this is mainly legal fees, which is understandable. Multiple appeals is the only way whittle down the number of false executions--that is, other than banning the death penalty altogether.

As a final point, multiple studies have consistently rejected the deterrence rationale for the death penalty. The death penalty does not deter anyone from committing a crime any more than life in prison does. Offenders, most likely uneducated, know there's going to be serious consequences if they get caught for murder. Whether that severe penalty is life in prison or the death penalty, it won't change his behavior.

I am not absolutely against the death penalty. I just have no faith in our governments ability to determine guilt.

Innocent people confess to crimes all the time.
http://www.innocenceproject.org/understand/False-Confessions.php

Eye witness recall is much weaker than you think.
http://iilab.utep.edu/eid.htm

DNA is not magic; it is easier to plant DNA evidence than it is finger prints.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/18/science/18dna.html

Prosecutors withhold evidence and the Supreme court says that is OK.
http://eji.org/eji/node/478

More often than not, families of murder victims do not experience the relief they expected to feel at the execution.
http://www.prodeathpenalty.com/vengeance.htm

Crime labs work for the prosecution and not the accused.
http://www.bioforensics.com/conference/Examiner%20Bias/index.html

The government lies to us and creates criminals for political reasons.
http://www.salon.com/2011/09/29/fbi_terror/singleton/

Fix these problems, and I'm with you on the death penalty.

Once executed the recidivism rate drops to zero!

Why do people think Life in prision is fun??? People say we should kill them then let them walk around free in prision. Free okay you get a small room to live in 1 hr of "exercise time " a day. Food prepared by felons and served on metal trays forever. Only books they allow not what you want. Fellow neighbors that would kill your or rape you just "because" any infraction gets things taken away. you sleep next to your toilet for ever. Your mail is opened and read by the guards (imagine you love letters and mash letters you got as a teenager being read by your neighbors). No oppisite sex contact or consenul contact for that matter. I think I would rather have them shoot me. Oh and the racial issues in jail, gangs and drugs. getting your belongings picked thru over and over. locked up with the mental deranged people. Oh yeah there are worse things then death in this world .

I'm not against the death penalty.
There are situations where I feel it is quite appropriate.
I do not have any faith that the government has, of will in the future, use the death penalty without reasonable doubt.
I'm not willing to die, in support of the death penalty, should I somehow be sentenced in error.

How about Maryland abolish abortions so we can save the innocent lives! How can a person with any amount of reasoning be pro-abortion but against the death penalty? Paul Amirault for example, would rather save the life of a serial rapist and murderer than the lives of millions of unborn children who are completely innocent. Choose life Paul! Not murder.

I am also a family member of murder victim. We are fortunate in that 42 years later the man who did this to my family is still in prison. However, he has regular parole hearings, which force us to constantly fear that he will be let go. We must re-live the crime every time when we have to write a Victim Impact Statement to try to keep this man in prison. If they do away with the death sentence, at least keep them in prison without the possibility of parole - ever. Of course, then we'll have to build more prisons. I also find it unfair that my tax dollar supports the very man who took my father, the sole breadwinner of our family, away. My mother ultimately had to return to work to put food on the table - he was getting fed, clothed and all his medical expenses paid for, by us. I won't begin to go into what it's like to have someone you love murdered. It affects you for a lifetime. Eastsider - you obviously know - glad to see your comments.

A dog that simply attacks a human is put down so why not a killer human? Dogs do not get put in shelters for life. Shall we allow killers like Charles Manson go free because there was no DNA evidence back then? There was plenty of other evidence, tho, wasn't there? The state of CA has been paying for his worthless butt for 40-some odd years. His victims cost nothing...they're dead. Why pay to keep HIM alive?

P.S. Murderers = lower than dogs.

Exactly my point, Lorna

"An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind." Mahatma Gandhi

John Citzen

I would not say prison life is fun but it is the way of life for repeat offenders. Let’s point out what they receive housing, food, medical, dental, education, recreation, and visit other family members in the prison as well as other amenities. These prisoners even have a grievance process. Do you really think they care about the facilities and their accommodations? If so they would damn well try not to go back. With the racial issues and drug issues they would be dealing with the same issues on the street. Again this is a way of life for these people.
Now if the prison system would change, go back to the old prison system ways and we abolish the ACLU and make prisoners do hard time then I would agree prison would not be fun. 30 to 50 years ago if a prisoner got in trouble for violation of the prison rules he would be put in the hole for x amount of days, today they get privileges taken away. We treat these animals like children. Treat them as who they truly are criminals and make them work off their sentence.

Collateral damage is an acceptable reality in a war we start? How many is acceptable? Hmm?

Peter, I believe you are referring to WW II. Rather than a eye for an eye, it might have been a blind eye. In other words the atrocities that were being committed during that time saw a whole nation of intelligent people close their eyes and like the the sergeant in "Hogan's Heroes" said:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgcxGFmYyPs

I understand from the victim's point of view how they would want the death penalty, but i've also seen where a family member has made peace and forgiven the murderer of the crime committed. I've never been in that situation, so I do not know how I would feel if that were to happen to me. But I just don't get why we kill people to show that killing people is wrong? It just doesn't make sense. Just my opinion.

