Jamelle Bouie
Posted on 04/01/2014 3:11:38 AM PDT by raybbr
We hear a lot about the racial disparity in death penalty sentencing, namely, that black Americans are dramatically overrepresented on death row.
Less remarked on is the disparity in death penalty support, as revealed in a new Pew Research Center survey. Overall, 55 percent of Americans support capital punishment, and 37 percent are opposed. Among whites, however, support for the death penalty jumps to 63 percent, compared to 40 percent for Hispanics and 36 percent for blacks.
Religion — or at least, Protestantism — seems to increase the divide. At 67 percent in favor, white evangelical Protestants are more likely than any other group to support the death penalty, followed closely by white mainline Protestants (64 percent). Catholics are the least likely among religious whites to support capital punishment, though 59 percent are still in favor. On the other end, religious blacks and Latinos are even less likely than their peers to support the death penalty.
Before we get into why whites are so supportive of the death penalty, it’s important to remember this: There’s no separating capital punishment from its role, in part, as a tool of racial control. As Stuart Banner explores in his book “The Death Penalty: An American History,” one of the earliest American-made capital statutes — as opposed to ones borrowed from England — was passed in New York in the aftermath of a 1712 slave revolt.
(Excerpt) Read more at middletownpress.com ...
And also, Global Warming.
Someone should ask this jacka** who gives greater support to killing blacks to keep their population numbers down: white Conservatives who are pro death penalty or white Liberals who are pro abortion ...
I’m curious - why wouldn’t someone support the death penalty?
The potential of wrongful conviction.
There aren’t a lot of murders in my part of the country, but in the last few years there were two cases of multiple murders. One pos shot and killed two shopkeepers, and one man slit the throats of his three young girls. Both killers were white. I gladly support public hanging for both of those worthless oxygen thieves.
without reading it, lemme guess... racism?
I get that but they oppose it even when there is no doubt of guilt.
Seems hypocritical that the left opposes the death penalty but supports abortion.
Some base their opposition on religious grounds such as the Amish.
I support the death penalty but I respect those who oppose it on reasonable grounds. Arguments based on racial grounds being emotional while ignoring statistics fall on my deaf ears.
Is Jamelle a boy or a girl?
Maybe an LGBTQ-thing-it?
Whatever, his/her/its parents deserve capital punishment for giving him/her/it such a stupid name.
Presumably, word of this plot has circulated through the black community by now. Why do they continue to commit crimes which will bring this "control" down on themselves?
“....black Americans are dramatically overrepresented on death row.”........
This is not to sound racist but if “black American’s” didn’t commit crimes that warrant the death row, they wouldn’t be there.
Hmmmm
“Blacks” are over represented on Death Row because of the bad choices they freely made.
Elsewhere, I note that “blacks” are over represented among abortionists’ clients. That’s a choice, too.
Make bad choices, get bad results ...
Is Mr. Bouie aware the death penalty is being employed by black citizens daily, particularly in urban areas, without due process of law?
One compelling reason to oppose the death penalty is a wish not to give the state that much power over citizens. I well understand the argument in favor of executions and many people richly deserve it but I am a bit inclined to agree with the premise that the government should be limited and not have the power of life and death over citizens. To be honest, I’m about evenly split on the question. For some monsters though, I would like the right to choose their cellmates :)
I don’t see it as power of the state but of the people. Jury trial, jury penalty recommendation.
Is the death penalty a deterrent? Maybe not, but it does guarantee the murderer will not be a repeat offender.
Some crimes are so heinous that to not hand down the death penalty would be an insult to civilized society.
By that argument taxes, affirmative action and alien amnesty are actions if the people. I well understand the arguments in favor of capital punishment but I simply offered what I see as a compelling argument against it. As I said, I’m split on the question. Life is a gift and I’m not sure the very fallible state should be empowered to take it away from anyone. Just a thought.
> I’m curious - why wouldn’t someone support the death penalty?
I support the death penalty, because it prevents heinous murderers from repeating their deeds. Case in point, my cousin’s 8 year old daughter was raped and murdered by a person who said that he thoroughly enjoyed doing it and would do it again if he ever got the opportunity. It took the state nearly 25 years to finally execute the SOB. How much does it cost to support a convicted murderer for 25 years? He will never have an opportunity to kill another little girl, because he is dead.
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