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Editorial: Should Life Sentences Be Abolished?
PoliceOne ^ | July 26, 2010 | Walt Zlotow

Posted on 07/26/2010 11:48:46 AM PDT by nickcarraway

Forget the death penalty, which is nearly a dead letter already.

The impending parole of 77-year-old Henry Michael Gargano after 43 years in federal prison for murdering Northlake policemen John Nagel and Anthony Sperri should spur a serious examination of the need to abolish life sentences. The U.S. Parole Commission has set Gargano's release for Sept. 3, citing his model behavior over the past 10 years, advanced age, poor health and little likelihood of engaging in criminal behavior. Opponents of Gargano's release include Officer Nagle's son, the deputy Northlake police chief and 6,000 supporters who signed petitions.

Gargano's incarceration has achieved the primary purpose of severe sentencing: removal of a violent monster from further opportunity to prey on society.

But needless continued imprisonment of hollow shells of one-time offenders should not be held hostage to relatives, colleagues or friends of victims decades later. If you asked what would really quench their thirst for justice, most might want to get the offender alone in a room and rip him apart. While that is understandable, it is not within the scope of the criminal justice system to authorize.

The lifelong warehousing of physically and mentally broken down old men shouldn't be as well.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Extended News; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: corrections; crime
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To: nickcarraway

Sure.

Just use a bullet and their sentence is instantly commuted. /s


41 posted on 07/26/2010 12:22:14 PM PDT by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously... You'll never live through it.)
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To: nickcarraway

>Forget the death penalty, which is nearly a dead letter already.

I’m sure that Ted Bundy thought the same way before he came to Florida to murder, rape, and torture our children.

We removed him from this earth.
Along with many others since


42 posted on 07/26/2010 12:22:49 PM PDT by bill1952 (Choice is an illusion created between those with power - and those without)
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To: nickcarraway

Hi Nick. This is a tough case. As a Christian, I strongly believe in mercy for those who have truly repented.

I really, strongly believe in that. And I know that there are innocent people in prison.

But this guy killed two police officers, not just one. He had at least a second or two, between the first killing and the second, when he could have stopped — and spared the family of a brave man the heartbreak they suffered.

Let him die in prison. And may God have mercy on his soul.


43 posted on 07/26/2010 12:24:25 PM PDT by Philo1962 (Iraq is terrorist flypaper. They go there to die.)
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To: yefragetuwrabrumuy

Fascinating idea...


44 posted on 07/26/2010 12:25:27 PM PDT by ken5050 (Save the Earth..It's the only planet with chocolate!!!)
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To: nickcarraway

“The impending parole of 77-year-old Henry Michael Gargano after 43 years in federal prison for murdering Northlake policemen John Nagel and Anthony Sperri should spur a serious examination of the need to abolish life sentences. The U.S. Parole Commission has set Gargano’s release for Sept. 3, citing his model behavior over the past 10 years, advanced age, poor health and little likelihood of engaging in criminal behavior. Opponents of Gargano’s release include Officer Nagle’s son, the deputy Northlake police chief and 6,000 supporters who signed petitions. “

Liberals proceed from one stage of idiocy to another.


45 posted on 07/26/2010 12:25:34 PM PDT by ZULU
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To: nickcarraway

Nonsense. “Life sentence” is a misleading term. They should be sentenced to incarceration until they are dead, from any cause, natural or otherwise.

Using this kind of logic would have Charles Manson rolled out of prison in a wheelchair someday; colostomy bag, oxygen bottle and all...


46 posted on 07/26/2010 12:25:55 PM PDT by Bean Counter
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To: nickcarraway

Give them the death sentence and then release them.


47 posted on 07/26/2010 12:26:26 PM PDT by ROCKLOBSTER (Celebrate: Republicans freed the slaves Month.)
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To: fredhead

“I agree. Why should I have to support some scumbag for the rest of his sorry life if he is never going to see the light of day again? Save my money.”

Thank goodness, a voice of reason. Now if we can only move that wise rationale on down from life imprisonment, to other crimes across the board, we’d be getting somewhere.


48 posted on 07/26/2010 12:27:50 PM PDT by JDW11235 (I think I got it now!)
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To: nickcarraway

I live in Northlake and this has been in the news here, of course, as well as the incident itself being long remembered. (There’s a park here named after the two policemen who died in that robbery.) The item reproduced above doesn’t go into what a piece of work the individual involved is (his criminal record goes back to his teens in the ‘40s, and after he was sent to prison for the bank robbery/mudrder, he briefly escaped in the ‘70s and carjacked a vehicle belonging to an elderly couple).

On the other hand, I guess there’s the problem of what to do with elderly prisoners. Sending somebody to prison for life has consequences forty years later — not only does he still have to be fed and housed, but he’s probably got all the infirmities of old age as well. Do prisons even have geriatric wards? There may be a push to move elderly prisoners out of the prison system to avoid having to pay for expensive medical care, but it just shoves the problem onto somebody else.


49 posted on 07/26/2010 12:29:45 PM PDT by Deklane
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To: nickcarraway
Only if it is substituted with public hanging within 48 hours.

Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)

LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)

50 posted on 07/26/2010 12:29:56 PM PDT by LonePalm (Commander and Chef)
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To: nickcarraway

They wouldn’t live so long if it was life at hard labor.


51 posted on 07/26/2010 12:30:25 PM PDT by seowulf ("If you write a whole line of zeroes, it's still---nothing"...Kira Alexandrovna Argounova)
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To: DustyMoment
Editorial: Should Life Sentences Be Abolished?

Only if the convicted felon is sent to live with a liberal newspaper editor upon release.

Otherwise, no.

52 posted on 07/26/2010 12:31:12 PM PDT by Philo1962 (Iraq is terrorist flypaper. They go there to die.)
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To: nickcarraway

Yes, lets let these poor, unfortunate souls out of jail. These poor babies have been locked up for most of their adult lives, and all they did to diserve this terrible fate was to kill one or more innocent people. It isn’t that different from abortion, which is legal, right? What’s the difference?


53 posted on 07/26/2010 12:31:55 PM PDT by broken_arrow1 (I regret that I have but one life to give for my country - Nathan Hale "Patriot")
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To: nickcarraway

Let’s see - first ‘they’ want the death sentence abolished, now they want the life sentence abolished. Hmmmm.....a pattern.

Seems to me that the older inmates can be housed in a minimum security environment, not let out to scare citizens. Besides, letting them out probably will cost society even more as jobs aren’t generally possible so welfare, etc. is the only option.

My vote, more death penalties carried out faster and more life sentences without the possibility of parole - especially when the crime is clearly proven and beyond the pale.


54 posted on 07/26/2010 12:32:46 PM PDT by unique
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To: nickcarraway

One step along the way to abolishing punishment altogether.


55 posted on 07/26/2010 12:32:50 PM PDT by samtheman
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To: nickcarraway
Why we need Capital punishment:

1. Permanent incapacitation- this argument is turned on it's head by the liberal with the “what if an innocent person is executed.”

2. Cost- this argument is turned on it's head by the liberal by using the average cost (not high security) of an inmate and then also including the incarceration costs over 20 years in addition to the execution. In states like Texas where an inmate has ~10 years on death row before being purged the costs are considerably lower.

3. Closure- this argument is turned on it's head with statements like “people are seeking revenge.” Basically the victims are made out as the culprits while the culprits are made into martyrs. Truth is, it's hard if not impossible to get past some things, and the act of executing the culprit puts a “final” and “punishing” end to an ordeal where this person or group can never do it again, “permanence.” This aspect is completely overlooked by many. Think about Iraq, that society was still living in fear of a returning Saddam and while some may say his execution was botched, it's leaking to the public was necessary for them as a society to move on, realizing the Ba’ath regime and Saddam are history, that there will NEVER be a return.

4. Deterrence- contrary to popular belief, CP has a deterrent effect. Not always, not under all conditions and situations, but overall, it does deter if it is applied correctly. In the US where we execute criminals years later and in privacy this effect is lost, but anyone having witnessed an execution in Saudi Arabia years past can testify, it affects you. There is a reason why in the Wild West executions were public, and yes they had their purpose. The deterrent effect is lost when you have extended delays and it becomes a sterile event closed for the public.

The death penalty is needed because it's a permanent, cost effective punishment that brings closure to many and deters some.

56 posted on 07/26/2010 12:33:45 PM PDT by Red6 (IMHO)
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To: seamusnh

“...He is in jail for what he has done, not what he might do......”

That’s similar to why THE 1 was given the Nobel Peace Prize. Not for what he’s done, but what he might do.


57 posted on 07/26/2010 12:34:47 PM PDT by NCC-1701 (ZEROs FAVORITE SONG -- I, ME, MINE -- BY THE BEATLES)
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To: nickcarraway
"Should Life Sentences Be Abolished?"

Yes- Convert all life sentences to death penalty sentences, starting with child sexual predators.

58 posted on 07/26/2010 12:35:09 PM PDT by matthew fuller (2012: Bachman, Bolton, Brewer, Liz Cheney, Coburn, DeMint, Inhofe, Jindal, Palin and Pence.)
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To: nickcarraway
What they should abolish is the recent Supreme Court ruling that a person could be held indefinitely after completing their sentence because they are still deemed a danger to society.

If a trial determinse that a person is really that dangerous, then the court should have the courage to give an appropriate sentence, such as life. It is unconstitutional to sentence someone for a crime, and then when the sentence is served to deny due process and double-jeopardy and impose a new sentence for the same crime.

If they don't want sex offenders, for example, being released after 10 or 20 years, then give them life sentences instead.

-PJ

59 posted on 07/26/2010 12:36:21 PM PDT by Political Junkie Too ("Comprehensive" reform bills only end up as incomprehensible messes.)
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To: Truth is a Weapon
Political crimes will carry the highest penalties

Or maybe tax evasion?

60 posted on 07/26/2010 12:36:44 PM PDT by chesley (Eat what you want, and die like a man.)
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