Heather,

I hope you never have to walk in the shoes of a murdered victim’s family, but if you do please let me know how you initial feelings are. I will never forgive this person for what they have done. Some people have a higher belief and can forgive those sinners but I can’t. Don’t know if that’s right or wrong and I’ll guess I will be judged the day I leave this earth. Till then I say execute the murderers.

One more piece of data. According to research done by the authors of Freakonomics, if you were part of J.T.'s crack gang over the 4 year period of the study, you had a 1 in 4 chance of being killed. And you only made $3.30 an hour. From that I question the deterrence value of the death penalty. Looks like there was already a no waiting death penalty, and that didn't stop them.

http://www.freakonomics.com/books/freakonomics/chapter-excerpts/chapter-3/

I want to add, that although I am against the death penalty, it is because of a lack of faith in the justice system. At the same time, I believe in a persons right to defend themselves. That means I am against victim disarmament and gun control. If you fear for your life, or that of a loved one, you have my sanction to kill in self defense. Your actions will be judged after the fact by the police or a jury. But better to be alive to face the inquisition than the alternative.

If evidence is absolute and DNA positive, Yes to keep it. To abolish it would mean open season on the Public by Criminals in a State that wants to disarm it's Citizens and hope the Police make it in time.

For all you liberals who what to abolish the death penalty let’s make a deal. I give you the abolishment of the death penalty but give us the right to bear arms and carry a concealed weapon for the protection, without all the Maryland political hoops you must go through.

It was put to me once, "Why do we kill people in cold blood to teach them that killing in cold blood is wrong?"

I still believe in the death penalty. I believe hanging in the middle of town would deters crime.

Pete,
Spoken like a true liberal, guess you believe in Obama philosophy of distribution of wealth as well. I work hard for my money and put my life on the line daily, so why should I give up my dollars to the lazy? The only true fix is fixing the system.
End entitlements get these families of generations of collecting entitlements and begin them working and become a productive part of society. Give a person a year of two of entitlement, re-educate for a career and get them working.
Next fix the judicial system bring in project exile three strikes and you’re done law. If sentenced you do the entire time no early out. Get rid of the easy living and put these prisoners doing hard time. Make them do 12 to 14 hours of hard labor a day.
Next hold parents accountable for their child’s actions. Force the parent to make sure they know what their kids are doing and make sure they are in school.
Set curfews hours for anyone under the age of 18. Now there will be exceptions for the working.
Hold the educators accountable for making sure no child is left behind. I think a teacher salary should be based on how well they teach their students.
Each person is accountable for their own life and the lives of their children not the government.

What I always find interesting is the recurring theme of the "entitlement" issue and laziness that always occurs within threads. But what amuses me the most is it is usually focused on the poor or unemployed and not wealthy people or corporations.

My point is this, why do we give "entitlements" to oil companies (aka subsidies)? Why do we give "entitlements" to farmers? Why do we give tax breaks (entitlements) to the wealthy in the form of significantly reduced tax rates for dividends and long-term capital gains? The answer i believe is simple, the "have-a-whole-lots" have bought the politicians and have engineered the system so that the "haves" are mad at the "have-nots" for getting entitlements.

I have never supported the death penalty., I do not believe that the state should have the power to commit the same crime the accused is charged with,

This is a passage from Candice Millard's book Destiny of the Republic, a book about the assassination of President Garfield, about the hanging death of Charles Guiteau and is a great quote about the current death penalty debate. “The Death of Charles Guiteau, which was greeted by a triumphant shout that echoed through the courtyard and was picked up and carried by the crowd pressed against the prison walls, accomplished nothing. It did not prevent further assassinations, brought no solace to a heartbroken nation, no comfort to Lucreria or her children, not even lasting satisfaction to those who had screamed for vengeance.”

The Death Penalty does not discourage the taking of a life, and while it may bring some comfort to those who have lost someone, in the end it will not bring them back all it does it take another life and leave others with the same sense of loss.

Finally, if one innocent person is killed than how can we continue to enforce such a barbaric system.

Paul, this may help. But remember the tide rolls in and the tide rolls out.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2807030/posts

Pete,

“How about we fix the problems that cause crime like poverty, and unequal distribution of resources like education and that will fix the crime problem better than locking people up.”

So in your opinion by redistribution of wealth and resources this will fix the issues.
Must ask HOW???????????

