I think gang members and the rest of these sub-human garbage should do very long stretches, like 150 years or so but I think one has to err on the side of restraint in a civilized society and not put people who are minors to death. The British empire once hanged a 7 year-old for theft. I don't think that reflects well on the society. I agree that gang members who do drive-by's are probably not redeemable but executing a 16 year-old makes me pause.
Why stop at 150 years. Why not make it 1,000 years. That is so rediculous. Do you know of any criminal that has actually served 100 years much less 150 years?
How do you know in the future that the SC won't determine that extremely long stretches are cruel and inhumane and let people out after 20 or so?
As it is there is n consistencey and some get out in 6 years after murdering innocent people. The whole point behind the death penalty is to remove these dangerous people from society so that the rest of us can live civilized lives.
It is cruel and inhumane to expect loved ones to have to support, feed and clothe those that have murdered their loved ones for the rest of the criminals life.
Not to mention that it is not right to expect society to care for them. The funds could be better used to help the victim's families. God instituted the death penalty.