Mark Fuhrman Rejects the Death Penalty

UM List | 1 Oct 03 | V. Lawrence

[xzins]

I'm surprised at Mark Fuhrman. Anti death penalty??

[I still care]

I saw a crime show the other day (true life)that the family was devastated the murderer did not get the death penalty. That is argument number one for me.

He got life in prison. (This man was very obviously guilty of multiple, heinous murder.)

He was released on parole some 25 years later. That is argument number 2.

There are some crimes even 25 years are not enough for.

[2timothy3.16]

The Holy Bible, the Word of God, clearly teaches that there are some crimes that are so bad that society needs to rid themselves of the perpertrators of such crimes by executing them.

What we as a society must do is work to make the system fair and honest enough so that fewer inncoent men and women are convicted.

[Sam Cree]

I've never believed in it either. In fact the 5th commandment prohibits it. However, after 9/11 I may be ready to change my mind.

I believe, though, that Fuhrman's primary objection is his belief that innocent men are being executed.

[cyborg]

I disagree with Mark Fuhrman BUT I value his opinion as someone in law enforcement over a kneejerk civilian with no experience.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

When affirmative action reaches into the forensics lab and produces abominations like Joyce Gilchrist, certainty of guilt is impossible, making the death penalty immoral.

[Kerberos]

"What we as a society must do is work to make the system fair and honest enough so that fewer inncoent men and women are convicted"

And that is what Mark is talking about. In fact he is talking about making it 0 inncoent men and women that are being murdered by the state.

[xzins]

Sometimes we find opportunities.

[xzins]

The 5th commandment forbids Murder.

It does not forbid legitimate taking of life.

[mtbopfuyn]

Who the heck cares what Furman has to say about anything? I will agree though that executions should be public, not sanitized. When sickos see what will happen to them, maybe it will save a few innocent victim's lives.

[xzins]

There are cases where certainty of guilt is unimpeachable. These cases normally have 2 or more eyewitnesses and large amounts of physical evidence.

Unimpeachable certainty does not mean that silly arguments or bogus data provide acceptable impeachment.

[Sloth]

Good response in there about the value of life, but I'd defend 'vengeance' as a perfectly good reason on its own.

[zeugma]

BUT I value his opinion as someone in law enforcement over a kneejerk civilian with no experience.

That's an interesting application of the us vs. them mentality. Why would you discount a "civilian's" opinion? Do you think that only LEOs are qualified to make ethical judgements regarding application of the death penalty?

[Sam Cree]

I guess I've always seen state executions as "official" murder. Perhaps for a good reason, but still, murder.

[Lijahsbubbe]

I believe, though, that Fuhrman's primary objection is his belief that innocent men are being executed

I think he was involved or aware of a case where students worked on getting an innocent man released due to DNA testing. Hopefully with the advances DNA testing there will be less error and the people executed will be the ones guilty of committing the horrible acts that put them on death row.

[Born Conservative]

I posted an article today on the SCOTUS hearing a case in which a mass murderer's death penalty was thrown out because of improper instructions to the jury; the guidlines for the instructions were made AFTER the trial.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/992872/posts

[B Knotts]

I saw him talk about this a while back. He's not anti-death penalty. He's anti-death-penalty-as-it-is-currently-administered. He does not have faith in the compentency or honesty of the prosecutors, investigators, forensic pathologists, etc., who are supposed to ensure that only the guilty face the ultimate penalty.

After reading about some of the sloppy work being done in the criminal justice system, I cannot disagree with him.

[Mr. Jeeves]

I no longer have enough faith in government to trust them with carrying out the death penalty in a just manner. The concept I accept and agree with, it's just that there are not enough moral people in government in these times to trust with the administration of the ultimate punishment.

[Gatún(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)]

I have a lot of respect for Mark Fuhrman and his opinions. His opinions are honest and don't have a political or self-serving agenda. His opinions are always well thought out whether one agrees or not agrees with the conclusion. We need more people like him.

[Sam Cree]

Cool screen name