So having a difference of opinion that doesn’t equal to yours makes me a bigot. Then so be it, I’m a Bigot per your definition. My beliefs are that we are too easy on society issues today; we continue put tons of taxpayer money into a failing system or systems.
I will agree the entire entitlement system is not corrupt but the majority is. You state ending this type of assistance would destroy families. Maybe it would maybe it wouldn’t but we have to start somewhere. There is no reason why a healthy man or women can’t go out and work. Jobs are out there even if it means working on a farm picking food or serving a burger at the corner restaurant. In my opinion they choose not to work. This is a generational problem that has to stop. I would love to see a study done on this, how many families from generation to generation are on public assistance.
So what you solution to the prison and judicial system? Again the wheel is broken. We continue to poor tax dollars into a failed system where criminals do limited or no time for crimes and if sentenced to time they do nothing while serving there sentence. Where is the deterrent?
As I stated before have a performance based salary for teachers if their students are successful they make top dollar but if they are producing substandard students then their pay id reflected. And do this for the administrators as well. I would make a great check and balances of the system.

Eastsider....performance based salary for teachers has a very important hidden issue...students who are not required to excel to the best of their ability by parents. Some students, no matter what is done by school or parents will not buckle down...been that way since forever. But to impose a performance based salary on teachers that try, try their very best with only a substandard support system from parents is an unfortunate losing battle all the way around. Of course some students will rise above the non-parent interest and excel in spite of. It would seem to be a fairly easy job to weed out teachers that simply don't teach...Principals know their staff or should and it should be their job to make sure their staff are up to par. If Johnnie or Mary Sue are not doing their homework, fulfilling their expectations at school, are there any consequences via the parents with regard to their social life, sports, etc? Teachers cannot possibly do it all. Of course there may be some who do very little, but I suspect they are in the minority. Recommendation..tough it up at school and tough it up as home...teacher/parent teamwork. Educators and parents...pass this strong message on the first day at school in a big assembly and stick to it. I suspect that could work very well...use to, honest!!!

I believe the death penalty is appropriate in some instances. I would like to see it become the mandatory sentence for selling drugs in any quantity as drugs slowly and painfully destroy lives and families. It is like the worst lingering torture one can suffer through so anyone who would try to profit from this should be put to death. Its really the only way to stop drugs as there is so much monetary reward for the sellers mere jail time is no deterrent.

@ Nick: Looks like your comment has been ignored. This ruling is a good beginning, but it's only the beginning. In his 'infinite wisdom', Gansler has already filed an appeal. If a criminal thought we might be armed, they'd think twice about committing their crime against us, now wouldn't they? I'd love to be able to carry concealed.

@withavengeance it is amazing even though the appeal will fail our goverment decides to try any way. (waste) and to get a permit to carry concealed I get my tax records, health issues, credit cards, bills and have to prove myself a good citzen of the state before I might get one. A criminal worries not about such things picks up an illegal gun (which I had to go thru piles of paperwork for) and shoots people. Then I am forced to pay huge tax dollars to an A-list of lawyers to defend him against a death penalty that is used so infrequently they can list the names on one paper. Prisions by far are not perfect and should be harder places to be in but untill will start to open our eyes to what is bad and what is good it will never happen. Some people cannot be rehabed. Heaven forbid you defend yourself or your family then you are put in the same hole as them.

By golly, John Citizen...you hit the nail on the head...And so constant spins by the legal system continue to push toward arming the criminal and disarming the citizen/victims...and on, and on, and on. How did we get to this point? When did it all begin in a way that was all but ignored by the average law abiding citizen until the point of chaotic mumbo-jumbo senseless disregard for common sense solutions faded into the woodwork? And here we are now looking through a fog of garbaage. And last but not least, do we really, really want to rehab murderers? I am all for it if we can bring their victims back to life..no sweat!!!

If DNA shows the suspect guilty of the murder then he/she should be executed. Why should taxpayers support someone that has no respect for life? People are under the illusion that jail is a significant penalty for those serving life. It isn't. It's a club....

Not THAT easily! Maybe like 1 in 1,000,000.

I think ,if the death penalty could be sped up,folks would think twice about taking other`s lives! why sit on death row for 20 + years,watching tv,free healthcare,meals...stubbing other inmates and attacking guards since you" aint got nothing to loose"? i work way too hard for my $,we definitely should kill more and faster! a lot of folks are waiting for organ "donors" to save their lives,well guess what folks? California(just to name one state) has thousands of condemned on death row ! that means thousands of spare parts...waiting to be harvested without consent of course.you take a life,you pay with yours ! how does that sound ? WONDERFUL ,if you ask me .

If u kill someone whom has kill someone think about it you will be just as bad truly think about it

Of course, na, it is much better to feed, cloth, educate, give heart transplants, kidney transplants if needed....for perhaps 50 years or so. Absolutely...after all they worthy of life and all it has to offer. The only nagging thing about it all, at least for me, is what about the victim of murder???? Perhaps if we could get their opinion on this....mmmmm

The corporate prison for profit system makes more money by keeping them alive and being payed for the services described by Lorna. The illusion presented to the public as "life" or "death" keeps the focus away from the reality here, as with many of the functions of government...end result of a dumbed down public...it's no longer about truth and justice..

Twice in one day.

Read "Washington Rules" http://www.amazon.com/Washington-Rules-Americas-Permanent-American/dp/B0055X4CS8