Posted on 03/03/2006 11:28:13 AM PST by NormsRevenge
Support for the death penalty remains high among Californians, with those favoring capital punishment outnumbering opponents by a 2-1 margin, according to a Field Poll scheduled for release today.
In the wake of two recent executions, support neither rose nor fell much from levels reported by the polling organization since 2000.
The latest poll showed support to be appreciably lower, however, than it was during the mid-1980s, when crime spiked nationally and became the dominant political issue.
Opinions also appear to have softened on issues such as executing minors, which the state hasn't permitted in modern times and the U.S. Supreme Court abolished a year ago, as well as on questions such as whether the death penalty is fairly carried out.
As recently as two years ago, Californians were strongly convinced that the death sentencing process was fair and error-free. Today, they think so by a narrower margin of 48 percent to 39 percent.
The polling organization claims a sampling error rate of plus or minus 4.5 points for all adults polled and plus or minus 5.5 points for registered voters polled.
"Opinions on the death penalty are solidly in support, same thing as abortion," said Field Poll director Mark DiCamillo, who said no reversal appears imminent on either issue.
Nevertheless, he said, public opinion leaves room for changes in the way both procedures are carried out.
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
Maybe california isn't a totally lost cause, after all.
The death penalty needs to be applied liberally.
It seems some folks are more squeamish over the method used and not that the perp has not rated the final ride treatment.
The Chinese and Russians use a simple and quick method. Bullet to the back of the head from a pistol. I'm not sure what led to such elaborate execution ceremonies in this country.
if DNA proof is good enough to exonerate people, it should be good enough to execute them,too.
Since the rehabilitation of a criminal [especially of a hardened criminal] is so rare as to be mythical and happening only in hagiographic literature, there is preciously little point, and much expense, in "life without parole" sentences. Also, the list of crimes punishable by death penalty needs to be drastically expanded.
liberals don't support the death penalty. liberals hold opposition to the death penalty as a minor sacrament in their secular religion.
I have pointed out that self identified Conservatives out number self identified liberals by about 34 to 18. This is more evidence of that political fact.
without the death penalty, we'd have a shortage of exemplary role models and children's books.
That's why the death penalty ought to be applied liberally. VERY liberally.
Unfortunately this won't help us get any closer to carrying out the sentences so long as legal games are played and judges are shopped for.
Yes, very much so :-)
And charge the families for the price of the bullet.
Death Row should have a permanent population of 10. When one moves in, you have to make room for him.
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